"I will carry your meal for you," she said, and though they opposed
her again, went off to prepare it. Giuseppe also disappeared, that
he might leave an order for the day with Ernesto, and Jenny had
joined Brendon again before he returned. He had begged her once more
not to accompany them; but she was impatient.

"How dull you are for all your fame, Mark"; she replied. "Can you
not think and put two and two together where I am concerned, as you
do in everything else? I am safe enough with my husband. It will not
pay him to destroy me--yet. But you. Even now I implore you not to
go up again alone. He is as wily as a cat. He will make some excuse,
disappear and meet the other villain. They won't fail twice--and
what can a woman do to help you against two of them?"

"I want no help. I shall be armed."

They started, however, and Jenny's fears were not realized. Doria
showed no levity and did nothing suspicious. He kept close to
Brendon, offered him an arm at steep places and advanced a dozen
theories of the incidents reported. He was deeply interested and
reiterated his surprise that the unknown's shot should have missed
Brendon.

"It is better to be lucky than wise," he declared. "And yet who
shall not call you very wise indeed? That was a great ruse--to fall
as though dead when the bullet had missed its billet."

Brendon did not reply and little was said as they proceeded to the
scene of his adventures; but presently Doria spoke again.