with the Sovereign to obtain a fine position for the professor. Dr.
Lanfranchi had been made a Judge of the Court of Cassation, and had been
in residence some six months or more. Fine as this position was,
however, it was nothing, said Sir John, to the position of the judge's
lady. "She's a leader of the mode, I can assure you," said he, "and any
little difficulty you may have had in that quarter, you may be sure,
will be none now. Count Giraldi will, no doubt, be enchanted to present
you there. I recommend you to keep in with the count."

I felt that I could not love Count Giraldi any more. I told Sir John
that my duties towards Donna Aurelia and her husband were of a peculiar
kind, not to be assisted or made more difficult by Count Giraldi. "There
was a moment," I added, "when his Excellency could have served me--when,
having played the part of an honest man, I called for the help of one
who had pretended himself my friend. He failed me then, I know not why;
and he might fail me now. If you will pardon me for saying so, what I
now have to do in the case of this lady--if there is anything for me to
do--is by no means the business of his Excellency."

"I hope not, I hope not," said Sir John. "Go your own way--and count
upon me, at least, in the pinch--if pinch there is to be. But remember
this. Count Giraldi is the Chief Minister of this Government, and this
Government is your host. Count Giraldi is therefore major-domo. Keep in
with him, my dear sir, by all means, unless you desire (a) your conge,
or (b) an extortionate bill for breakages and arrears. I need only
mention the name of the Marchese Semifonte--no more on that head."

"No more indeed," says I, very short. "But as to Count Giraldi, I can
assure you that I have no quarrel with his Excellency, who (idle rumours
apart) has never, to my knowledge, impugned my honour."