Volume VI Part 54 (1/2)

Five or six days after Betty had left I chanced to ood deal, but was still as gay and active as ever After we had told each other our adventures he informed me that, as all the differences between the Holy See and the Court of Naples had been adjusted, he was going back to Rome

Before he went, however, he said he should like to present ain

The first persons I thought of were Donna Leonilda, or Donna Lucrezia, her atha, the dancer ho the Corticelli

Our delight was mutual, and we proceeded to tell each other the incidents of our lives since we had parted

My tale only lasted a quarter of an hour, but Agatha's history was a long one

She had only danced a year at Naples An advocate had fallen in love with her, and she shewed iven him The husband came in at supper-time, and as she had often talked to him about me he rushed to eent ether like old friends, and the Abbe Gaht, proatha was in the very flower of her beauty, the old fires were not rekindled in me I was ten years older My coolness pleased me, for I should not have liked to trouble the peace of a happy hoatha I proceeded to Goudar's, in whose bank I took a strong interest I found a dozen ganize in the holder of the bank Count Medini

Three or four days before this Medini had been expelled from the house of M de Choiseul, the French a at cards I had also ainst hiht a duel

On glancing at the bank I saw that it was at the last gasp It ought to have held six hundred ounces, and there were scarcely a hundred I was interested to the extent of a third

On exauessed the game It was the first time I had seen the rascal at Goudar's

At the end of the deal Goudar told me that this punter was a rich Frenchman who had been introduced by Medini He told , as he would be sure to lose it all and a good deal more another time

”I don't care who the punter is,” said I, ”it is not of the slightest consequence toas Medini is the banker I will have nothing to do with it”

”I have told Medini about it and wanted to take a third away from the bank, but he seemed offended and said he would make up any loss to you, but that he could not have the bank touched”

”Very good, but if he does not bringthere will be trouble Indeed, the responsibility lies with you, for I have told you that as long as Medini deals I will have nothing to do with it”

”Of course you have a claim on me for two hundred ounces, but I hope you will be reasonable; it would be rather hard for reater rascal than Medini, I did not believe a word he said; and I waited iame

At one o'clock it was all over The lucky punter went off with his pockets full of gold, and Medini, affecting high spirits, which were very much out of place, swore his victory should cost hiive me my two hundred ounces,” said I, ”for, of course, Gondar told you that I was out of it?”

”I confess myself indebted to you for that amount, as you absolutely insist, but pray tell me why you refuse to be interested in the bank when I a”

”Because I have no confidence in your luck”

”You must see that your words are capable of a very unpleasant interpretation”