Across the benevolent old face of Signor Bruno here came a very evil smile.
“You will do better not to ask me that question,” he replied, “unless you mean to run for it—as I do.”
The Vicomte d'Audierne looked at his companion in a curious way.
“You had,” he said, “at one time no rival as a man of action—”
Signor Bruno shrugged his shoulders.
“I am a man of action still.”
The Vicomte folded the proof-sheet carefully, handed it back to his companion, and said:
“Then I understand that—there will be no more of these very clever articles?”
Bruno nodded his head.
“I ask no questions,” continued the other. “It is better so. I shall stay where I am for a few days, unless it grows too hot—unless I think it expedient to vanish.”