"Such luck at gaming, the night before a duel--bad sign, very bad sign." "So much the more so that some one was there," replied Pietrapertosa, making with his fingers the sign which conjures the jettutura.

For nothing in the world would he have named the personages against whose evil eye he provided in that manner.

But Cibo understood him, and, drawing from his trousers pocket his watch, which he fastened a l'anglaise by a safety chain to his belt, he pointed out among the charms a golden horn: "I have not let it go this evening," said he.

"The worst is, that Gorka will not sleep, and then, his hand!" Only the first of those two prognostics was to be verified.

Returning home at that late hour, Boleslas did not even retire.