"You can give this young gentleman a lesson in manners at your leisure," said Cesare. "By your leave, sir," and giving his hand to his sister, who took it passively, he led her to another apartment, followed by Giulia Bella, who tapped a good-bye on St. Armande's arm with her closed fan. Our group now consisted of Michelotto and myself standing, and St. Armande still sitting comfortably in the lounge, evidently examining the contour of his small and shapely foot. As for me, although I knew St. Armande to be grossly in the wrong, I was delighted with the sudden spirit he had shown. The youngster had heart, after all, and there was the making of a man in him. Michelotto behaved with great composure. "I trust, signore--I do not know your name--that you will give me the chance of carrying out the duke's commands." "My name is St. Armande," replied the chevalier; "and I am ready now, if you wish it." "This is scarcely the place, signore; but the Vatican gardens are a few feet away. If you will meet me near the summer-house, in, say, half an hour from now, it would be a convenience. If we left together perhaps it would excite remark," and the Spaniard played with the inlaid hilt of his dagger. "Very well." Michelotto gave St. Armande a bow, made a slight inclination towards me, and strolled off. To all intents and purposes we might have been engaged in the most friendly of conversations. "Well, cavaliere," said St. Armande looking up at me, "are you satisfied now?" "I am satisfied, chevalier, that you are still too young to be trusted alone. If you wanted to pick a quarrel there were a hundred courses open to you: there are fifty other men with whom you might have crossed swords with no danger except to yourself, and you must needs insult Cesare, and get embroiled with a cut-throat and risk our plans. Where is your prudence? But the wine is poured out now. You must drink." His colour kept coming and going. "I mean to fight it out. I shall step out in ten minutes, and await him. See! they are all gathering round the tables. What with the wine and the dice, no one will take heed who goes or who comes--good-bye!" and he held out his hand to me. "Nonsense, man--you are not going alone. You will want a second." "But not you," he replied, "any one but you. You have work to do--not you, Savelli." His voice had almost a choke in it as he spoke. "Come," I said, "put an end to this, or you will be run through the ribs. I am going with you." He gave in with a feminine gesture of agreement. "The business will not take long----" "It will take long enough, signore, if you go as you are going," and Corte stood beside us. "Signore," he added, "I have overheard every word of the scene. Do not go as you value your lives. If you do go, go with a strong party." "Diavolo!" I exclaimed, "an affair of the dagger then!"