And yet I may never see that star again — the star
we caUed our own, my Maddalena and I, and made
believe God made for us, saying " this star I make
for Giacinto e la sua sorellaccia " — neither that star,
nor its bath of light, nor the sun that will make all
Heaven glad to-morrow, unseen by me. For I can
guess the meaning of what my friend has
said. . . . '"

Here a little was quite illegible. But no con-
versation ensued on that account, both reader and
listeners wanting to hear what followed. Mr. Pelly
read on: —

" ' Now I call this man my friend, and, Eccellenza,
you will see, as I tell my tale, that this is no derisive
speech. I think that what showed me he was not
all hostility to me in his heart was that he wonld —
I felt sure — if left to himself, have granted the boon

DinitizedbyGoOglc



.1(10 A LIKELY STORY

I would have asked of liim, and fought fairly with
lue to the death of one or other. So tliere was love
between us of a soldierly sort. And I, too, coiiM
see how it had grown. For I bad half suspected
him of not showing all the alacrity he might have
done with his mace when I had my grip on the Old
Devil's throat. . . . ' "

Madeline iuterrupted: "It's perfectly niadden-
iug! What wouldn't I give to know what it's all
about ? "

" I'll tell you presently the Herr Professor's con-
jetrtural history," said Mr. Felly. But this did not
satisfy the young lady.
•'Tell us now! I'm the sort that can't wait,"
said she.
