San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-06-22


( nands enthusiastically In ms OWN MY
dear Conte, l am delighted to see you!
What an excellent fellow you are! A
kind of amiable Arabian Nights genius,
who occupies himself in making mortals
happy. And how are you? You look
remarkably well!'
81 can return the compliment" said
gaily. "You are more Of an Antinous
than ever"
He laughed, well pleased, and sat
down, drawing off his gloves and loosen
ing his travelling overcoat.
well, suppose plenty of cash puts a
man in good humor, and therefore in
good condition." he replied 'But, my
good fellow, you are dressed for dinner
quel preux chevalier! 1 am positively
unfit to De in your company. You in
sisted that l should come to you directly
on my arrival, but l really must change
my apparel. Your man took my valise,
in it are my dress clothes-I shall not be
ten minutes putting them on"
'Take a glass of wine first" / said,
pouring out some of his favorite Monte
| pulciano. ''There is plenty of time. 1t
is barely seven, and we do not dine till
eight" He took the wine from my hand
| and smiled. l returned the smile. add
ing, sit gives me great pleasure to re-
| ceive you, Ferrari! | have been i'm
| patient for your return-almoSt as i'm
patient for your return-almost as i'm
patient as :" He paused in the
act of drinking, and his eyes flashed de-
lightedly.
"As she has? Piccinina! How long
IN hnr aint I 10
should have gone straight to the
pulse, but had promised you to come
here, and, on the whole, the evening
will do as well, and he laughed with
covert meaning in his laughter, per
haps better!"
My hands clenched, but l said with
| forced gaiety, . . "a
much better! Is it not Byron who says
that women, like stars, look best at
night? You will find her the same as
ever, perfectly well and perfectly charm
! ing. 1t must be her pure and candid
soul that makes her face so fairl 1t may
be relief to your mind to know that
am the only man she has allowed to visit
her during your absencew
Hduh CUC lOG Intb! CTleu Il eTTdTl
devoutly as he tossed off his wine
"And now tell me, my dear Conte,
what bacchanalians are coming tonight?
Per Dio, after all l am more in
the humour for dinner than love-mak-
ingw
l burst out laughing harshly. "Of
course! Every sensible man prefers
good eating even to good womenl Who
are my guests. you ask? l believe you
know them all. First, there is the
Duca Filippo Marina"
by heavenw interrupted Guido.
Gan absolute gentleman, who by his
manner seems to challenge the universe
to disproye his dignity! Can he unbend
so far as to partake of feet in public?
My dear Conte, you should have asked
him that question:"
"Then," l went on, not needing hi,
interruption, "Signor Fraschetti and
the Marchese Giulano"
''Giulano drinks deepw laughed
Ferrari, land should he mix
his wines, you find him ready to
stab all the walters before the dinner is
half over"
"In mixing Wines" returned coolly,"
che will but initiate your example, caro-
miO"
"Ah, but l can stand it," he said
"He cannot! Few NeapOlitans are like
me.'
watched him narrowly, and went on
with the list of my invited guests.
After these comes the Capitano Luigi
| Freccia."
What! the raging fre-eater?" ex-
claimed Guido. HE who at every second
word rapS out Pagan or Christian oath,
and cannot for his life tell any difference
between the two?"
And the illustrious gentleman, Girls
piano Dulci and Antonio Biscardi, artists
like yourself" continued
He frowned slighJly-then smiled.
81 wished them good appetites! Time
was when | envied their skill-now l
can afford to be generous. They are
welcome to the whole field of art as far
as am concerned. l have said farewell
to the brush and pallette-I shall never
paint again"
True enough! thought, cycling the
shapely white hand with which he had
just then stroked his dark moustache:-
the same hand on which my family dia-
mond ring glittered like star He
looked up suddenly.
go on, Conte! am all Impotence.
Who come neXt?"
"More fre-eaters, l suppose you will
call Them" / answered, land French
fire-eaters, too. Monsieur lie Marquis
d'Avencourt and le beau Capitaine Eu-
gene de Hamal."
Ferrari looked astoniShed "Per
Baccom he exclaimed. Two noted
Paris duellists! Why-what need have
you of such valOTous associates2 con-
feSs your choice surprises me-"
II understood them to be your
friends" said composedly eff you
remember, you introduced me to them.