prove himself too skilful for us. In my expectancy of his
assault there was no mistake. I comprehended Antonio very well,
and I knew that he feared I might seek to do him an injury,
particularly after my inspired speech and gesture upon the
terrace. Also, I felt that he would, if possible, anticipate my
attempt and strike first. I was willing; for I thought myself in
possession of his vulnerable point--never dreaming that he
might know my own!

At last when he, with the coffee and cigarettes, took the knife
in his hand, he placed a veil over the point. He began,
laughingly, with the picture of a pickpocket he had helped to
catch in London. London was greatly inhabited by pickpockets,
according to Antonio's declaration. Yet, he continued, it was
nothing in comparison to Paris. Paris was the rendezvous, the
world's home, for the criminals, adventurers, and rascals if the
world, English, Spanish, South-Americans, North-Americans,--
and even Italians! One must beware of people one had met in
Paris!

"Of course," he concluded, with a most amiable smile, "there are
many good people there also. That is not to be forgotten. If I
should dare to make a risk on such a trifle, for instance, I
would lay wager that you"--he nodded toward Poor Jr.--"made
the acquaintance of Ansolini in Paris?"

This was of the greatest ugliness in its underneath
significance, though the manner was disarming. Antonio's smile
was so cheerful, his eye-glass so twinkling, that none of them
could have been sure he truly meant anything harmful of me,