missile. But she soon knew that she had found her match in the boy.
And when he caught the tenth and last cigarette in his mouth she
clapped her hands, and cried out so enthusiastically that one of the
men in the boat heaved himself up from the bottom, and, choking down a
yawn, stared with heavy amazement at the young virgin of the rocks,
and uttered a "Che Diavolo!" under his stiff mustache.

Vere saw his astonishment, and swiftly, with a parting wave of her
hand to Ruffo, she disappeared, leaving her protégé to run off gayly
with his booty to his comrades of the /Sirena del Mare/.



CHAPTER III

"I can see the boat, Vere," said Hermione, when the girl came back,
her eyes still gleaming with memories of the fun of the cigarette game
with Ruffo.

"Where, Madre?"

She sat down quickly beside her mother on the window-seat, leaning
against her confidentially and looking out over the sea. Hermione put
her arm round the girl's shoulder.

"There! Don't you see!" She pointed. "It has passed Casa Pantano."

"I see! Yes, that is Gaspare, and Monsieur Emile in the stern. They
won't be late for lunch. I almost wish they would, Madre."