After a pause, I said: "Well, as you both know all about it, it's no good keeping up pretenses.

It's very kind of you to come and warn me." "You dear, good Mr.Martin," said the signorina, "our motives are not purely those of friendship." "Why, how does it matter to you ?" "Simply this," said she: "the bank and its excellent manager own most of the debt.

The colonel and I own the rest.

If it is repudiated, the bank loses; yes, but the manager, and the colonel, and the Signorina Nugent are lost!" "I didn't know this," I said, rather bewildered.
"Yes," said the colonel, "when the first loan was raised I lent him one hundred thousand dollars.

We were thick then, and I did it in return for my rank and my seat in the Chamber.