floating in a green world; there was water everywhere, pouring into her ears, her eyes, her throat, choking her! She awoke, sweating, her heart pounding in her ears.
Now it was light; the shutters were thrust open and a faint breeze off the sea fanned her forehead. She relaxed, and as she calmed down she realized that the pain in her head had eased considerably. Now there was only a dull ache, and she moved quite easily, stretching her legs, and bringing her arms out of the covers.
The room was empty, but presently the door was pushed open slowly, and a face appeared. It was Francesca, and Toni looked at her, noticing the faint lines of strain around her eyes. She looked pale, and Toni wondered what had caused her such concern. Surely not her own condition; she doubted that even Francesca's part in the whole affair would give her so much anxiety.
'Come in, Francesca,' said Toni, struggling up on her pillows with difficulty.
Francesca hesitated a moment, then advanced into the room. She walked indolently, a sullen expression as usual marring the smooth features. She did not speak, and Toni swallowed hard and said:
'I'm sorry if I caused you a deal of trouble, Francesca.'
The girl shrugged her shoulders. 'You didn't trouble me,' she denied coolly.
'Well, at least, I have you to thank for saving my life,' said Toni patiently.
Frarfcesca gave a short laugh. 'Yes, I did that,' she said coldly. 'I had no desire to have you on my conscience!'
Toni gave an exasperated gasp. 'Honestly, Francesca, you really are the limit! Why have you come here? Just to try and intimidate me?'
The girl fingered the bedcovers without giving any thought to the action. She seemed thoughtful and withdrawn, and Toni thought she had probably come to make sure she was really recovering. After all, in spite of her denials of caring whether or not Toni was alive or dead, she was still very young, and not everything she said was really meant.
If only there was some way to reach her, thought Toni regretfully. No young thing was ever all bad and Francesca had proved she had all the normal reactions to circumstances.
'Why did my father come to see you?' she asked suddenly, and Toni was taken aback.
'Well, I guess he came to see how I was,' said Toni awkwardly, not wanting to think about the Conde, and the possible outcome of his knowledge of her identity.
Francesca chewed her lip. 'Why should he care?'
'Oh, lord!' Toni shook her head. 'I don't imagine he gives a damn,' she exclaimed. 'However, I was a guest in his home at the time of the accident, and I suppose, like you, he didn't want me on his conscience!'
Francesca considered this. 'But why did he come back from Lisbon? He could have telephoned,' she persisted. 'After all, Doctor Rodrigues was called immediately, and he himself informed my father of the - accident.'
Toni couldn't answer this. She could hardly explain to Francesca that her father had returned to confront an impostor in his home, without revealing the full circumstances of the affair, which she was not at liberty to do. It was up to Paul to explain. Indeed, she would be glad if it all were resolved. There were too many undercurrents here, and she wanted to get away before they overpowered her completely. She didn't know why she felt so strongly about it. She had never considered herself an hysterical, imaginative person, and yet the Conde della Maria Estrada aroused the most peculiar sensations inside her.
Francesca moved restlessly about the room, picking up perfume sprays and hand-creams, studying them intently for a moment, and then putting them down again.
'Estevan thinks you're marvellous,' she said, rather mockingly.
Toni did not reply, and the girl gave her a baleful look.
'When are you and Paul leaving here?'
Toni gave a helpless shrug. 'I - I wish I could tell you,' she murmured regretfully.
'Why? Don't pretend you want to leave!'
'Oh, but I do,' exclaimed Toni. 'However, I can't say for certain, not now - with
Now it was light; the shutters were thrust open and a faint breeze off the sea fanned her forehead. She relaxed, and as she calmed down she realized that the pain in her head had eased considerably. Now there was only a dull ache, and she moved quite easily, stretching her legs, and bringing her arms out of the covers.
The room was empty, but presently the door was pushed open slowly, and a face appeared. It was Francesca, and Toni looked at her, noticing the faint lines of strain around her eyes. She looked pale, and Toni wondered what had caused her such concern. Surely not her own condition; she doubted that even Francesca's part in the whole affair would give her so much anxiety.
'Come in, Francesca,' said Toni, struggling up on her pillows with difficulty.
Francesca hesitated a moment, then advanced into the room. She walked indolently, a sullen expression as usual marring the smooth features. She did not speak, and Toni swallowed hard and said:
'I'm sorry if I caused you a deal of trouble, Francesca.'
The girl shrugged her shoulders. 'You didn't trouble me,' she denied coolly.
'Well, at least, I have you to thank for saving my life,' said Toni patiently.
Frarfcesca gave a short laugh. 'Yes, I did that,' she said coldly. 'I had no desire to have you on my conscience!'
Toni gave an exasperated gasp. 'Honestly, Francesca, you really are the limit! Why have you come here? Just to try and intimidate me?'
The girl fingered the bedcovers without giving any thought to the action. She seemed thoughtful and withdrawn, and Toni thought she had probably come to make sure she was really recovering. After all, in spite of her denials of caring whether or not Toni was alive or dead, she was still very young, and not everything she said was really meant.
If only there was some way to reach her, thought Toni regretfully. No young thing was ever all bad and Francesca had proved she had all the normal reactions to circumstances.
'Why did my father come to see you?' she asked suddenly, and Toni was taken aback.
'Well, I guess he came to see how I was,' said Toni awkwardly, not wanting to think about the Conde, and the possible outcome of his knowledge of her identity.
Francesca chewed her lip. 'Why should he care?'
'Oh, lord!' Toni shook her head. 'I don't imagine he gives a damn,' she exclaimed. 'However, I was a guest in his home at the time of the accident, and I suppose, like you, he didn't want me on his conscience!'
Francesca considered this. 'But why did he come back from Lisbon? He could have telephoned,' she persisted. 'After all, Doctor Rodrigues was called immediately, and he himself informed my father of the - accident.'
Toni couldn't answer this. She could hardly explain to Francesca that her father had returned to confront an impostor in his home, without revealing the full circumstances of the affair, which she was not at liberty to do. It was up to Paul to explain. Indeed, she would be glad if it all were resolved. There were too many undercurrents here, and she wanted to get away before they overpowered her completely. She didn't know why she felt so strongly about it. She had never considered herself an hysterical, imaginative person, and yet the Conde della Maria Estrada aroused the most peculiar sensations inside her.
Francesca moved restlessly about the room, picking up perfume sprays and hand-creams, studying them intently for a moment, and then putting them down again.
'Estevan thinks you're marvellous,' she said, rather mockingly.
Toni did not reply, and the girl gave her a baleful look.
'When are you and Paul leaving here?'
Toni gave a helpless shrug. 'I - I wish I could tell you,' she murmured regretfully.
'Why? Don't pretend you want to leave!'
'Oh, but I do,' exclaimed Toni. 'However, I can't say for certain, not now - with
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