Not before you give it to me yourself some day." "Yes--some day," she repeated in a breath in which there was no irony but rather hesitation, reluctance what did I know?
I walked away from the house in a curious state of gloomy satisfaction with myself.
* * * * * And this is the last extract.

A month afterwards.
-- This afternoon going up to the Villa I was for the first time accompanied in my way by some misgivings.

To-morrow I sail.
First trip and therefore in the nature of a trial trip; and I can't overcome a certain gnawing emotion, for it is a trip that _mustn't_ fail.
In that sort of enterprise there is no room for mistakes.

Of all the individuals engaged in it will every one be intelligent enough, faithful enough, bold enough?
Looking upon them as a whole it seems impossible; but as each has got only a limited part to play they may be found sufficient each for his particular trust.

And will they be all punctual, I wonder?
An enterprise that hangs on the punctuality of many people, no matter how well disposed and even heroic, hangs on a thread.