'Be sure not to forget the message for Signor Abraham Lincoln. I shall be disappointed if he doesn't come.' CHAPTER XV Tony returned to the Hotel du Lac, modestly, by the back way. He assured himself that his aunt and sister were well by means of an open window in the rear of the dining-room. The window was shaded by a clump of camellias, and he studied at his ease the back of Mrs. Eustace's head and Nannie's vivacious profile as she talked in fluent and execrable German to the two Alpinists who were, at the moment, the only other guests. Brotherly affection--and a humorous desire to create a sensation--prompted him to walk in and surprise them. But saner second thoughts prevailed; he decided to postpone the reunion until he should have changed from the picturesque costume of Tony to the soberer garb of Jerry Junior. He skirted the dining-room by a wide detour, and entered the courtyard at the side. Gustavo, who for the last hour and a half had been alertly watchful of four entrances at once, pounced upon him and drew him to a corner. 'Signore,' in a conspiratorial whisper, 'zay are come, ze aunt and ze sister.' 'I know--the Signorina Costantina told me so.' Gustavo blinked. 'But, signore, she does not know it.' 'Yes, she does--she saw 'em herself.' 'I mean, signore, she does not know zat you are ze brover?' 'Oh, no, she doesn't know that.' 'But she tell me zat she is acquaint wif ze brover for six years.' He shook his head hopelessly. 'That's all right.' Tony patted his shoulder reassuringly. 'When she knew me I used to have yellow hair, but I thought it made me look too girlish, so I had it dyed black. She didn't recognize me.' Gustavo accepted the explanation with a side-glance at the hair. 'Now, pay attention.' Tony's tone was slow and distinct. 'I am going upstairs to change my clothes. Then I will slip out the back way with a suit-case, and go down the road and meet the omnibus as it comes back from the boat landing. You keep my aunt and sister in the courtyard talking to the parrot or something until the omnibus arrives. Then when I get out, you come forward with your politest bow and ask me if I want a room. I'll attend to the rest--do you understand?' Gustavo nodded with glistening eyes. He had always felt stirring within him powers for diplomacy, for finesse, and he rose to the occasion magnificently. Tony turned away and went bounding upstairs two steps at a time, chuckling as he went. He, too, was developing an undreamed of appetite for intrigue, and his capacity in that direction was expanding to meet it. He had covered the first flight, when Gustavo suddenly remembered the letter and bounded after. 'Signore! I beg of you to wait one moment. Here is a letter from ze signorina; it is come while you are away.' Tony read the address with a start of surprise. 'Then she knows!' There was regret, disillusionment, in his tone. It was Gustavo's turn to furnish enlightenment.