Chapter Seventeen
When Rosina opened her door it was Molly who stood there; a gorgeous Molly, put forth by all that was uppermost in the Karntnerstra.s.se of that year.
"Why, where ever did you come from?" she cried.
"From Vienna," said Molly; "from Vienna by way of Botzen and Venice."
"And Madame la Princesse?"
"I"ve left her and qualified as a chaperone on my own hook."
"You"re with Madame--Madame--" Rosina looked down at the _carte-de-visite_ which she held in her fingers still.
"I"m not with her; I"m _her_!"
"You"re--"
"Madame La Francesca."
"Molly, you"re not--"
"Yes, I am."
"Not _married_?"
The Irish girl, or rather the Italian lady, nodded.
"Why, Molly, however did you do it? you said he was too poor."
"He was too poor."
"And how--"
Molly was pulling off her gloves and laughing.
"My dear, this is another."
Rosina sank abruptly on the sofa.
""Tis a fact. I never told you a thing about him, but he"s as handsome--wait!" She put her hand to her collar. "No getting them tangled any more," she said, smiling, as she felt for her chain. "I wear only one now, but I wear that one night and day."
Rosina could do little else than gasp and stare.
"But who is he?" she asked.
"He"s the lieutenant"s colonel. He called on me to--Well, I do believe I"ve left that locket on the washstand after all!"
"Haven"t you got it on?"
"No, I haven"t. And I meant to wear it forever."
"Never mind, go on about the colonel."
"I do hope he won"t find the locket, that"s all. He put it on me the day we were married, and I promised to never unclasp it. Of course I never thought of baths when I spoke."
"But do go on about how you came to--"
"I didn"t come to any one; he came to me, to beg me to give up the lieutenant, who was taking to absinthe. My dear, you should just see the man! (Oh, if I _only_ had my locket!) All Italy can"t show such another!
I gave up the lieutenant that day and married the colonel just as fast as was possible. That"s why I haven"t written you this last month."
"Is he rich?"
"Well, not in pounds; but he"s a millionaire in these Italian _lire_. We shall live like princes,--Italian princes, _bien entendu_."
"But when were you married?"
"Day before yesterday; to-day"s the first time I"ve taken off the locket."
"And where?"
"In Venice. Oh, "twas like heaven, being paddled to church."
"And now you"re--"
"Signora La Francesca."
"Well, I declare!"
Rosina leaned back, staring helplessly. Finally she said:
"And how did you happen to come here?"
"To your wedding. I hurried my own a little on that account."
"_Molly_, then you knew about me!"
Molly swept down upon the sofa and folded her friend in her arms.
"Knew about you! Why, my dear, I knew about you in Zurich. How could I help it? How could any one help it?"
"Why, Molly, was it as bad as that?"
"Worse," said the signora briefly.