Island of Mermaids Read Online Free PDF Page B

deserved this rather exalted title.
    It w a s , perhaps, over-fu rn ished with large easy chairs upholstered in blue brocade, a sofa and half a dozen rosewood chairs with seats covered in pale golden satin; there were innumerable occasional tables, some beautifully inlaid, and glass-fronted cabinets held a variety of china and glass ornaments. At one end of the long room a grand piano was placed at an angle so that the light from three full-length windows fell on the keyboard. Beyond the windows a wide stone terrace gave a breathtaking view of the whole sweep of the Bay. Whoever had designed and built the villa had shown considerable acumen in securing such a vantage point.
    In the salon Lawrence and Signora Marchetti were playing a card game. He was apparently trying to teach his Italian hostess the game of cribbage.
    Lawrence spoke fluent Italian as well as French, for he had applied himself to the languages for the sake of his business visits, and Signora Marchetti ’ s knowledge of English was reasonably good, although she was less fluent in speaking than her daughter, but now she found it impossible to grasp the odd phrases in the game.
    ‘ One for his nob? ’ she was saying as Althea entered the room. ‘ What is the nob, Signore Lorenzo? ’
    Lawrence leaned back in his chair and laughed as he translated for her benefit.
    ‘ Am I disturbing you both? ’ Althea asked.
    ‘ Not at all. Signora Emilia has beaten me, old hand that I am. ’
    ‘ But he had to help me count the cards, ’ Signora Marchetti admitted.
    ‘ I like the game, ’ remarked Althea. ‘ Father and I have played it for many years, but you must be sharp, signora , to outwit him. He always knows what to keep and what to throw away. ’
    After a moment, her father asked, ‘ Had a good evening? ’
    ‘ Yes, thank you. ’
    ‘ Did you see Carla and Cristo down in Capri? ’ queried Signora Emilia.
    There was no wriggling out of that question. ‘ Yes, I met them near the piazza. ’
    There was a lengthy silence. Mr. Buckland ’ s attention was fixed on lighting a cigar. Signora Marchetti idly played with the cards. Then she glanced up suddenly and gave Althea a piercing look of interrogation.
    Althea made up her mind to plunge for the truth. ‘ I hope you won ’ t be offended, Signora Marchetti, but I had dinner with Mr. Sanderby. I met him quite by accident in Capri. It was really through Dr. Fortini who came and spoke to me and then Mr. Sanderby joined us. ’
    The older woman frowned. ‘ No, I am not offended, ’ she said slowly. Then suddenly her round face changed its expression. ‘ So you were also with the doctor? ’
    Althea knew it was prudent not to let any misunderstanding arise over that. ‘ No. Dr. Fortini left us after a short time. Then Mr. Sanderby asked me to dine with him at another restaurant. ’
    Again the Signora frowned heavily, her dark eyebrows almost meeting in the centre. Then she nodded. ‘ Of course I understand. English girls have much more freedom than our girls. You are accustomed to going about with men. ’
    Signora Marchetti made ‘ going about with men ’ sound like one of the deadly sins, thought Althea. So she added, ‘ Mr. Sanderby brought me up to the villa by taxi, but I did not invite him to come in, signora, I knew you would not wish me to do that. ’
    Signora Marchetti pursed her lips and appeared to reflect on the situation. ‘ Thank you. That was most kind. ’ She gave a sudden smile as she glanced at Althea. ‘ But perhaps I am mistaken and he is not so bad after all. He is English and so different from Italian men, and I do not understand him. Lorenzo, what do you think? ’
    The Marchettis had translated ‘ Lawrence ’ into ‘ Lorenzo ’ soon after his arrival, but Althea ’ s name was more difficult and they usually called her ‘ Al-tay-a. ’
    Having now maintained a most discreet silence while the conversation between Signora Marchetti and Althea took place, he looked up. ‘