“I have no prejudice against your countrymen,” said Mr. Cunningham to Bernard. “I have known many cultivated and refined Americans, whose society I enjoyed, but they differed essentially from Mr. Sanderson. I own I wish he would leave us.”
“He seems determined to stand by us,” said Bernard.
“Yes, so it seems.”
“There is one chance of separating from him. He has made up his mind to go to Sicily and wants us to go with him.”
“We can refuse. But in that case he may give up his plan.”
“I don’t think he will. He tells me he has always wanted to go to Sicily.”
“He may stand a chance of being again captured by banditti. I understand that Sicily is more infested with them than the mainland.”
“I earnestly hope not. I don’t care especially for Mr. Sanderson, but I think he has had his share of that kind of peril.”
That evening Mr. Sanderson broached the subject, and strongly urged his two companions to start with him for Palermo.
“We shall have to disappoint you,” said Walter Cunningham. “We have other plans.”