especially
now, when you look so pale and interesting."

The Gadfly clasped his hands with a tragic gesture.

"Bless my soul! I never thought of that! She'd take me for one of
Italy's martyrs, and talk patriotism to me. I should have to act up to
the part, and tell her I've been cut to pieces in an underground dungeon
and stuck together again rather badly; and she'd want to know exactly
what the process felt like. You don't think she'd believe it, Riccardo?
I'll bet you my Indian dagger against the bottled tape-worm in your
den that she'll swallow the biggest lie I can invent. That's a generous
offer, and you'd better jump at it."

"Thanks, I'm not so fond of murderous tools as you are."

"Well, a tape-worm is as murderous as a dagger, any day, and not half so
pretty."

"But as it happens, my dear fellow, I don't want the dagger and I do
want the tape-worm. Martini, I must run off. Are you in charge of this
obstreperous patient?"

"Only till three o'clock. Galli and I have to go to San Miniato, and
Signora Bolla is coming till I can get back."

"Signora Bolla!" the Gadfly repeated in a tone of dismay. "Why,
Martini, this will never do! I can't have a lady bothered over me and my
ailments. Besides, where is she to sit? She won't like to come in here."

"Since when have you gone in so fiercely for the proprieties?" asked
Riccardo, laughing. "My good man, Signora Bolla is head nurse in general
to all of us. She has looked after sick people ever since she was in
short frocks, and does it better than any sister of mercy I know. Won't
like to come into your room! Why, you might be talking of the Grassini
woman! I needn't leave any directions if she's coming, Martini. Heart
alive, it's half-past two; I must be off!"

"Now, Rivarez, take your physic before she comes," said Galli,
approaching the sofa with a medicine glass.

"Damn the physic!" The Gadfly had reached the irritable stage of
convalescence, and was inclined to give his devoted nurses a bad time.
"W-what do you want to d-d-dose me with all sorts of horrors for now the
pain is gone?"

"Just because I don't want it to come back. You wouldn't like it if you
collapsed when Signora Bolla is here and she had to give you opium."

"My g-good sir, if that pain is going to come back it will come; it's
not a t-toothache to be frightened away with your trashy mixtures. They
are about as much use as a t-toy squirt for a house on fire. However, I
suppose you must ha