htens her,
so I got the colonel's leave (for you know we mustn't move without
permission now liberty has triumphed) for her to seek change of air."

"Where's she going to?" I said.

"Home," said the signorina.

I didn't know where "home" was, but I never ask what I am not meant to
know.

"Are you left alone?"

"Yes. I know it's not correct. But you see, Jack, I had to choose
between care for my money and care for my reputation. The latter is
always safe in my own keeping; the former I wasn't so sure about."

"Oh, so you've given it to Mrs. Carrington?"

"Yes, all but five thousand dollars."

"Does the colonel know that?"

"Dear me, of course not! or he'd never have let her go."

"You're very wise," said I. "I only wish I could have sent my money
with her."

"I'm afraid that would have made dear aunt rather bulky," said the
signorina, tittering.

"Yes, such a lot of mine's in cash," I said regretfully. "But won't
they find it on her?"

"Not if they're gentlemen," replied the signorina darkly.

Evidently I could not ask for further details; so, without more ado,
I disclosed my own perilous condition and the colonel's boasts about
herself.

"What a villain that man is!" she exclaimed. "Of course, I was civil
to him, but I didn't say half that. You didn't believe I did, Jack?"

There's never any use in being unpleasant, so I said I had rejected
the idea with scorn.

"But what's to be done? If I'm here to-morrow, he'll take the money,
and, as likely as not, cut my throat if I try to stop him."

"Yes, and he'll marry me," chimed in the signorina. "Jack, we must
have a counter-revolution."

"I don't see what good that'll do," I answered dolefully. "The
President will take the money just the same, and I expect he'll marry
you just the same."

"Of the two, I would rather have him. Now don't rage, Jack! I only
said, 'of the two.' But you're quite right; it couldn't help us much
to bring General Whittingham back."

"To say nothing of the strong probability of my perishing in the
attempt."

"Let me think," said the signorina, knitting her brows.

"May I light a cigarette and help you?"

She nodded permission, and I awaited the result of her meditation.

She sat there, looking very thoughtful and troubled, but it seemed
to me as if she were rather undergoing a conflict of feeling than
thinking out a course of action. Once she glanced at me, then turned
away with a restless movement and a sigh.

I