"It struck me as a very odd remark," answered the Prince, still walking about. "By the bye," he added, pausing before the writing-table, "here is that letter you wrote for me. Do you want me to read it?" "No," said Giovanni, with a laugh. "It is of no use now. It would seem absurd, since I am alive and well. It was only a word of farewell." The Prince laughed too, and threw the sealed letter into the fire. "The last of the Saracinesca is not dead yet," he said. "Giovanni, what are we to say to the gossips? All Rome will be ringing with this affair before night. Of course, you must stay at home for a few days, or you will catch cold, in your arm. I will go out and carry the news of our victory." "Better to say nothing about it--better to refer people to Del Ferice, and tell them he challenged me. Come in!" cried Giovanni, in answer to a knock at the door. Pasquale, the old butler, entered the room. "The Duca d'Astrardente has sent to inquire after the health of his Excellency Don Giovanni," said the old man, respectfully. The elder Saracinesca paused in his walk, and broke out into a loud laugh. "Already! You see, Giovannino," he said. "Tell him, Pasquale, that Don Giovanni caught a severe cold at the ball last night--or no--wait! What shall we say, Giovannino?" "Tell the servant," said Giovanni, sternly, "that I am much obliged for the kind inquiry, that I am perfectly well, and that you have just seen me eating my breakfast." Pasquale bowed and left the room. "I suppose you do not want her to know--" said the Prince, who had suddenly recovered his gravity. Giovanni bowed his head silently. "Quite right, my boy," said the old man, gravely. "I do not want to know anything about it either. How the devil could they have found out?" The question was addressed more to himself than to his son, and the latter volunteered no answer. He was grateful to his father for his considerate silence. CHAPTER XIII. When Astrardente saw the elder Saracinesca's face during his short interview with the diplomatist, his curiosity was immediately aroused. He perceived that there was something the matter, and he proceeded to try and ascertain the circumstances from his acquaintance. The ambassador returned to his _pâté_ and his champagne with an air of amused interest, but vouchsafed no information whatever. "What a singularly amusing fellow old Saracinesca is!" remarked Astrardente. "When he likes to be," returned his Excellency, with his mouth full. "On the contrary--when he least meditates it. I never knew a man better suited for a successful caricature. Indeed he is not a bad caricature of his own son, or his own son of him--I am not sure which." The ambassador laughed a little and took a large mouthful.