Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1906-01-19
CHAPTER XXII.

was something which Brewster
could not afford to continue,
and with Bertier he was soon
planning to invade it. The automobile
which he was obliged to order for the
mysterious lnarQuise put other ideas
into his head. 1t seemed at once alb
solutey necessary to give a coaching
party i'll 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 nat
ural than to import automobiles from
Paris. Looking into the matter. he
found that they would have to be pur-
chased outright. as the renting of five
machines would put his credit to too
severe test. Accordingly Bertier tel
egraphed Il wholesale order, which
taxed the resources of the manufacture
ers and caused much complaint from
some customers whose work was unac-
countably delayed. The arrangement
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 mysterious marquise in Florence.
1t was with sharp regret that Mon
ty broke into the idyl of the villa, for
the wtc>ery of the place had got into
his blood. But a stern sense of duty,
combined with the fact that the Paris
chauffeurs and machines were due in
Milan on Monday. made him ruthless.
He was astonished that his orders to
decamp were so meekly obeyed, for
getting that his solictouS guests did
not know that worse extravaganza lay
beyond. He took them to Milan by
train and lodged them with some splen-
dor at the Hotel Cavour. Here he
found that the fame of the princely
prohigate had preceded him. and his
portly host was all Difference and at
tention-all regret, too, for monsieur
was just too late to hear the wonderful
company of artists who had been sing
ing at La Scala. The season was but
just ended Here was an opportunity
missed, indeed. and BrewSters veXa-
ton brought out an ironica comment
to Bertier. 1t ranked, but it had its
effect. The courier proved equal to
the emergency. Discovering that the
manager Of the company and the prin-
cipal artists were still in Milan, he
suggested to Brewster that special
performance would be very difficult to
secure, but might still be possible. His
chief caught at the idea and authorized
him TO make every arrangement re-
l,o
party.
"But the place will look bare" pro-
tested the courier. aghast.
"Fill it with flowers; cover it with
tapestries" commanded Brewster. Il
put the affair in your hands. and
trust you to carry it 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 opportu-
nifty. His fame, he felt, was already
established in Italy. 1t became a mat
ter of pride to do the thing handsome
ly, and the necessary business arrange
ments called out all his unused re-
sources of delicacy and diplomacy
When it came to the decoration of the
opera house he called upon Pettingill
for assistance, and together they super
intended an arrangement which cur
tanned off a large part of the place and
reduced it to livable proportions. With
the flowers and the lights, the tapes
tries and the great faded flags, it be-
came something 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 al |
most triumphal progress, for he had |
generously if unwittingly given the |
town the most princely sensation in
years. and curiosity was abundant |
Mrs. Valentine, who was in the car
rage with Monty. wondered openly |
why they were attracting so much at
tention.
They take us for American dukes
and princesses." explained Monty.
"They never saw white man before"
Perhaps they expected us 10 ride on
buffaloes," said Mrs. Dan, with Indian
captives in our train"