'It was for Jerry's good--and yours too. But what shall we do? He doesn't know we're here and he has left no address.' 'Come out to the villa and visit us till he comes to search for you.' Constance could hear her aunt delivering the same invitation to Mrs. Eustace, and she perforce repeated it, though with the inward hope that it would be declined. She had no wish that Tony and her father should return from their trip to find a family party assembled on the terrace. The adventure was not to end with any such tame climax as that. To her relief they did decline, at least for the night; they could make no definite plans until they had heard from Jerry. Constance rose upon this assurance and precipitated their leave-takings; she did not wish her aunt to press them to change their minds. 'Good-bye, Mrs. Eustace, good-bye, Nannie; we'll be around to-night to take you sailing--provided there's any breeze.' She nodded and dragged her aunt off; but as they were entering the arbour a plan for further complicating matters popped into her head, and she turned back to call-- 'You are coming to the villa to-morrow, remember, whether Jerry Junior turns up or not. I'll write a note and invite him too--Gustavo can give it to him when he comes, and you needn't bother any more about him.' They found Gustavo hovering omnivorously in the courtyard, hungering for news; Constance summoned him to her side. 'Gustavo, I am going to send you a note to-night for Mr. Jerymn Hilliard. You will see that it gets to him as soon as he arrives?' 'Meestair Jayreem Ailyar?' Gustavo stared. 'Yes, the brother of the signorina who came to-day. He is expected to-morrow or perhaps the day after.' '_Scusi_, signorina. You--you acquaint wif him?' 'Yes, certainly. I have known him for six years. Don't forget to deliver the note; it's important.' They raised their parasols and departed, while Gustavo stood in the gateway bowing. The motion was purely mechanical; his thoughts were labouring elsewhere. CHAPTER XIV Constance occupied herself upon their return to Villa Rosa in writing the letter to Jerry Junior. It had occurred to her that this was an excellent chance to punish him, and it was the working philosophy of her life that a man should always be punished when opportunity presented. Tony had been entirely too unconcerned during the past few days; he needed a lesson. She spent three-quarters of an hour in composing her letter, and tore up two false starts before she was satisfied. It did not contain the slightest hint that she knew the truth, and--considered in this light--it was likely to have a chastening effect. The letter ran-- 'VILLA ROSA, VALEDOLMO, 'LAGO DI GARDA.