I begged his pardon, I shed sweeter tears on his brow and his beautiful hair; I strove to forget the uncomfortable impression I had received. I flattered myself moreover that he would make his friends understand that I was not a kept mistress and that they must respect me; but he either did not choose to do it or did not think of it, for on the next and following days I saw that Monsieur de Chalm's eyes followed me and solicited me with revolting insolence. I was in despair, but I did not know which way to turn to avoid the evils into which I had plunged. I was too proud to be happy, and loved Leoni too dearly to leave him. One evening I had gone into the salon to get a book I had left on the piano. Leoni was surrounded by a select party of his friends; they were grouped around the tea table at the end of the room, which was dimly lighted, and did not notice my presence. The viscount seemed to be in one of his wickedest teasing moods. "Baron Leone de Leoni," he said in a dry, mocking voice, "do you know, my dear fellow, that you are getting in very deep?" "What do you mean?" rejoined Leoni, "I have no debts at Venice yet." "But you soon will have." "I hope so," retorted Leoni with the utmost tranquillity. "_Vive Dieu_!" said the viscount, "you are the first of men when it comes to ruining yourself; half a million in three months! do you know that's running a very pretty rig?" Surprise had nailed me to my place; motionless and holding my breath, I awaited the end of this strange conversation. "Half a million?" echoed the Venetian marquis indifferently. "Yes," said Chalm, "Thaddeus the Jew advanced him five hundred thousand francs at the beginning of the winter." "That's doing very well," said the marquis. "Have you paid the rent of your ancestral palace, Leoni?" "_Parbleu_! yes, in advance," said Chalm; "would they have let it to him otherwise?" "What do you expect to do when you have nothing left?" queried another of Leoni's trusty friends. "Run in debt," replied Leoni with imperturbable tranquillity. "That's easier than to find Jews who will leave you at peace for three months," said the viscount. "What will you do when your creditors take you by the collar." "I will take a pretty little boat," replied Leoni with a smile. "Good! and go to Trieste?" "No, that is too near; to Palermo, I have never been there." "But when you arrive anywhere," said the marquis, "you must cut something of a figure for a few days." "Providence will provide for that," said Leoni, "she is the mother of the audacious." "But not of the indolent," said Chalm, "and I know nobody on earth more indolent than you. What the devil did you do in Switzerland with your infanta for six months?" "Silence on that subject!" retorted Leoni; "I loved her, and I'll throw my glass at the head of any man who sees anything to laugh at in that." "Leoni, you drink too much," observed another of his friends. "Perhaps so, but I have said what I have said."