ability, doubtless. Is it the most
likely thing in the world that if the young Englishman fell in love with
the beautiful Italian, that he would have sacrificed his whole ambition
in life to his passion? Is it not far more probable, in fact, that no
marriage whatever united them? Come, come, Pracontal, this is not, now
at least, a matter to grow sulky over; you cannot be angry or indignant
at my frankness, and you 'll not shoot me for this slur on your
grandmother's fair reputation."

"I certainly think that with nothing better than a theory to support
it, you might have spared her memory this aspersion."

"If I had imagined you could not talk of it as unconcernedly as myself,
I assure you I would never have spoken about it."

"You see now, however, that you have mistaken me--that you have read me
rather as one of your own people than as a Frenchman," said the other,
warmly.

"I certainly see that I must not speak to you with frankness, and I
shall use caution not to offend you by candor."

"This is not enough, sir," said the Frenchman, rising and staring
angrily at him.

"What is not enough?" said Longworth, with a perfect composure.

"Not enough for apology, sir; not enough as _amende_ for an
unwarrantable and insolent calumny."

"You are getting angry at the sound of your own voice, Pracontal. I now
tell you that I never meant--never could have meant--to offend you. You
came to me for a counsel which I could only give by speaking freely what
was in my mind. This is surely enough for explanation."

"Then let it all be forgotten at once," cried the other, warmly.

"I 'll not go that far," said Longworth, in the same calm tone as
before. "You have accepted my explanation; you have recognized what one
moment of justice must have convinced you of--that I had no intention to
wound your feelings. There is certainly, however, no reason in the world
why I should expose my own to any unnecessary injury. I have escaped a
peril; I have no wish to incur another of the same sort."

"I don't think I understand you," said Pracontal, quickly. "Do you mean
we should quarrel?"

"By no means."

"That we should separate, then?"

"Certainly."

The Frenchman became pale, and suddenly his face flushed till it was
deep crimson, and his eyes flashed with fire. The effort to be calm was
almost a strain beyond his strength; but he succeeded, and in a voice
scarcely above a whisper, he said, "I am deeply in your debt. I cannot