The three had stopped by a bench under a tree. The young man, who wore claret silk and a sword, had one of those thin faces of dirty complexion which show the ravages of dissipation, and he was talking with a rapidity and vehemence of which only a Latin tongue will admit. We could see, likewise, that the girl was answering with spirit,--indeed, I should write a stronger word than spirit,--while the elderly gentleman, who had a good-humored, fleshy face and figure, was plainly doing his best to calm them both. People who were passing stared curiously at the three. "Your divinity evidently has a temper," I remarked. "For that scoundel--certainly," said Nick; "but come, they are moving on." "You mean to follow them?" I exclaimed. "Why not?" said he. "We will find out where they live and who they are, at least." "And you have taken a fancy to this girl?" "I have looked them all over, and she's by far the best I've seen. I can say so much honestly." "But she may be married," I said weakly. "Tut, Davy," he answered, "it's more than likely, from the violence of their quarrel. But if so, we will try again." "We!" I exclaimed. "Oh, come on!" he cried, dragging me by the sleeve, "or we shall lose them." I resisted no longer, but followed him down the levee, in my heart thanking heaven that he had not taken a fancy to an octoroon. Twilight had set in strongly, the gay crowd was beginning to disperse, and in the distance the three figures could be seen making their way across the Place d'Armes, the girl hanging on the elderly gentleman's arm, and the young man following with seeming sullenness behind. They turned into one of the narrower streets, and we quickened our steps. Lights gleamed in the houses; voices and laughter, and once the tinkle of a guitar came to us from court-yard and gallery. But Nick, hurrying on, came near to bowling more than one respectable citizen we met on the banquette, into the ditch. We reached a corner, and the three were nowhere to be seen. "Curse the luck!" cried Nick, "we have lost them. The next time I'll stop for no explanations." There was no particular reason why I should have been penitent, but I ventured to say that the house they had entered could not be far off. "And how the devil are we to know it?" demanded Nick. This puzzled me for a moment, but presently I began to think that the two might begin quarrelling again, and said so. Nick laughed and put his arm around my neck. "You have no mean ability for intrigue when you put your mind to it, Davy," he said; "I vow I believe you are in love with the girl yourself." I disclaimed this with some vehemence. Indeed, I had scarcely seen her. "They can't be far off," said Nick; "we'll pitch on a likely house and camp in front of it until bedtime." "And be flung into a filthy calaboose by a constable," said I. "No, thank you."