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〃Ah！ yes。 Freda。 mia cara； da su mano！〃 The dog squatted on her
haunches； and lifted her paw in the vague； bored way of big dogs when
requested to perform civilities。 She was a lovely creaturethe
purest brindle； without a speck of white； and free from the
unbalanced look of most dogs of her breed。
〃Basta！ basta！〃 He turned to me apologetically。 〃We have agreed to
speak Italian； in that way I keep up the language； astonishing the
number of things that dog will understand！〃 I was about to take my
leave； when he asked if I would walk a little way with him〃If you
are free； that is。〃 We went up the street with Freda on the far side
of her master。
〃Do you never 'play' here？〃 I asked him。
〃Play？ No。 It must be very interesting； most exciting； but as a
matter of fact； I can't afford it。 If one has very little； one is
too nervous。〃
He had stopped in front of a small hairdresser's shop。 〃I live
here；〃 he said； raising his hat again。 〃Au revoir！unless I can
offer you a glass of tea。 It's all ready。 Come！ I've brought you
out of your way； give me the pleasure！〃
I have never met a man so free from all self…consciousness； and yet
so delicate and diffident the combination is a rare one。 We went up
a steep staircase to a room on the second floor。 My companion threw
the shutters open； setting all the flies buzzing。 The top of a
plane…tree was on a level with the window； and all its little brown
balls were dancing； quite close； in the wind。 As he had promised； an
urn was hissing on a table； there was also a small brown teapot； some
sugar； slices of lemon； and glasses。 A bed； washstand； cupboard； tin
trunk； two chairs； and a small rug were all the furniture。 Above the
bed a sword in a leather sheath was suspended from two nails。 The
photograph of a girl stood on the closed stove。 My host went to the
cupboard and produced a bottle； a glass； and a second spoon。 When
the cork was drawn； the scent of rum escaped into the air。 He
sniffed at it and dropped a teaspoonful into both glasses。
〃This is a trick I learned from the Russians after Plevna； they had
my little finger； so I deserved something in exchange。〃 He looked
round； his eyes； his whole face； seemed to twinkle。 〃I assure you it
was worth itmakes all the difference。 Try！〃 He poured off the
tea。
〃Had you a sympathy with the Turks？〃
〃The weaker side〃 He paused abruptly； then added： 〃But it was not
that。〃 Over his face innumerable crow's…feet had suddenly appeared；
his eyes twitched； he went on hurriedly； 〃I had to find something to
do just thenit was necessary。〃 He stared into his glass； and it
was some time before I ventured to ask if he had seen much fighting。
〃Yes；〃 he replied gravely； 〃nearly twenty years altogether； I was one
of Garibaldi's Mille in '60。〃
〃Surely you are not Italian？〃
He leaned forward with his hands on his knees。 〃I was in Genoa at
that time learning banking； Garibaldi was a wonderful man！ One could
not help it。〃 He spoke quite simply。 〃You might say it was like
seeing a little man stand up to a ring of great hulking fellows； I
went； just as you would have gone； if you'd been there。 I was not
long with themour war began； I had to go back home。〃 He said this
as if there had been but one war since the world began。 〃In '60；〃 he
mused； 〃till '65。 Just think of it！ The poor country。 Why； in my
State； South CarolinaI was through it allnobody could be spared
therewe were one to three。〃
〃I suppose you have a love of fighting？〃
〃H'm！〃 he said； as if considering the idea for the first time。
〃Sometimes I fought for a living； and sometimesbecause I was
obliged； one must try to be a gentleman。 But won't you have some
more？〃
I refused more tea and took my leave； carrying away with me a picture
of the old fellow looking down from the top of the steep staircase；
one hand pressed to his back； the other twisting up those little
white moustaches； and murmuring； 〃Take care； my dear sir； there's a
step there at the corner。〃
〃To be a gentleman！〃 I repeated in the street； causing an old French
lady to drop her parasol； so that for about two minutes we stood
bowing and smiling to each other； then separated full of the best
feeling。
II
A week later I found myself again seated next him at a concert。 In
the meantime I had seen him now and then； but only in passing。 He
seemed depressed。 The corners of his lips were tightened； his tanned
cheeks had a greyish tinge； his eyes were restless； and； between two
numbers of the programme； he murmured； tapping his fingers on his
hat； 〃Do you ever have bad days？ Yes？ Not pleasant； are they？〃
Then something occurred from which all that I have to tell you
followed。 There came into the concert…hall the heroine of one of
those romances； crimes； follies； or irregularities； call it what you
will； which had just attracted the 〃world's〃 stare。 She passed us
with her partner； and sat down in a chair a few rows to our right。
She kept turning her head round； and at every turn I caught the gleam
of her uneasy eyes。 Some one behind us said： 〃The brazen baggage！〃
My companion turned full round； and glared at whoever it was who had
spoken。 The change in him was quite remarkable。 His lips were drawn
back from his teeth； he frowned； the scar on his temple had reddened。
〃Ah！〃 he said to me。 〃The hue and cry！ Contemptible！ How I hate
it！ But you wouldn't understand！ 〃he broke off； and slowly
regained his usual air of self…obliteration； he even seemed ashamed；
and began trying to brush his moustaches higher than ever； as if
aware that his heat had robbed them of neatness。
〃I'm not myself； when I speak of such matters；〃 he said suddenly； and
began reading his programme； holding it upside down。 A minute later；
however； he said in a peculiar voice： 〃There are people to be found
who object to vivisecting animals； but the vivisection of a woman；
who minds that？ Will you tell me it's right； that because of some
tragedy like thisbelieve me； it is always a tragedywe should hunt
down a woman？ That her fellow…women should make an outcast of her？
That we； who are men； should make a prey of her？ If I thought
that。。。。〃 Again he broke off； staring very hard in front of him。
〃It is we who make them what they are； and even if that is not so
why！ if I thought there was a woman in the world I could not take my
hat off toIIcouldn't sleep at night。〃 He got up from his seat；
put on his old straw hat with trembling fingers； and； without a
glance back； went out； stumbling over the chair…legs。
I sat there； horribly disturbed； the words； 〃One must try to be a
gentleman！〃 haunting me。 When I came out； he was standing by the
entrance with one hand on his hip and the other on his dog。 In that
attitude of waiting he was such a patient figure； the sun glared down
and showed the threadbare nature of his clothes and the