Antonio-Pericles sniffed, and assented, 'It is the stupidity of the ear.' 'I said, the Countess Lena.' 'Von Lenkenstein; but I choose to be further deaf.' 'To the devil, sir. Do you pretend to be angry?' cried Weisspriess. 'The devil, sir, with your recommendation, is too black for me to visit him,' Antonio-Pericles rejoined. 'By heaven, Pericles, for less than what you allow yourself to say, I've sent men to him howling!' They faced one another, pulling at their moustachios. Weisspriess laughed. 'You're not a fighting man, Pericles.' The Greek nodded affably. 'One is in my way, I have him put out of my way. It is easiest.' 'Ah! easiest, is it?' Captain Weisspriess 'frowned meditative' over this remarkable statement of a system. 'Well, it certainly saves trouble. Besides, my good Pericles, none but an ass would quarrel with you. I was observing that General Pierson wants his nephew to marry the Countess Lena immediately; and if, as you tell me, this girl Belloni, who is called la Vittoria--the precious little woman!--has such power over him, it's quite as well, from the General's point of view, that she should be out of the way at Sonnenberg. I have my footing at the Duchess of Graath's. I believe she hopes that I shall some day challenge and kill her husband; and as I am supposed to have saved Major de Pyrmont's life, I am also an object of present gratitude. Do you imagine that your little brown-eyed Belloni scented one of her enemies in me?' 'I know nothing of imagination,' the Signor Antonio observed frigidly. 'Till we meet!' Captain Weisspriess kissed his fingers, half as up toward the windows, and half to the Greek. 'Save me from having to teach love to your Irma!' He ran to join his servant. Luigi had heard much of the conversation, as well as the last sentence. 'It shall be to la Irma if it is to anybody,' Luigi muttered. 'Let Weisspriess--he will not awake love in her--let him kindle hate, it will do,' said the Signor Antonio. 'She has seen him, and if he meets her on the route to Meran, she will think it her fascination.' Looking at his watch and at the lighted windows, he repeated his special injunctions to Luigi. 'It is near the time. I go to sleep. I am getting old: I grow nervous. Ten-twenty in addition, you shall have, if all is done right. Your weekly pay runs on. Twenty--you shall have thirty! Thirty napoleons additional!' Ten fingers were flashed thrice. Luigi gave a jump. 'Padrone, they are mine.' 'Animal, that shake your belly-bag and brain-box, stand!' cried the Greek, who desired to see Luigi standing firm that he might inspire himself with confidence in his integrity. When Luigi's posture had satisfied him, he turned and went off at great strides.