He had amused himself by promising to come back and go with me on my search, perhaps to make a laughing-stock of me, or even of my boy, by telling the story to the Liras afterwards.

He had entertained no idea that I would go alone, or that, if I went, I could be successful.

He had made a mistake, and was very angry; his eyes told me that.

Then I made a bold resolution.

I would see him and ask him what he intended to do; in short, why he had deceived me.
There would probably be no difficulty in the way of obtaining an interview, I was not known to the others of the party, and Benoni would scarcely refuse to receive me.