I was wondering how far I should be wise to trust her, and that depended largely on how far his Excellency had seen fit to trust her with my secrets.

I finally said: "Without disclosing other people's secrets, signorina, I may admit that if anything went wrong with the debt my employers' opinion of my discretion would be severely shaken." "Of your _discretion_," she said, laughing.

"Thank you, Mr.Martin.
And you would wish that not to happen ?" "I would take a good deal of pains to prevent its happening." "Not less willingly if your interest and mine coincided ?" I was about to make a passionate reply when we heard the President's voice saying: "And where is our hostess?
I should like to thank her before I go." "Hush," whispered the signorina.

"We must go back.

You will be true to me, Mr.Martin ?" "Call me Jack," said I idiotically.
"Then you will be true, O _Jack_ ?" she said, stifling a laugh.
"Till death," said I, hoping it would not be necessary.
She gave me her hand, which I kissed with fervor, and we returned to the _salon_, to find all the players risen from the table and standing about in groups, waiting to make their bows till the President had gone through that ceremony.