Lord Maltravers was naturally very much elated at his success in winning Lena Van Hoosen's consent to marry him. He was really very much in love with the young lady, and intended to settle down and live a quiet life with her. That he had got rid of Adéle Bellefontaine forever, he did not doubt for a moment. Everything progressed favorably with him, as his plans gradually approached their fruition. A few days before that appointed for the marriage, Bambino entered his master's private room, while he was at breakfast. He sat down with an air of easy familiarity, which was very unusual with him. "What do you want?" asked Maltravers, looking up from his paper. "My discharge," replied Bambino. Lord Maltravers put a glass in his eye and regarded him curiously. "Your what?" he asked. "My discharge. Is it necessary for me to repeat it?" "But, my good fellow, you are my life-long star. I may need you in the future." "I care not. Let me go." "Certainly not. If you persist in your determination to leave me, I shall go at once to the Italian Consul, and let him know that Bambino, the escaped murderer, is in New York." "What then?" "There is a price on your head." "Well?" "You will be sent back to Italy, and pass the remainder of your natural life at the galleys." "Yes, that's true," said Bambino, calmly. "Reflect, my friend," continued Maltravers. "However fond you may be of hard work and black bread, however much you may be enamored of the whip of the taskmaster, and notwithstanding the charm a hot sun may have for you, I will venture to say, that my service is more agreeable." "I wish to quit your service, sigñor." "And I say again, I will not permit you to do so. It is not always that one can pick up such an accomplished villain as you are." "Do I suit you so well?" "So well, that I will not part with you." "I am a finished villain?" Bambino asked, in a strange voice. "Perfect in every respect." "You have no fault to find with me?" "None." Bambino smiled quietly, as if pleased with an original idea which had just occurred to him. "Give me fifty thousand dollars," he exclaimed, "and I will not trouble you any more." Lord Maltravers started from his chair, and seized a cane. "Dog," he said, "am I to stand this impertinence?" "Yes." "You say 'yes!' do you know of what you are talking?" Bambino rose and displayed his dagger. "Cospetto!" he cried. "Touch me not. If you so much as lay your little finger on me, I will stab you to the heart." Maltravers dropped the cane. "Oh! decidedly," he said, "I shall have to go to the Italian Consul." "No, my lord," replied Bambino. "It is I, who will have to go to the British Consul." Maltravers turned pale with rage. "Do you threaten _me_, you low scoundrel?" he exclaimed. "Yes, I do." "What can you say, except that I hired you to commit a crime--that is, I employed you to kill Jack Harkaway?" "I shall not go upon that." "If you did no one would believe you."