I fell back in my chair and gazed at the colonel, who was now employed in lighting a cigarette.

At the same moment a sound of rapid wheels struck on my ears.

Then I heard the sweet, clear voice I knew so well saying: "I'll just disturb him for a moment, Mr.Jones.I want him to tear himself from work for a day, and come for a ride." She opened my door, and came swiftly in.

On seeing the colonel she took in the position, and said to that gentleman: "Have you told him ?" "I have just done so, signorina," he replied.
I had not energy enough to greet her; so she also sat down uninvited, and took off her gloves--not lazily, like the colonel, but with an air as though she would, if a man, take off her coat, to meet the crisis more energetically.
At last I said, with conviction: "He's a wonderful man! How did you find it out, colonel ?" "Had Johnny Carr to dine and made him drunk," said that worthy.
"You don't mean he trusted Johnny ?" "Odd, isn't it ?" said the colonel.

"With his experience, too.