But from this moment you must consider yourself as the friend," she hesitated a little, "as the brother of Arthur. In two hours' time go to the Hotel des Alpes; for the time being you will stay there. I will send some one to the hotel to meet you. I am obliged to leave you now."
Again she kissed me and after having shaken hands with Mattia she walked away quickly.
"What did you tell Mrs. Milligan?" I demanded of Mattia.
"All that I have said to you and a lot more things," he replied. "Ah, she is a kind lady, a beautiful lady!"
"Did you see Arthur?"
"Only from a distance, but near enough to see that he looked a nice sort of boy."
I continued to question Mattia, but he answered me vaguely.
Although we were in our ragged street suits, we were received at the hotel by a servant in a black suit and a white tie. He took us to our apartment. How beautiful we thought our bedroom. There were two white beds side by side. The windows opened onto a balcony overlooking the lake. The servant asked us what we would like for dinner, which he would serve us on the balcony if we wished.
"Have you any tarts?" asked Mattia.
"Yes, rhubarb tarts, strawberry tarts, and gooseberry tarts."
"Good. Then you can serve these tarts."
