His spirits seemed to have revived since I had seen him last.

He advanced to meet me cheerfully, with an open sheet of paper in his hand.
"My business is settled, Valeria, sooner than I had expected," he began, gayly.

"Are your purchases all completed, fair lady?
Are _you_ free too ?" I had learned already (God help me!) to distrust his fits of gayety.

I asked, cautiously, "Do you mean free for to-day ?" "Free for to-day, and to-morrow, and next week, and next month--and next year too, for all I know to the contrary," he answered, putting his arm boisterously round my waist.

"Look here!" He lifted the open sheet of paper which I had noticed in his hand, and held it for me to read.