for my endurance, and I was
glad that a ring sounded at the hall bell, and that Hinge, who, I have
no doubt at all, was listening outside, answered immediately. I heard
a muffled voice outside, and then Hinge knocked at the inner door; and
having in vain tried the handle, said:

"The Conte di Rossano, if you please."

CHAPTER X

I drew the key from my pocket, unlocked the door, and admitted the
count, who stood for an instant on the threshold, looking from me
to Brunow and from Brunow to me with an aspect of some considerable
amazement. Hinge was gaping in the passage, and it was evident that he
was more interested in the proceedings than he knew himself to have the
right to be; for, encountering my eye, he withdrew his own instantly,
and plunged with great precipitation out of sight.

"Come in, sir," I said to the count; and he entered, closing the door
behind him, and still looking from Brunow to myself and back again with
an aspect of complete surprise strongly mingled with displeasure.

"I had not expected to find Mr. Brunow here." This told me, or seemed
to tell me at once, that Brunow had but recently left the count, and my
conjecture turned out in a moment to be true.

"I have repeated to Captain Fyffe, sir," said Brunow, "what I told you
less than half an hour ago."

"Then," said the count, "you have repeated to Captain Fyffe what I
emphatically denied to you. That, sir, is a refusal of my plighted
word."

His meagre figure was drawn to its full height, he threw his head back,
and his deep-sunken eyes flashed with indignation.

"I have told this fellow," cried Brunow, "that he has betrayed my
confidence--the most sacred confidence one man can repose in another--a
confidence I extended to him, believing him to be a man of honor and my
friend."

"And I, sir, have instructed you," returned the count, "that your
accusation is altogether baseless. There, if you cede so much to the
authority of my years, the matter may be allowed to rest. If you have
further business with Captain Fyffe, I will find another opportunity of
calling upon him."

"I have no further business with Captain Fyffe," said Bruno, "now nor at
any time."

So saying, he looked about him for his hat, caught it up, bowed angrily
to the count, and without a word or a glance for me walked out of the
room, slamming the outer door so noisily that the whole house shook with
the concussion.

"Mr. Brunow," said the count, when we were