"I am afraid those two gentlemen do not love one another," she said. "Hardly," I assented. "And you, do you love them--or either of them?" "I love only one person in Aureataland," I replied, as ardently as I dared. The signorina bit her rose, glancing up at me with unfeigned amusement and pleasure. I think I have mentioned that she didn't object to honest admiration. "Is it possible you mean me?" she said, making me a little courtesy. "I only think so because most of the Whittingham ladies would not satisfy your fastidious taste." "No lady in the world could satisfy me except one," I answered, thinking she took it a little too lightly. "Ah! so you say," she said. "And yet I don't suppose you would do anything for me, Mr. Martin?" "It would be my greatest happiness," I cried. She said nothing, but stood there, biting the rose. "Give it to me," I said; "it shall be my badge of service." "You will serve me, then?" said she. "For what reward?" "Why, the rose!" "I should like the owner too," I ventured to remark. "The rose is prettier than the owner," she said; "and, at any rate, one thing at a time, Mr. Martin! Do you pay your servants all their wages in advance?" My practice was so much the contrary that I really couldn't deny the force of her reasoning. She held out the rose. I seized it and pressed it close to my lips, thereby squashing it considerably. "Dear me," said the signorina, "I wonder if I had given you the other thing whether you would have treated it so roughly." "I'll show you in a moment," said I. "Thank you, no, not just now," she said, showing no alarm, for she knew she was safe with me. Then she said abruptly: "Are you a Constitutionalist or a Liberal, Mr. Martin?" I must explain that, in the usual race for the former title, the President's party had been first at the post, and the colonel's gang (as I privately termed it) had to put up with the alternative designation. Neither name bore any relation to facts. "Are we going to talk politics?" said I reproachfully. "Yes, a little; you see we got to an _impasse_ on the other topic. Tell me." "Which are you, signorina?" I asked. I really wanted to know; so did a great many people. She thought for a moment, and then said: "I have a great regard for the President. He has been most kind to me. He has shown me real affection." "The devil he has!" I muttered. "I beg your pardon?" said she. "I only said, 'Of course he has.' The President has the usual complement of eyes." The signorina smiled again, but went on as if I hadn't spoken. "On the other hand, I cannot disguise from myself that some of his measures are not wise." I said I had never been able to disguise it from myself. "The colonel, of course, is of the same opinion," she continued. "About the debt, for instance. I believe your bank is interested in it?" This was no secret, so I said: "Oh, yes, to a considerable extent." "And you?" she asked softly.