"Then she is quite cheerful and happy?" said Brand, somewhat wondering. "Sometimes," Calabressa said, more gravely. "One cannot always be anxious; one has glimpses of hope; then the spirit rises; the eyes laugh. You, for example, you do not seem much cast down?" Brand avoided his inquisitive look, and merely said, "One must take things as one finds them. There is no use repining over what happens." Calabressa now rose and took his cap; then he laid it down on the table again. "One moment before I go, my dear Monsieur Brand. I told you to expect news; perhaps you will not understand. Shall I show you something to help? Regard this: it is only a little trick; but it may help you to understand when the news comes to you." He took from his pocket a piece of white paper, square, and with apparently nothing on it. He laid it on the table, and produced a red pencil. "May I trouble you for a small pair of scissors, my dear friend?" Brand stepped aside to a writing-desk, and brought him the scissors; he was scarcely thinking of Calabressa, at all; he was thinking of the message he would send to Naples. Calabressa slowly and carefully cut the piece of paper into four squares, and proceeded to fold these up. Brand looked on, it is true, but with little interest; and he certainly did not perceive that his companion had folded three of these pieces with the under side inward, the fourth with the upper side inward, while this had the rough edges turned in a different direction from the other three. "Now, Mr. Brand," said Calabressa, calmly, "if one were drawing lots, for example, what more simple than this? I take one of these pieces--you see there is nothing on it--I print a red cross with my pencil; there, it is folded again, and they all go into my cap." "Enough, Calabressa," Brand said, impatiently; "you show me that you have questioned me closely enough. There is enough said about it." "I ask your pardon, my dear friend, there is not," said Calabressa, politely; "for this is what I have to say now: draw one of the pieces of paper." Brand turned away. "It is not a thing to be gone over again, I tell you; I have had enough of it; let it rest." "It must not rest. I beg of you--my friend, I insist--" He pressed the cap on him. Brand, to get rid of him, drew one of the papers and tossed it on to the table. Calabressa took it up, opened it, and showed him the red cross. "Yes, you are again unfortunate, my dear Monsieur Brand. Fate pursues you, does it not? But wait one moment. Will you open the other three papers?" As Brand seemed impatient, Calabressa himself took them out and opened them singly before him. On each and all was the same red mark. But now Brand was indifferent no longer "What do you mean, Calabressa?" he said, quickly. "I mean," said Calabressa, regarding him, "that one might prepare a trick by which you would not have much chance of escape." Brand caught him by the arm.