You are free!' Giovanni stood up beside her, almost angry.
'Do you think I wanted your fortune ?' he asked, a little pale under his tan.
'Do you think I am afraid of poverty ?' Her lips were still parted in a smile after she had asked the question, and with the gesture of an older woman she tapped his arm half reproachfully.

The colour came back to his brown face.
'I fear poverty for you,' he answered, 'and I am going to fight it for your sake if you have the courage to wait for me.

Have you ?' 'I will wait for ever,' she said simply as she laid her hand in his.
'Then I shall leave the army at once,' he replied.

'So far, I have made what is called a good career, but promotion is slow and the pay is wretched until a man is very high up.

An artillery officer is an engineer, you know, and a military engineer can always find well-paid work, especially if he is an electrician, as I am.