"I say, Jack!" Merrihew interposed, greatly perturbed.
"And you will stay also, Dan."
"Are you really in earnest?" dubiously. Why hadn't this impossible woman sung under somebody else's window?
"Earnest as I possibly can be. Listen a moment. La Signorina is not a person recklessly to endanger us. She has, apparently, put her head into the lion's mouth. But perhaps this lion is particularly well trained. I am sure that she knows many things of which we are all ignorant. Trust her to carry out this imposture which now seems so wild. Besides, to tell the truth, I do not wish it said that I was outdone by Miss Killigrew in courage and the spirit of adventure."
"Oh, give me no credit for that," broke in Kitty.
La Signorina, however, rewarded Hillard with a look which set his pulses humming. Into what folly would he not have gone at a sign from this lovely being? In his mind there was not the shadow of a doubt: this comedy would ultimately end at some magistrate's desk. So be it.
Merrihew cast about helplessly, but none held out a hand. He must decide for himself.
"Do you mean it, Kitty?"
"Yes."
O'Mally's face wore several new wrinkles; and both he and Smith were looking at the green mold on the flag-stones as interestedly as if China was but on the other side. Kitty saw nothing, not even the hills she was staring at.