Jerry Junior | Page 3

You must know at your age, Gustavo, that a man can't enjoy a view by himself; it takes two for that sort of thing--Yes, the truth is that I am lonely. You can see yourself to what straits I am pushed for conversation. If I had your command of language, now, I would talk to the German Alpine climbers."
An idea flashed over Gustavo's features.
"Ah, zat is it! Why does not ze signore climb mountains? Ver' helful; ver' diverting. I find guide."
"You needn't bother. Your guide would be Italian, and it's too much of a strain to talk to a man all day in dumb show." He folded his arms with a weary sigh. "A week of Valedolmo! An eternity!"
Gustavo echoed the sigh. Though he did not entirely comprehend the trouble, still he was of a generously sympathetic nature.
"It is a pity," he observed casually, "zat you are not acquaint wif ze Signor Americano who lives in Villa Rosa. He also finds Valedolmo undiverting. He comes--but often--to talk wif me. He has fear of forgetting how to spik Angleesh, he says."
The young man opened his eyes.
"What are you talking about--a Signor Americano here in Valedolmo?"
"Sicuramente, in zat rose-color villa wif ze cypress trees and ze terrazzo on ze lake. His daughter, la Signorina Costantina, she live wif him--ver' yong, ver' beautiful--" Gustavo rolled his eyes and clasped his hands--"beautiful like ze angels in Paradise--and she spik Italia like I spik Angleesh."
Jerymn Hilliard Jr. unfolded his arms and sat up alertly.
"You mean to tell me that you had an American family up your sleeve all this time and never said a word about it?" His tone was stern.
"Scusi, signore, I have not known zat you have ze plaisir of zer acquaintance."
"The pleasure of their acquaintance! Good heavens, Gustavo, when one ship-wrecked man meets another ship-wrecked man on a desert island must they be introduced before they can speak?"
"Si, signore."
"And why, may I ask, should an intelligent American family be living in Valedolmo?"
"I do not know, signore. I have heard ze Signor Papa's healf was no good, and ze doctors in Americk' zay say to heem, 'you need change, to breave ze beautiful climate of Italia.' And he say, 'all right, I go to Valedolmo.' It is small, signore, but ver' famosa. Oh, yes, molto famosa. In ze autumn and ze spring foreigners come from all ze world--Angleesh, French, German--tutti! Ze Hotel du Lac is full. Every day we turn peoples away."
"So! I seem to have struck the wrong season.--But about this American family, what's their name?"
"La familia Veeldair from Nuovo York."
"Veeldair." He shook his head. "That's not American, Gustavo, at least when you say it. But never mind, if they come from New York it's all right. How many are there--just two?"
"But no! Ze papa and ze signorina and ze--ze--" he rolled his eyes in search of the word--"ze aunt!"
"Another aunt! The sky appears to be raining aunts today. What does she do for amusement--the signorina who is beautiful as the angels?"
Gustavo spread out his hands.
"Valedolmo, signore, is on ze frontier. It is--what you say--garrison città. Many soldiers, many officers--captains, lieutenants, wif uniforms and swords. Zay take tea on ze terrazzo wif ze Signor Papa and ze Signora Aunt, and most specialmente wif ze Signorina Costantina. Ze Signor Papa say he come for his healf, but if you ask me, I sink maybe he come to marry his daughter."
"I see! And yet, Gustavo, American papas are generally not so keen as you might suppose about marrying their daughters to foreign captains and lieutenants even if they have got uniforms and swords. I shouldn't be surprised if the Signor Papa were just a little nervous over the situation. It seems to me there might be an opening for a likely young fellow speaking the English language, even if he hasn't a uniform and sword. How does he strike you?"
"Si, signore."
"I'm glad you agree with me. It is now five minutes past four; do you think the American family would be taking a siesta?"
"I do not know, signore." Gustavo's tone was still patient.
"And whereabouts is the rose-colored villa with the terrace on the lake?"
"It is a quarter of a hour beyond ze Porta Sant' Antonio. If ze gate is shut you ring at ze bell and Giuseppe will open. But ze road is ver' hot and ver' dusty. It is more cooler to take ze paf by ze lake. Straight to ze left for ten minutes and step over ze wall; it is broken in zat place and quite easy."
"Thank you, that is a wise suggestion; I shall step over the wall by all means." He jumped to his feet and looked about for his hat. "You turn to the left and straight ahead for ten minutes? Good-bye then till dinner. I go in