Suppose you miss the bear, or whatever it may be ?" "Then," said De Chauxville, with a brave shrug of the shoulders, "it is the turn of the bear.

The excitement is his--the laugh is with him." Catrina's foot was upon the loud pedal again.
"Nevertheless, madame," said De Chauxville, "I make so bold as to use the word.

You perhaps know me well enough to be aware that I am rarely bold unless my ground is sure." "I should not boast of it," answered Etta; "there is nothing to be proud of.

It is easy enough to be bold if you are certain of victory." "When defeat would be intolerable, even a certain victory requires care! And I cannot afford to lose." "Lose what ?" enquired Etta.
De Chauxville looked at her, but he did not answer.

The music was soft again.
"I suppose that at Osterno you set no value upon a bear-skin," he said after a pause.
"We have many," admitted Etta.