the Countess Romani, I
hope?" he said, cordially. "I am certain she will receive you, should
you desire it."

I feigned a sort of vexation, and made an abrupt movement of impatience.

"The fact is," I said, at last, "I very much dislike talking to women.
They are always illogical, and their frivolity wearies me. But you have
been so friendly that I will give you a message for the countess--if
you have no objection to deliver it. I should be sorry to trouble you
unnecessarily--and you perhaps will not have an opportunity of seeing
her for some days?"

He colored slightly and moved uneasily. Then with a kind of effort, he
replied:

"On the contrary, I am going to see her this very evening. I assure you
it will be a pleasure to me to convey to her any greeting you may
desire to send."

"Oh, it is no greeting," I continued, calmly, noting the various signs
of embarrassment in his manner with a careful eye. "It is a mere
message, which, however, may enable you to understand why I was anxious
to see the young man who is dead. In my very early manhood the elder
Count Romani did me an inestimable service. I never forgot his
kindness--my memory is extraordinarily tenacious of both benefits and
injuries--and I have always desired to repay it in some suitable
manner. I have with me a few jewels of almost priceless value--I have
myself collected them, and I reserved them as a present to the son of
my old friend, simply as a trifling souvenir or expression of gratitude
for past favors received from his family. His sudden death has deprived
me of the pleasure of fulfilling this intention--but as the jewels are
quite useless to me, I am perfectly willing to hand them over to the
Countess Romani, should she care to have them. They would have been
hers had her husband lived--they should be hers now. If you, signor,
will report these facts to her and learn her wishes with respect to the
matter, I shall be much indebted to you."

"I shall be delighted to obey you," replied Ferrari, courteously,
rising at the same time to take his leave. "I am proud to be the bearer
of so pleasing an errand. Beautiful women love jewels, and who shall
blame them? Bright eyes and diamonds go well together! A rivederci,
Signer Conte! I trust we shall meet often."

"I have no doubt we shall," I answered, quietly.

He shook hands cordially--I responded to his farewell salutations with
the brief coldness which was now my habitual manner, and we parted.