be immediately on the _qui vive_. Negotiations will be as good as opened
the very minute of my arrival. You'll want an interpreter, and here am I
sworn to the cause, and secret as the tomb. In effect, I'm going, and I
don't see how the deuce you expected to get on without me."

"I suppose," I asked him, "you know what to expect if we fail and are
caught?"

He took me by the arm and walked with me along the road, sinking his
voice to a confidential murmur.

"You're a son of Mars, Fyffe, and you ought to be able to understand my
feelings. You've met Miss Rossano, and I dare say you can understand
the possibility of a man actually losing his head over a creature so
charming and so well provided for." I could have struck him for the
cynicism of his final words, but I restrained myself. "Now I don't
mind telling you, Fyffe, that I've a little bit of a tendresse in that
direction, and, between ourselves, I'm not at all sure that it isn't
returned. Miss Rossano is convinced that this is a service of especial
and particular danger. So it might be for a headstrong old warrior like
yourself if you were in it alone; but as I shall manage it there won't
be a hint of danger, and we shall get the credit without the risk. And
so, my dear Fyffe, I'm with you. My motives I believe are as purely
selfish as I should always wish them to be. Yours of course are as
purely unselfish as you would always desire."

Of course I knew already the man's complete want of responsibility. Here
almost in his first breath he couldn't dream of allowing me to run the
risk alone, and here in almost his last breath there was to be no risk
at all. I dreaded his companionship; and when I had taken time to think
the matter over I told him so quite plainly.

"My dear Fyffe," he answered, "you don't know me. You haven't seen
me under circumstances demanding discretion. You tell me I'm a
feather-head, and I've not the slightest doubt in the world that if you
asked any of our common acquaintances you'd find the epithet endorsed.
It's my way, my boy, but it's only a little outside trick of mine, and
it has nothing to do with the real man inside. And besides that, Fyffe,
you know you can't prevent my going, and so--why argue about it?"

"There is risk in this business," I said, "and grave risk. Let us have
no further folly on that theme. I could prevent you from going, and
I would if it were not for the fact that I think it more dangerous to
leave you behind t