"Oh—her eyes, was it? Mr. Geoffrey, I'll tell you what—a girl may look 'yes' with her eyes a whole week an' say 'no' with her mouth jest once and mean 'no'—when it's to a peanut man—Lordy Lord! what's that?" And Mrs. Trapes jumped as a hand rapped softly on the door, and stared horrified to see a human head protrude itself into the room while a voice said:
"Da Signorina she out, so me come tell-a you piece-a-da-noos—"
"Why, if it ain't that blessed guinney! Go away—what d'ye want?"
Hereupon Tony flashed his white teeth, and opening the door, bowed with his inimitable grace, grew solemn, tapped his nose, winked knowingly, and laid finger to lip.
"My land!" said Mrs. Trapes, staring. "What's the matter with the Eyetalian iji't now?"
"Spike—he go make-a-da-fight!" whispered Tony hoarsely.
"Eh—Arthur fightin'—where?"
"He go make-a-da-box—he drink-a-da-booze, den he walk-a—so! Den da Signorina she-a-cry—"
"Oh!" exclaimed Mrs. Trapes, "you mean as that b'y's off boxin' again?"
"Si, si—he go make-a-da-box-fight."