"He won't refuse. Dame! he owes me something for bringing him into existence again."
"And what about the doctor?"
"He will soon be here," said Beltrami, glancing at his watch; "I expect him every minute."
"Will he keep this affair quiet?"
"Per Bacco! I should think so, mon ami. I ascertained that before I told him anything. Not that I told him much, ma foi, no! I invented a delightful story about Pallanza, which he swallowed as easily as I do this wine."
"And the story?"
"I have not the time to tell it to you, but it is a beautiful story, worthy of Boccaccio. Oh, he will keep his mouth shut, I promise you, Hugo. He is a great friend of mine, and I never associate with those who talk of other people's business."
"Have you the antidote, Marchese?"
"Here it is," said Beltrami, rising and taking the small bottle from his desk near the window; "and, ma foi! here is the doctor coming up the street."
"How fond you are of French," I remarked, laughingly. "Parisian ejaculations are never out of your mouth."