Napoleons and a half," said the other, slowly. "Look ye,
Calvert, I'm going to impound this. It's a sorry instalment, but, as far
as it goes--"

"Take it, old fellow, and leave me quiet."

"One word more, Calvert," said Barnard, seriously. "I cannot muster
courage to meet old Rep this morning, and if you like to start at once
and settle this affair you have in Switzerland, I'm ready, but it must
be done instanter."

"All right; I shall be ready within an hour. Tell the porter to send my
bath up at once, and order coffee by the time you'll be dressed."

There was very little trace of sleep about Calvert's face now, as,
springing from his bed, he prepared for the road. With such despatch,
indeed, did he proceed, that he was already in the coffee-room before
his friend had descended.

"Shall we say anything to the landlord before we start, Calvert?"
whispered he.

"Of course; send Signor Angelo, or Antonio, or whatever his name, here.
The padrone, I mean," said he to the waiter.

"He is called Luigi Filippo, Sir," said the man indignantly.

"A capital name for a rogue. Let us have him here."

A very burly consequential sort of man, marvellously got up as to beard,
moustaches, and watch-chain, entered and bowed.

"Signor Luigi Filippo," said Calvert, "my friend here--the son of that
immensely wealthy mi Lordo up stairs--is in a bit of scrape; he had an
altercation last night with a fellow we take to be an Austrian spy."

The host spat out, and frowned ferociously.

"Just so; a dog of a Croat, I suspect," went on Culvert; "at all events,
he must put a bullet in him, and to do so, must get over the frontier
beyond Como; we want therefore a little money from you, and your
secrecy, till this blows over."

The host bowed, and pursed up his lips like one who would like a little
time for reflection, and at last said, "How much money, Signor?"

"What do you say, Bob? will a hundred Naps do, or eighty?"

"Fifty; fifty are quite enough," cried Barnard.

"On a circular note, of course, Signor?" asked the host.

"No, a draft at six days on my friend's father; mi Lordo means to pass a
month here."

"I don't think I'll do that, Calvert," whispered Barnard; but the other
stopped him at once with, "Be quiet; leave this to me."

"Though payable at sight, Signor Luigi, we shall ask you to hold it over
for five or six days, because we hope possibly to be back here before
Saturday, and if so, we'll settle this ourselves