The San Francisco call., 1903-09-06
xxi.
AA1l.
PRINCE AND PEASANTS.


The peacefulness of fairyland was
something which Brewster could not af-
ford to continue, and with Bertier he was
soon planning to invade it. The automo-
bile which he was obliged to order for
the mysterious Marquise put other ideas
into his head. 1t seemed at once abso-
lutely necessary to give a coaching party
in Italy, and as coaches of the right kind
were hard TO find there and changes of
horses most uncertain, nothing could be
more simple and natural than to import
automobiles from Paris. Looking into
the matter, he found that they would
have to be purchased outright, as the
renting of five machines would put his
credit to too severe a test Accordingly
Bertier telegraphed a wholesale order,
which taxed the resources of the manu-
facturers and caused much complaint
from some customers whose work was
unaccountably delayed. The arrange
ment made by the courier was that they
were to be taken back at a greatly re-
duced price at the end of six weeks. The
machines were shipped at once, five to
Milan and one to the address Of the mys-
terious Marquise in Florence.
1t was with a sharp regret that Monty
broke into the idyl of the villa, for the
witchery of the place had got into his
blood. But a stern sense of duty, COM
bined with the fact that the Paris chauf--
feurs and machines were due in Milan on
Monday, made him ruthless. He was as
tonished that his orders to decamp were
so meekly obeyed, forgetting that his So
licitous guests did not know that worse
extravaganza lay beyond He took them
to Milan by train and lodged them with
some splendor at the Hotel Cavour. Here
he found that the fame of the princely
profiigate had preceded him, and his
portly host was all Difference and atten-
tion. All regret, too, for monsieur was
Just too late to hear the wonderful COM
pany of artists who had been singing at
La Scala. The season was but just end
ed. Here was an opportunity missed. in
deed, and BrewsterS vexation brought
out an ironical comment to Bertier. 1t
ranked, but 1t had its effect. The courier
proved equal to the emergency. DiScOv-
ering that the manager of the company
and the principal artists were still In
Milan, he suggested to Brewster that a
special performance would be very diff
ficult to secure, but might still be possi-
BILE. His chief caught at the idea and
authorized him to make every arrange
ment reserving the entire house for his
own party.
But the place will look bare" protest.
ed the courier, aghast
Fill it with flowers, cover ii with tap
estFies," commanded Brewster. 81 put
the affair in your hands and trust you
to carry 1T through in the right way.
Show them how it ought to be done"
Bertier's heart swelled within him at
the thought of so glorious an opportunity.
His fame, he felt, was already established
in Italy 1t became a matter of pride to
do the thing handsomely, and the neces-
sary business arrangements called out all
his unused resources of delicacy and dip
lomacy. When it came to the decoration
of the opera-house, he called upon Pet
tingill for assistance, and together they
superintended an arrangement which cur
tained off a large part of the place and
reduced 1t to livable proportions. With
the flowers and lights, the tapestries and
the great faded flags, 1t became some
thing quite different from the usual
empty theater.
To the CONSERVATION of the Italians,
the work had been rushed. and it was on
the evening after their arrival in Milan
that Brewster conducted his friends in
state to the Scala. 1t was almost a tri-
umphal progress. for he had generously
II unwittingly given the town the most
princely sensation in years, and curl
osity was abundant. Mrs. Valentine
who was in the carriage with Monty.