ldo.

Casanova offered him whatever gold pieces he might need. The Marchese
shook his head. "Thanks," he said, "I have had enough. The game is over
as far as I am concerned."

From the garden came the laughing voices of the girls. Casanova heard
Teresina's voice in particular, but he was sitting with his back to
the window and did not turn round. He tried once more to persuade the
Marchese to resume the game--for the sake of Lorenzi, though he hardly
knew what moved him. The Marchese refused with a yet more decisive
headshake.

Lorenzi rose, saying: "I shall have the honor, Signor Marchese, of
handing the amount I owe you to you personally, before noon to-morrow."

The Marchese laughed drily. "I am curious to know how you will manage
that, Lieutenant Lorenzi. There is not a soul, in Mantua or elsewhere,
who would lend you as much as ten ducats, not to speak of two thousand,
especially to-day. For to-morrow you will be on the march, and who can
tell whether you will ever return?"

"I give you my word of honor, Signor Marchese, that you shall have the
money at eight o'clock to-morrow morning."

"Your word of honor," said the Marchese, "is not worth a single ducat to
me, let alone two thousand."

The others held their breath. Lorenzi, apparently unmoved, merely
answered: "You will give me satisfaction, Signor Marchese."

"With pleasure, Signor Lieutenant," rejoined the Marchese, "as soon as
you have paid your debt."

Olivo, who was profoundly distressed, here intervened, stammering
slightly: "I stand surety for the amount, Signor Marchese. Unfortunately
I have not sufficient ready money on the spot; but there is the house,
the estate....." He closed the sentence with an awkward wave of the
hand.

"I refuse to accept your surety, for your own sake," said the Marchese.
"You would lose your money."

Casanova saw that all eyes were turned towards the gold that lay on
the table before him. "What if I were to stand surety for Lorenzi," he
thought. "What if I were to pay the debt for him? The Marchese could not
refuse my offer. I almost think I ought to do it. It was the Marchese's
money."

But he said not a word. He felt that a plan was taking shape hi his
mind, and that above all he needed time in which he might become clear
as to its details.

"You shall have the money this evening, before nightfall," said Lorenzi.
"I shall be in Mantua in an hour."

"Your horse may break its neck," replied the Marchese. "Yo