CÆSAR’S PLAN
After lunch, Laura, Kennedy, and Cæsar went into the salon, and Laura introduced the Englishman to the San Martino girls and the Countess Brenda. They stayed there chatting until four o’clock, at which time the San Martinos got ready to go out in a motor car, and Laura, with the Countess and her daughter, in a carriage.
Cæsar and Kennedy went into the street together.
“You are awfully well fixed here,” said Kennedy, “with no Americans, no Germans, or any other barbarians.”
“Yes, this hotel is a hive of petty aristocrats.”
“Your sister was telling me that you might pick out a very rich wife here, among the girls.”
“Yes, my sister would like me to live here, in a foreign country, in cowlike tranquillity, looking at pictures and statues, and travelling pointlessly. That wouldn’t be living for me; I am not a society man. I require excitement, danger.... Though I warn you that I am not in the least courageous.”
“You’re not?”
“Not at all. Not now. At moments I believe I could control myself and take a trench without wavering.”
“But you have some fixed plan, haven’t you?”