"Are you alone?" she asked, abruptly.

"No. You remember my mentioning my friend, the Marchesino Panacci?
Well, he is with me. We were going to fish. The fishermen suggested
our sleeping in the Saint's Pool for an hour or two first. I found
Doro gone and came to look for him."

There was still a faint embarrassment in his manner.

"I believe you have seen him," he added. "He was bathing the other day
when you were passing in the boat,--I think it was you. Did you see a
young man who did some tricks in the water?"

"Oh yes, an impudent young creature. He pretended to be a porpoise and
a seal. He made us laugh. Vere was delighted with him. Is that your
friend? Where can he be?"

"Where is Vere?" said Artois.

Their eyes met, and suddenly his embarrassment passed away.

"You don't mean that--?"

"My friend, you know what these Neapolitans are. Doro came back from
his bathe raving about Vere. I did not tell him I knew her. I think--I
am sure he has guessed it, and much more. Let us go and find him. It
seems you are to know him. E il destino."

"You don't want me to know him?" she said, as they turned away from
the house.