When I had finished she was silent for some time, still looking at me. At last she said: "This is a very serious matter and we must act prudently. But from this moment you must consider yourself as the friend," she hesitated a little, "as the brother of Arthur. In two hours' time go to the Hotel des Alpes; for the time being you will stay there. I will send some one to the hotel to meet you. I am obliged to leave you now." Again she kissed me and after having shaken hands with Mattia she walked away quickly. "What did you tell Mrs. Milligan?" I demanded of Mattia. "All that I have said to you and a lot more things," he replied. "Ah, she is a kind lady, a beautiful lady!" "Did you see Arthur?" "Only from a distance, but near enough to see that he looked a nice sort of boy." I continued to question Mattia, but he answered me vaguely. Although we were in our ragged street suits, we were received at the hotel by a servant in a black suit and a white tie. He took us to our apartment. How beautiful we thought our bedroom. There were two white beds side by side. The windows opened onto a balcony overlooking the lake. The servant asked us what we would like for dinner, which he would serve us on the balcony if we wished. "Have you any tarts?" asked Mattia. "Yes, rhubarb tarts, strawberry tarts, and gooseberry tarts." "Good. Then you can serve these tarts." "All three?" "Certainly." "And what entrée? What meat? Vegetables?" At each offer Mattia opened his eyes, but he would not allow himself to be disconcerted. "Anything, just what you like," he replied coolly. The butler left the room gravely. The next day Mrs. Milligan came to see us; she was accompanied by a tailor and a shirt maker who took our measures for some suits and shirts. Mrs. Milligan told us that Lise was still trying to talk and that the doctor had declared that she would soon be cured, then after having spent an hour with us she left us, again kissing me tenderly and shaking hands warmly with Mattia. For four days she came, each time she was more affectionate and loving to me, yet still with a certain restraint. The fifth day the maid, whom I had known on the _Swan_, came in her place. She told us that Mrs. Milligan was expecting us and that a carriage was at the hotel doors to take us to her. Mattia took his seat in the brougham as though he had been used to riding in a carriage all his life. Capi also jumped in without any embarrassment and sat down on the velvet cushions. The drive was short, it seemed to me very short, for I was like one in a dream, my head filled with foolish ideas, or at least what I thought might be foolish. We were shown into a drawing-room. Mrs. Milligan, Arthur, and Lise were there. Arthur held out his arms. I rushed over to him, then I kissed Lise. Mrs. Milligan kissed me. "At last," she said, "the day has come when you can take the place that belongs to you."