Part 62 (1/2)
”I think none of you will accuse me of want of courage. If I met these fellows you know very well that I would go in for fighting them. But what I do object to is the infernal bother of being stopped, detained, or perhaps sent back. Then if any of us got wounded we would be laid up for a month or so. That's what I object to. If I had to do it it would be different, but I see no necessity.”
”You surely want to see Lombardy?”
”No, I don't.”
”Not Bologna?”
”No.”
”Ferrara?”
”No.”
”Do you mean to say that you don't want to see Venice and Milan?”
”Haven't the remotest desire to see either of the places. I merely wish to get back again to Paris. It's about the best place I've seen yet, except, of course, my native city, Philadelphia. That I think is without an equal. However, our minds are made up. We don't wish to change your plans--in fact, we never thought it possible.
We are going to take the steamer at Leghorn for Ma.r.s.eilles, and go on to Paris.”
”Well, Doctor,” said d.i.c.k, ”will you do me one favor before you go?”
”With pleasure. What is it?”
”Sell me your pistol.”
”I can't _sell_ it,” said the Doctor. ”It was a present to me. But I will be happy to lend it to you till we meet again in Paris. We will be sure to meet there in a couple of months at the furthest.”
The Doctor took out his pistol and handed it to d.i.c.k, who thankfully received it.
”Oh, b.u.t.tons,” said the Senator, suddenly, ”I have good news for you.
I ought to have told you before.”
”Good news? what?”
”I saw the Spaniards.”
”The Spaniards!” cried b.u.t.tons, eagerly, starting up. ”Where did you see them? When? Where are they? I have scoured the whole town.”
”I saw them at a very crowded a.s.sembly at the Countess's. There was such a scrouging that I could not get near them. The three were there. The little Don and his two sisters.”
”And don't you know any thing about them?”
”Not a hooter, except something that the Countess told me. I think she said that they were staying at the villa of a friend of hers.”
”A friend? Oh, confound it all! What shall I do?”
”The villa is out of town.”