Read Online Jerry by Jean Webster - Free Book Online Page B

was an exceedingly respectable name. Constance's expression did not change. She looked at the writing for fully three minutes, then she opened her purse and looked inside. She laid the money for the eggs in a pile on the table, and took out an extra lira which she held in her hand.
    'Gustavo,' she asked, 'do you think that you could tell me the truth?'
    'Signorina!' he said reproachfully.
    'How did that name get there?'
    'He write it heemself!'
    'Yes, I dare say he did--but it doesn't happen to be his name. Oh, I'm not blind; I can see plainly enough that he has scratched out his own name underneath.'
    Gustavo leaned forward and affected to examine the page. 'It was a li'l' blot, signorina; he scratch heem out.'
    'Gustavo!' Her tone was despairing. 'Are you incapable of telling the truth? That young man's name is no more Abraham Lincoln than Victor Emmanuel II. When did he write that, and why?'
    Gustavo's eyes were on the lira; he broke down and told the truth.
    'Yesterday night, signorina. He say, "Ze next time zat Signorina Americana who is beautiful as ze angels come to zis hotel she look in ze raygeester, an' I haf it feex ready."'
    'Oh, he said that, did he?'
    ' Si , signorina.'
    'And his real name that comes on his letters?'
    'Jayreem Ailyar, signorina.'
    'Say it again, Gustavo.' She cocked her head.
    He gathered himself together for a supreme effort. He rolled his r's; he shouted until the courtyard reverberated.
    'Meestair-r Jay-r-reem Ailyar-r!'
    Constance shook her head.
    'Sounds like Hungarian--at least the way you pronounce it. But anyway it's of no consequence; I merely asked out of idle curiosity. And Gustavo'--she still held the lira--'if he asks you if I looked in this register, what are you going to say?'
    'I say, "No, Meestair Ailyar, she stay all ze time in ze courtyard talking wif ze parrot, and she was ver' moch shocked at his Angleesh."'
    'Ah!' Constance smiled and laid the lira on the table. 'Gustavo,' she said, 'I hope, for the sake of your immortal soul, that you go often to confession.'
    The eggs were not heavy, but Gustavo insisted upon carrying them; he was determined to see her safely aboard the Farfalla , with no further accidents possible. That she had not identified the young man of the garden with the donkey-driver of yesterday was clear--though how such blindness was possible, was not clear. Probably she had only caught a glimpse of his back at a distance; in any case he thanked a merciful Providence and decided to risk no further chance. As they neared the end of the arbour, Gustavo was talking--shouting fairly; their approach was heralded.
    They turned into the grove. To Gustavo's horror the most conspicuous object in it was this same reckless young man, seated on the water-wall nonchalantly smoking a cigarette. The young man rose and bowed; Constance nodded carelessly, while Gustavo behind her back made frantic signs for him to flee, to escape while still there was time. The young man telegraphed back by the same sign language that there was no danger; she didn't suspect the truth. And to Gustavo's amazement, he fell in beside them and strolled over to the water-steps. His recklessness was catching; Gustavo suddenly determined upon a bold stroke himself.
    'Signorina,' he asked, 'zat man I send, zat donk'-driver--you like heem?'
    'Tony?' Her manner was indifferent. 'Oh, he does well enough; he seems honest and truthful, though a little stupid.'
    Gustavo and the young man exchanged glances.
    'And, Gustavo,' she turned to him with a sweetly serious air that admitted no manner of doubt but that she was in earnest. 'I told this young man that in case he cared to do any mountain climbing, you would find him the same guide. It would be very useful for him to have one who speaks English.'
    Gustavo bowed in mute acquiescence. He could find no adequate words for the situation.
    The boat drew alongside and Constance stepped in, but she did not sit down. Her attention was attracted by two washer-women