They looked each the other straight in the eyes--Pope inquiringly, the Prince defiantly. Then Pope said: “Ah! Excuse me one moment.” He left the room, muttering as he reached the hall, “The miserable swindler! He knows we won’t have any further scandal, no matter what it costs.” When he returned he had in his hand the emerald he and Elsie had bought at Tiffany’s. He laid it on the corner of the desk nearest the nobleman. “This is _a_ genuine emerald,” he said, his voice neither hot nor cold. “You may take _it_--if you like.” “I thank you,” replied the nobleman with a slight bow of acknowledgment, as if a wrong to him had been righted. He put the emerald and the ring in his waistcoat pocket; he put the box, with the false emerald in it, on the corner of the desk exactly where Senator Pope had laid the genuine stone. Then he went on, in a way that was the perfection of courtesy: “May I presume further on your kindness? This German cur has placed me in a distressing position. I wish to leave America at once, to return where a gentleman cannot be thus attacked without defence. Unfortunately----” He hesitated with a fine affectation of delicacy. Senator Pope’s eyes were more disagreeable to look at than any human being had ever before seen them. “I shall be glad to give you any _reasonable_ assistance,” he said with resolute self-control. “You are most kind!” Rontivogli was almost effusive. “I shall return any advance you may make as soon as I am at home.” “How much?” asked Pope with a trace of impatience. “I have many obligations which must be settled before I leave. I had just cabled for a remittance, but I wish to go before it can arrive. Might I trouble you for an advance of, perhaps, five thousand--I think that will be enough.” Senator Pope unlocked and opened a drawer, took out a flat package of bills. “Here is a thousand dollars,” he said. “I cannot advance you more. And I trust you will sail the day after to-morrow.” He looked hard at the Prince. “That will spare me the necessity of making a _private_ appeal to the Italian Embassy through our State Department.” “You are most kind, _mon cher_ Senator,” replied Rontivogli. He put the package of bills in the inside pocket of his coat. He reflected a few seconds, then took his top hat. “Will you do me the honour of presenting my compliments and regrets to Madame Pope--and to Mademoiselle?” he said with steady eyes and elaborate politeness. “I thank you again. I regret that we part in circumstances so unhappy. I shall send your little advance within the month.” He bowed profoundly, and Senator Pope inclined his head. He went to the door, turned there, bowed again. “_Au revoir_, my dear Senator,” he said cordially, and was gone--a fascinating patrician figure of handsome ease and dignity. XV