“If a man has to try and fall in love with a woman, he’s pretty safe.  You and I seem to have been playing at cross purposes, youngster.  You thought I was in danger of falling in love, and I thought you were already in.”

“You couldn’t have believed it, really.”

“I did, and supposed you wanted me out of the way.”

“I was thinking the same thing about you.  You did seem jealous and sulky.”

“I was both; but it was because our friendship had been interfered with, Little Pal.”

“Oh, Man, do you really mean that?”

“Every word of it.  I wouldn’t give up a talk with you for a kiss from the Contessa, of which, by the way, I’m very unlikely to have the chance.  But you——­”

“I’ve been miserable for the last few days.  I—­I missed you, Man.”

“And I you, Boy.”

“What an awful pity it is I’ve got to stand up and be shot, just as we’re good friends again, and everything’s all right!”

“You’ve got to do nothing of the sort. Le cher Paolo will, if he is really in earnest and not bluffing, send his friend to me, and matters will be settled, never fear.”

“I don’t fear.  At least, I—­hope I don’t—­much.  Only I wasn’t brought up to expect challenges to duels.  They’re not—­in my line.  But I won’t apologise, whatever happens.  No, I won’t, I won’t, I won’t.  I dare say it doesn’t hurt much, being shot; and I suppose he wouldn’t be so—­so impolite as to shoot me in the face, would he?”

“He is not going to shoot you anywhere,” said I.

“I am glad I told you.  I was feeling—­rather queer.  What am I to do?  Am I to go back to the villa as if nothing had happened, or—­what?”

“‘What’ might mean coming to my hotel, but you seemed to find my society a bore.”

“That’s unkind.  It was your own fault that I went to a different hotel at Chatelard.”

“How do you make that out?”

“I can’t tell you.  I don’t suppose you’ll ever know.  But if you should guess, by-and-bye, remembering something you once said, you might understand.”

“Something I once said——­”

“Never mind.  Please don’t talk of it.  I’d rather be shot at.  But I want you to believe that my reason wasn’t the one you thought.  Now, tell me what you’re going to do about Signor di Nivoli.  Have you made a plan?”

“One has popped into my head,” I replied.  “It mayn’t answer, but will you give me carte blanche to try?  If it doesn’t work, I’ll get you out of the mess in another way.  But this would give us a chance of making Paolo eat humble pie.”

“Do try it, then.  I’d risk a lot for that.”

“As for to-night, on the whole I think the best thing will be for you to go back to the villa.  Of course we mustn’t let the Contessa suspect——­”

“Little cat!  I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.”

“Upon my word, you’re not very gallant.”