"Run away? oh, nothing of the sort; he consented to let me come. Leicester can do anything with him. A deuced clever fellow, that Leicester; you know him of course! Everybody knows Leicester, I believe. Ha, what is the matter? Did I tread on your dress?"
"No no! you were saying something of—"
"Yes, yes, of Leicester—a wonderful fellow—we have only known him a week or two, and he can do anything with my tutor—got me off up here like magic!"
"And do you like him?"
"Well, now, you'll confess it's rather hard to like a man who has won ten thousand dollars from you, in one night; but I do rather fancy him, in spite of it."
"Has he won this money from you?" inquired the lady, in a low voice—"you, a minor!"
"Entre nous, yes; but it was all above-board, and in the most gentlemanly manner."
"Is Mr. Leicester at the hotel? Has he ever presented himself in the drawing-room?"
"No; he thinks the ladies a bore. I thought so myself, ten minutes ago; but now, with an old friend, it is different. The sight of you brought me back to Florence. You were kind to me there: I shall never, never forget the days and nights of that terrible fever; but for you, I must have died."
"I was used to sickness, you know," answered the lady, in a faltering voice.