“Now, cara mia, tell me, do you think that a man who possessed the love of such a woman as that would be apt to run seeking elsewhere?”

La Favorita looked at her own reflection, at the slender yet full perfection of southern beauty, and she saw also the returning ardor in the face of her lover as he, too, looked at her image.  Her black eyes grew soft, her lips parted slightly—­with a sudden exuberance he caught her to him, and this time he held her so tensely that, although her plaint was the same, her tone was altogether different.  “But I don’t want you to marry—­even without love, I don’t want you to,” she pouted softly.

“You are an idiot, Fava!” But the words were whispered caressingly.  “It would be much better for you if I did.”

CHAPTER X

MR. RANDOLPH SENDS FOR JOHN DERBY

Meanwhile, one morning in New York, the express elevator of the American Trust Building shot skyward without stop to the twentieth story, at which John Derby alighted.  He emerged upon a broad space of marble corridor, leading to the offices of J. B. Randolph & Co.  Derby, being known—­and, moreover, on the list of those expected—­escaped the catechism to which visitors usually were subjected, and was shown into the waiting room without question.  When, some minutes later, he was admitted to Mr. Randolph’s private office, he caught the sign of battle in the ruffled effect of the great financier’s hair, for he had a habit, when excited, of running his fingers up over his right temple until his iron gray locks bristled.  But, whatever the cause of his annoyance, it was put aside as he held out his hand in unmistakable welcome to Derby.  “Hello, John, good work!  You have got here nearly a day ahead of the time I expected you.  What is the latest news?  Did you have any trouble in the swamp district?”

“None at all.  We find the quick sands average only about thirty feet, and the tubes go easily below.  Everything is going along splendidly.  Better than I had ever dared to hope.”

Mr. Randolph nodded his satisfaction.  “And now,” he said, “I’ll tell you why I wired for you.  The Volcano Sulphur Company is buying every available mine, and it is time for us to look into the Sicilian possibility.  How soon can you leave for Italy?”

“As soon as you say, sir.”

“Have you secured your assistant engineers?”

“Jenkins came on with me, for one, and I am pretty sure I can get a man named Tiggs—­a good mechanic, who was with me at Copper Rock.”

“And how soon can you get your machinery?  You’ll have to take everything in that line with you.  Otherwise, you might get off by—­to-morrow?  The Lusitania sails in the afternoon.”  He added this last with impatient regret.

Derby pondered a moment, and then answered briskly:  “I can make it.  Jenkins can follow with the machinery on a Mediterranean boat.  There will be no delay over there, as I’ll have time to make my arrangements.”