"Home? Ah, yes! But shall I have a home to go to when I get back? You have roped me in nicely. My poor little twenty-five hundred! But Swiss champagne at a dollar-forty the quart! Well, every cloud has its lining. Say, Jack, how much brighter the world looks after a magnum! And a funny story's twice as funny. Good night. As for the Lady in the Fog, take the cash and let the credit go. That's my motto." As Hillard never received any answer to his personal, he discontinued it. Truly, she had returned to the fog out of which she had come. But it was no less difficult for him to take up the daily affairs again; everything was so terribly prosaic now; the zest was gone from work and play. Italy was the last resort; and the business of giving Merrihew a personally conducted tour would occupy his mind. Always he was asking: Who was she? What mystery veiled her? Whither had she gone? We never can conjure up a complete likeness. Sometimes it is the eyes, again the mouth and chin, or the turn of the throat; there is never any ensemble of features and adornments. And as for Hillard, he really had nothing definite to recall, unless it was the striking color of her hair or the mellow smoothness of her voice. And could he really remember these? He often wished that she had sung under any window but his. Giovanni was delighted when he heard the news. He would go, too, and act as valet to the signore and his friend till they put out for Rome. Then, of course, he would be obliged to leave them. Occasionally Hillard would reason with him regarding his deadly projects. But when a Latin declares that he has seen through blood, persuasions, arguments, entreaties, threats do not prevail. He comforted himself with the opinion, however, that Giovanni's hunt would come to no successful end. "You will surely fall into the hands of the police." "What God wills comes true. But by this time they will have forgotten me." "But you have not forgotten." "_Padre mio_, that is different. One obeys the civil law from habit. Between me and the _carabinieri_ there is nothing personal. Thus it is easy for them to forget. Still, I shall not announce my approach, that I am Giovanni l'Aguello, returned for arrest. I shall take good care to keep out of their way." "The eagle; that is a good name for you." "And once I was as tame as a dove." "But your man might be dead." "He is not dead. If he were, something would tell me." "It is a bad business, and I wish you no luck." Giovanni smiled easily. Wishes seldom interfere with any one. "I will double your wages," said Hillard, "if you will go where I go and return with me when I come back to America." A deprecating movement. "Money? It is nothing. I am rich, after my kind." "Are you still in the Church?" "I confess regularly once a week. Oh, I am a good Catholic." "Take yourself off. I am displeased with you."