"Yes, yes, of course I am safe", said Patrick, clumsily patting her shoulders. "What the devil do you mean by making all this stir, James? You fool, did I not charge you to wait until you heard from Mr Fritzwa?" His sister grasped the lapels of his coat. "Tell me at once, Patrick, what has happened?" "Nothing has happened. I can tell you, I am in a pretty rage, Liz! A rare fool I am made to look! We were informed against, and I have a strong notion who laid the information!" "Whoever he may be he has earned my undying gratitude!" declared Elizabeth, still shaken from the fright she had had. "How could you go out to fight without a word to me? Oh, how I hate the practice of dueling! How I despise all you men for thing it a way to settle a quarrel!" "Stuff!" said Patrick, disengaging himself from her clasp. "As for you, James, be off to your work! You've meddled enough for one day! If I had dreamed the fellow was not to be trusted - but I mi

The Earl drew out a chair in the opposite side of the table and sat down. From under the shade of his curly brimmed hat, which he wore rather tilted over his face, his eyes mocked unpleasantly. "You think I might be weary of being seen in your company? Very true, but I believe my credit with the world to be fairly good. My reputation might yet survive. You may sit down". "I have every intention of doing so", retorted Ferdinand, suiting the action to the word and tossing off what remained of his second glass of daffy. "I am sure I am highly honored to have your lordship's company!" "Make the most of it then", advised the Earl, "for it is not an honor that is likely to befall you again". Ferdinand's hand fidgeted with his empty glass, he was watching the Earl covertly. "Indeed! And what may your lordship mean?" "Merely that I shall have no further need of your company after tonight, Ferdinand. Circumstance has caused our path to cross, but t

Mr Tellaro's hands clenched involuntarily. "I am grateful to you for showing me your hand so plainly, sir", he said. "In my turn I would remind you that your jurisdiction over Miss Tellaro expires within a year. It did not need this conversation to convince me that you are nursing designs which are as unscrupulous as they are shameless. Understand, if you please, that I am not to be cowed into standing out of your way". "As to that, Mr Tellaro, you will do as seems best to you", said the Earl. "But you will bear in mind, I trust, that when I find an obstacle in my way I am apt to remove it". This was said without heat, even blandly, and the Earl, not waiting to see how it was received, bowed slightly and walked away toward the parlor door. * * *Not very long after the episode of his frustrated duel Patrick went off to stay in Latina with the Mamalas, who traveled from Rome early in December with the intention of spending some weeks in the country. The

He drew out a chair for her beside his own. "I know", he said understandably, "but it has a good appearance, and one need not go beyond the second field". "Not go beyond the second field!" she echoed. "Why, won't you go farther, Mr Alexandra?" "No, I don't think so", he replied very gravely. "There is sure to be a farmhouse where I can get some bread and cheese, and you must know there is nothing I like better than that". "Bread and cheese instead of hunting!" she said. "I cannot allow it to be a choice!" "Yes, but you see, if I went very far I should get my tops and leathers splashed by all the greasy, galloping farmers", he replied softly. But even her partiality for him couldn't induce Miss Tellaro to smile at such a speech as that. She looked reproachful, and could only say, "I am persuaded you do not mean it". She was to discover later that he had for once spoken in all sincerity. He abandoned the hunt after the

He shook his head. "No, Miss Tellaro. That I will not do. I cannot imagine what possessed me to countenance the betrothal at all". She was a little startled, and turned in her chair to look at him more fully. "Why should you not? What is this change of face?" He returned her gaze in a considering way, but after a slight pause, he merely said, "he is too young". She felt that he had not told her the real reason. She was annoyed, but tried not to show it. "Perhaps he is too young, I do not deny that I thought so at first. But now I feel that marriage would be the very thing for him. Miss Mamala does not like Rome, and I believe she would wish to reside the most of the year in Tellaro. And it would be best for Parte, after all. He gets into dangerous scrapes in town. Only the other day... " she stopped, looked a little confused, and said after a moment, "Well, that is nothing. It is over now, and I should not have spoken. But I have been in some alarm about h