."

"It shall be done, gentlemen," said the host "I'll go and draw out the
bills, and you shall have the money immediately."

"How I touched the fellow's patriotism, Bob. It was the Austrian dodge
stood us in stead, there. I know that I have jeopardised your esteem for
me by the loss of that money last night; but do confess that this was a
clever hit of mine."

"It's a bad business from beginning to end!" was however all that he
could obtain from Barnard.

"Narrow-minded dog! he won't see any genius in a man that owes him five
shillings."

"I wish it was only five shillings."

"What an ignoble confession! It means this that your friendship depends
on the rate of exchanges, and that when gold rises--But here comes Luigi
Fillipo.

"Now, no squeamishness, but write your name firmly. 'Cut boldly,' said
the auger, 'and he cut it through.' Don't you remember that classic
anecdote in your Roman history?"

It is a strange fact that the spirit of raillery, which to a dull man
is, at first, but a source of irritation and fretfulness, will, when
persevered in, become at last one of the most complete despotisms. He
dreads it as a weapon which he cannot defend himself against; and he
comes to regard it as an evidence of superiority and power. Barnard saw
the dominion that the other exercised over him, but could not resist it.

"Where to now?" asked he, as they whirled rapidly along the road towards
Monza.

"First of all, to Orta. There is an English family I want to see. Two
prettier girls you can't imagine--not that the news has any interest for
you, poor caged mouse that you are--but I am in love with one of them. I
forget which, but I believe it's the one that won't have me."

"She's right," said Barnard, with a half smile.

"Well, I half suspect she is. I could be a charming lover, but I fear
I'd make only a sorry husband. My qualities are too brilliant for
every-day use. It is your dreary fellows, with a tiresome monotony of
nature, do best in that melancholy mill they call marriage. You, for
instance, ought to be a model 'mari.'"

"You are not disposed to give me the chance, I think," said Barnard,
peevishly.

"On the contrary, I am preparing you most carefully for your career.
Conjugal life is a reformatory. You must come to it as a penitent Now
I'll teach you the first part of your lesson; your wife shall supply the
second."

"I'd relish this much better if--"

"I had not lost that money, you were going