I shan't go home any more;
there's a spy watching at the door, and he thinks
me in."
"How did you get out without his seeing
you?"
"Out of the kitchen window into the back garden
and over the neighbour's orchard wall; that's
what makes me so late; I had to dodge him. I
left the owner of the horse to sit in the study all
the evening with the lamp lighted. When the spy
sees the light in the window and a shadow on the
blind he will be quite satisfied that I am writing
at home this evening."
"Then you will stay here till it is time to go to
the barrier?"
"Yes; I don't want to be seen in the street any
more to-night. Have a cigar, Martini? I know
Signora Bolla doesn't mind smoke."
"I shan't be here to mind; I must go downstairs
and help Katie with the dinner."
When she had gone Martini got up and began
to pace to and fro with his hands behind his back.
The Gadfly sat smoking and looking silently out
at the drizzling rain.
"Rivarez!" Martini began, stopping in front of
him, but keeping his eyes on the ground; "what
sort of thing are you going to drag her into?"
The Gadfly took the cigar from his mouth and
blew away a long trail of smoke.
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