t of adventure."

"Oh, give me no credit for that," broke in Kitty.

La Signorina, however, rewarded Hillard with a look which set his pulses
humming. Into what folly would he not have gone at a sign from this
lovely being? In his mind there was not the shadow of a doubt: this
comedy would ultimately end at some magistrate's desk. So be it.

Merrihew cast about helplessly, but none held out a hand. He must decide
for himself.

"Do you mean it, Kitty?"

"Yes."

O'Mally's face wore several new wrinkles; and both he and Smith were
looking at the green mold on the flag-stones as interestedly as if China
was but on the other side. Kitty saw nothing, not even the hills she was
staring at.

"Since you have made up your mind, Jack," said Merrihew doggedly, "why,
there's nothing for me to do but fall in. But it's kings against
two-spots."

"Mental reservation?" said the temptress. "Mr. Hillard has none."

"I am not quite certain I have none," replied Hillard, renewing his
interest in the rose.

A moment later, when he looked up, her glance plunged into his, but
found nothing. Hillard could fence with the eyes as well as with the
foils.

"Well," she said, finding that Hillard's mental reservations were not to
be voiced, "here are three who will not desert me."

"That's all very well," rejoined O'Mally; "but it is different with
those two. Mr. Hillard's a millionaire, or near it, and he could buy his
way through all the jails in Italy. Smith here, Worth and Miss Killigrew
and myself, we have nothing. More than that, we're jotted down in the
police books, even to the mole on the side of my nose. There's no way
out for us. We are accomplices."

"You will leave in the morning, then?" asked La Signorina
contemptuously.

"I hope to."

"Want of courage?"

"No. Against physical danger I am willing to offer myself at any time to
your Highness," with a touch of bitter irony. "But to walk straight into
jail, with my eyes open, that's a horse of a different color."

"I like you none the less for your frankness, Mr. O'Mally. And I
apologize for doubting your courage. But if to-morrow I should produce a
telegram from her Highness that would do away with all your doubts?"

"I'll answer that when I see the telegram." O'Mally made an unsuccessful
attempt to roll a cigarette. This honeyed blarney, to his susceptible
Irish blood, was far more dangerous than any taunts; but he remembered
in time the fable of the fox and the