“Ah!” he laughed; “you women are always so ready to jump to ill-formed conclusions. She has one weak point.”
“And you have discovered it?”
“Yes; I have discovered it.”
“How?”
“That is my affair. It is sufficient to be aware that she, the invincible, is nevertheless vulnerable.”
There was another pause; but at last the woman I loved responded in a firm, determined tone—
“Then, if that is true, I leave it to you. You declare you are my friend, therefore I can, at least, rely on you for protection, especially as we have so many interests in common.”
“But you must assist me,” he observed.
“No,” she answered, “I refuse to do that. You are quite capable of carrying out any villainy without my assistance.”
“Need we use the term villainy where La Gioia is concerned?” he asked. “You know her well enough to be aware that if she finds you she will be merciless, and will gloat over your downfall.”