Bewildered with delight, and believing I had won her, I said: "Your soldier till death, signorina." "Bother death!" said she saucily.

"Nobody's going to die.

We shall win, and then--" "And then," said I eagerly, "you'll marry me, sweet ?" She quietly stooped down and kissed my lips.

Then, stroking my hair, she said: "You're a nice boy, but you're not a good boy, Jack." "Christina, you won't marry him ?" "Him ?" "McGregor," said I.
"Jack," said she, whispering now, "I hate him!" "So do I," I answered promptly.

"And if it's to win you, I'll upset a dozen Presidents." "Then you'll do it for me?
I like to think you'll do it for me, and not for the money." As the signorina was undoubtedly "doing it" for her money, this was a shade unreasonable.
"I don't mind the money coming in--" I began.
"Mercenary wretch!" she cried.