I pulled myself together, continued to smoke calmly, and, leaning forward, went on chatting unconcernedly as I waited for the approach of the man whose heart, I knew, was a very furnace of rage and jealous hate of me. And I will confess it was a tense, exciting moment. *CHAPTER XIII* *THE FIGHT* The Red Saloon at the Café de l’Europe, as the room they were in was termed, was a well-frequented resort, and at that hour in the evening was generally full of visitors. But that night there were more empty tables than usual, and at one of these, quite close to us, Livenza and his two companions stopped and sat down. They were well within earshot, and Mayhew, after a warning glance to me, began to speak on indifferent subjects. I did not for a moment understand Livenza’s intention, but it was soon made unmistakably clear. When the three had ordered some fresh drinks, they began to speak on the topic which was in all Spaniards’ thoughts at the moment—the strain with the United States and the probable action of England. The conversation began quietly, and Livenza himself took no part in it for some minutes. The references to England grew gradually more bitter, however, until Mayhew was getting restive. "There’ll be a row if we stop here," he leant forward and whispered. "And you know how urgent the chief is about not getting into a mess." "Wait," I whispered back. "This is only a blind." "Well, they’re talking at us right enough, and I don’t like it." "I don’t want to drag you into it. If there’s anyone here you know, go and chat with him for ten minutes; but don’t leave the room." "Hullo, there’s Pezzia," he exclaimed aloud a moment later. "I haven’t seen him for an age. Excuse me, Carbonnell;" and he got up and went to a table at a distance. I heard one of the three snigger, and mutter something about discretion and that kind of courage which saves the skin by prudent flight. But fortunately Mayhew heard nothing, and I took no notice. There was a paper lying near, and I picked it up and began to read. Without any conscious intention, I turned to the paragraph of Court gossip for any news of the young King’s movements, and my attention was instantly caught and held by the following:—