The good man’s invaluable mimetic art, his proverbs, the story of the fete of St. Joseph, the original evocation of the heir of the Castagnas continually signing and signing, the coarse explanation of his ruin—­very true, however—­everything in the recital had amused Dorsenne.  He knew enough Italian to appreciate the untranslatable passages of the language of the man of the people.  He was again on the verge of laughter, when the fresco madonna, as he sometimes designated the young girl, handed him an envelope the address upon which soon converted his smile into an undisguised expression of annoyance.  He pushed aside the day’s bill of fare which the old cook presented to him and said, brusquely:  “I fear I can not remain to breakfast.”  Then, opening the letter:  “No, I can not; adieu.”  And he went out, in a manner so precipitate and troubled that the uncle and niece exchanged smiling glances.  Those typical Southerners could not think of any other trouble in connection with so handsome a man as Dorsenne than that of the heart.

“Chi ha l’amor nel petto,” said Signorina Sabatina.

“Ha lo spron nei fianchi,” replied the uncle.

That naive adage which compares the sharp sting which passion drives into our breasts to the spurring given the flanks of a horse, was not true of Dorsenne.  The application of the proverb to the circumstance was not, however, entirely erroneous, and the novelist commented upon it in his passion, although in another form, by repeating to himself, as he went along the Rue Sistina:  “No, no, I can not interfere in that affair, and I shall tell him so firmly.”

He examined again the note, the perusal of which had rendered him more uneasy than he had been twice before that morning.  He had not been mistaken in recognizing on the envelope the handwriting of Boleslas Gorka, and these were the terms, teeming with mystery under the circumstances, in which the brief message was worded: 

“I know you to be such a friend to me, dear Julien, and I have for your character, so chivalrous and so French, such esteem that I have determined to turn to you in an era of my life thoroughly tragical.  I wish to see you immediately.  I shall await you at your lodging.  I have sent a similar note to the Cercle de la Chasse, another to the bookshop on the Corso, another to your antiquary’s.  Wheresoever my appeal finds you, leave all and come at once.  You will save more for me than life.  For a reason which I will tell you, my return is a profound secret.  No one, you understand, knows of it but you.  I need not write more to a friend as sincere as you are, and whom I embrace with all my heart.”