frowned and squared my chin. I think that I was disturbed because I did
not then see how the land lay. I suspected, however, that Sir John knew
more than he chose to tell me. I rose to take leave of him. There was
something about me which he noticed.

"You are going to the doctor?" he said. "You will find him in court."

"I am going," I said, "to the Villa San Giorgio."

He showed his alarm by saying, "You may regret it; you may regret it all
your life long."

"I shall regret that I ever lived if I do not go," said I. As I went out
Sir John threw up his hands.




CHAPTER XLII

I STAND AT A CROSS-ROAD


I did not go immediately to the Villa San Giorgio; it was necessary that
I should be clear why I was to go there at all. How did I stand with
regard to Donna Aurelia--did I love her still, or was I cured of my
wound? If I loved her, to go to her now were to play the criminal; if I
did not, it might be to play the fool.

Because--if I did not love her, why was I going? That is easily