Radonic yielded, and allowed Milena to fasten the little bag round his neck, looking deep into her beautiful eyes uplifted towards his. She blushed, feeling the fire of his glances.
"And now," added she, with a sigh of relief, "he'll break his viper's fangs against that bone, if our proverbs are true."
Radonic tried to keep up his character of an esprit-fort, and said:
"Humbug!" but there was a catch in his voice as he uttered this word.
"Now, I feel sure that as long as you have this talisman you'll not open your mouth or reveal a single word of what I've told you."
"Whom do you take me for?"
"Yes, but at times our very eyes deceive us; moreover, Vranic is a man to whom everybody is like glass. He reads your innermost thoughts."
"He is sharp; nothing more, I tell you."
"Anyhow, that is a powerful charm, and if you'll only dissimulate——"
"Oh! I can be a match for him if I like."
"You must promise me one thing more."