"Ola! what may that portend?" said the visconte, whom it relieved from his embarrassment. "I shall be glad to learn who dares to sound a horn within the bounds of my jurisdiction?" he added, taking up his sword. "I will accompany you." "Good: then let us go!" Glad to have a decent pretext for quitting her presence, I pressed Bianca’s hand to my lips with trembling anxiety, while there stole over me a dismal foreboding that we might meet no more. My promise to her was forgotten: could I keep it? Impossible! "Luigi, beware of a quarrel; and, dear Claude, for the love of Heaven! curb his rashness. I can depend on you" said she, as we hurried down the staircase; and her words sank deeply into my heart. Too well I knew the deadly mission on which we were bound; and the shrill mountain-horn poured another warning blast, which, as it seemed more faint and distant, made us quicken our steps. The visconte’s horses stood in their stalls, saddled and bridled ready for any emergency; and, summoning Zacheo Andronicus to bring forth a couple of nags, we mounted, and, accompanied by him, galloped in the direction of the signal, with the purport of which I acquainted my friend, as we rode on. "Cospetto!" he exclaimed; "then this quarrel is mine. I cannot permit you to jeopard life or limb for any member of my family; of whose honour I, as chief and head, am the defender and guardian. I will in person meet this Colonel, of whom more has been said at the villa than I cared to listen to. He is one of my mother’s gambling friends, picked up at that select resort, Father Petronio’s palace; and is, perhaps, some barefaced charlatan, who assumes the name of Almario and the rank of colonel." "But there are many officers of the Masse and other irregular corps, whose uniforms are so motley and fanciful, and whose names are not borne on any authorized list, that it is impossible to say what he is." "True; but time shall prove all: and I——" "Santugo! it was to me, and with me alone, that defiances were exchanged: I cannot permit another to fight in my quarrel." "But the quarrel is my pretty Bianca’s, and I am her only kinsman." "And I her betrothed husband: behold this ring!" "Buono! but I am an unfortunate dog, who would more willingly be shot to-night than live longer." "And leave Francesca alone—alone in her misery and helplessness?" "O Madonna! Yet I will meet the Colonel." "On my honour you shall _not_," I continued, with equal pertinacity. "I must fight or horsewhip him. But if I am winged, or knocked on the head, you can take up my ground, and parade him in turn.—By-the-by, have you not been somewhat rash in venturing forth with me this evening before dusk, when so many enemies are hovering round and ready to pounce on you?"