"_Bene_!" said Constance over her shoulder. She turned back to Tony; her manner was kind. "If you go to the kitchen, Tony, Elizabetta will give you some dinner." "Sank you, signorina." His manner was humble. "Elizabetta's dinners consist of a plate of garlic and macaroni on the kitchen steps. I don't like garlic and I'm tired of macaroni; if it's just the same to you, I think I'll dine at home." He held out his hand. She read his purpose in his eye and put her own hands behind her. "You won't shake hands, signorina? We are not friends?" "I learned a lesson the last time." "You shake hands wif Lieutenant Count Carlo di Ferara." "It is the custom in Italy." "We are in Italy." "Behave yourself, Tony, and run along home!" She laughed and nodded and turned away. On the steps she paused to add: "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 court-yard 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.