"
Alfieri sprang to his feet with an oath.
"She has not dared!" he cried.
"Calm yourself, I pray you. The Signora Haxton has come to pay a visit
--that is all. The hour is late, but, from what you have told me, she
is not likely to be troubled by a consideration of that kind. Now,
Signor Alfieri, I am going to receive her. Do not forget that I am the
Chief magistrate of Massowah. It is probable that, through her
instrumentality, I may be able to extricate both myself and you from
the predicament into which your folly has plunged us. And I warn you
that any display of temper will be fatal. Let us go slowly and we may
go far."
Alfieri, all a-quiver with uncontrollable emotion, fixed his glowing
eyes on the door when the servant returned with Mrs. Haxton. She
entered, with the graceful ease of one accustomed to meet greater
dignitaries than the head of a small Italian colony. Signor Marchetti
advanced a few paces. Where a lady was concerned he could be courteous
enough, his abruptness being a specially cultivated mannerism intended
to impress natives with a sense of his importance.
Pages:
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262