"Beratinsky," said Calabressa, promptly, "a bear—surly, pig-headed; Reitzei, a fop—sinuous, petted."
"Which would be the more easily started, for example?" the tall man said, with a smile.
"Oh, your Excellency, leave that to me," Calabressa answered. "Give me no definite instructions: am I not a volunteer?—can I not do as I please, always with the risk that one may knock me over the head if I am impertinent?"
"Well, then, if you leave it to your discretion, friend Calabressa, to your ingenuity, and your desire to have justice without bias, have you money?"
"Not at all, Excellenza."
"The Secretary Granaglia will communicate with you this evening. You can start at once?"
"By the direct train to-morrow morning at seven. Excellenza." Then he added, "Oh, the devil!"
"What now?"
"There was a young fellow, Excellenza, committed the imprudence of dogging my footsteps this afternoon. I know him. I stopped him and referred him to the captain of the schooner La Svezia: he was to bring me the receipt to morrow."