dred thousand dollars."

"We must wait, Jack. But this I will promise. I'll never marry the
colonel. If it comes to that or running away, we'll run away."

"And Whittingham?"

The signorina for once looked grave.

"You know him," she said. "Think what he made you do! and you're not a
weak man, or I shouldn't be fond of you. Jack, you must keep him away
from me."

She was quite agitated; and it was one more tribute to the President's
powers that he should exert so strange an influence over such a
nature. I was burning to ask her more about herself and the President,
but I could not while she was distressed. And when I had comforted
her, she resolutely declined to return to the subject.

"No, go away now," she said. "Think how we are to checkmate our two
Presidents. And, Jack! whatever happens, I got you back the money.
I've done you some good. So be kind to me. I'm not very much afraid of
your heart breaking. In fact, Jack, we are neither of us good young
people. No, no; be quiet and go away. You have plenty of useful things
to occupy your time."

At last I accepted my dismissal and walked off, my happiness
considerably damped by the awkward predicament in which we stood.
Clearly McGregor meant business; and at this moment McGregor was
all-powerful. If he kept the reins, I should lose my love. If the
President came back, a worse fate still threatened. Supposing it were
possible to carry off the signorina, which I doubted very much, where
were we to go to! And would she come?

On the whole, I did not think she would come.

CHAPTER XII.

BETWEEN TWO FIRES.

In spite of my many anxieties, after this eventful day I enjoyed the
first decent night's rest I had had for a week. The colonel refused,
with an unnecessary ostentation of scorn, my patriotic offer to keep
watch and ward over the city, and I turned in, tired out, at eleven
o'clock, after a light dinner and a meditative pipe. I felt I had
some reasons for self-congratulation; for considerable as my present
difficulties were, yet I undoubtedly stood in a more hopeful position
than I had before the revolution. I was now resolved to get my money
safe out of the country, and I had hopes of being too much for
McGregor in the other matter which shared my thoughts.

The return of day, however, brought new troubles. I was roused at
an early hour by a visit from the colonel himself. He brought very
disquieting tidings. In the course of the night every one