Only a wedding--at which you shall
give the bride away. And now--the launch is waiting. The sooner you
are off, the sooner you 'll return."

"Never," said the Commendatore. "I would sell myself to be chopped
into sausage-meat, before I would become a party to any such carnival
tricks."

"Carnival tricks? Do you call marriage a carnival trick?" Susanna
wondered. "Or do you wish me to live and die an old maid? Is it or is
it not your duty to arrange a suitable match for me?"

"It is not my duty to arrange a match for you with a foreigner whom I
have n't the honour of knowing," he retorted.

"Well, then," urged Susanna, "go to my cousin and make him the
proposition I have suggested. And if he says yes,--if he consents to
marry me,--I give you my most solemn promise that not for any
consideration in the world will I accept him."

"What?" questioned the Commendatore, blinking at her.

"If he says yes, I 'll say no. If he says no, he says no. So it is
no, either way," she pointed out. "And meanwhile--the launch is
waiting."

"If he says no!" scoffed the Commendatore. "Is the man born who will
say no to a bag of gold?"

"That's exactly what you have now an opportunity of discovering," she
replied. "But if he says yes, I give you my solemn promise, it will be
the end of him, so far as I 'm concerned."

The Commendatore rubbed the back of his neck.

"I never heard such a gallimaufry of headless and tailless nonsense,"
he declared.

"Think of that poor long-suffering launch," said Susanna. "You are
still keeping it waiting."

"It may wait till the sea dries up, for all of me," said the
Commendatore, settling himself in his seat. "Do you take me for
Pulcinella? I will not begin at my time of life to play carnival
tricks."

"Ah, well, after all," said Susanna, "it does n't really matter very
much."

And apparently she abandoned her intention. But after a pause she
added, rather as if speaking to herself, "I must send for Father
Angelo, I suppose."

"_What_?" snapped out the Commendatore, sitting up.

"Yes," said Susanna, dreamily, "Father Angelo. _He_ won't refuse to do
what I ask him to."

"Bah," said the Commendatore. "A priest--a monk--a shaveling--a
bare-toes."

"A very good, kind, holy man," said Susanna. "And as my cousin is a
faithful Catholic, I think on all accounts Father Angelo will serve my
purpose best."

"Peuh--a Jesuit," said the Commendatore, elevating his nose.

"He