"
Leon had a perception that the understanding was incomplete. He
changed the subject.
"And so you travel on foot?" he continued. "How romantic! How
courageous! And how are you pleased with my land? How does the
scenery affect you among these wild hills of ours?"
"Well, the fact is," began Stubbs - he was about to say that he
didn't care for scenery, which was not at all true, being, on the
contrary, only an athletic undergraduate pretension; but he had
begun to suspect that Berthelini liked a different sort of meat,
and substituted something else - "The fact is, I think it jolly.
They told me it was no good up here; even the guide-book said so;
but I don't know what they meant. I think it is deuced pretty -
upon my word, I do."
At this moment, in the most unexpected manner, Elvira burst into
tears.
"My voice!" she cried. "Leon, if I stay here longer I shall lose
my voice!"
"You shall not stay another moment," cried the actor. "If I have
to beat in a door, if I have to burn the town, I shall find you
shelter."
With that he replaced the guitar, and comforting her with some
caresses, drew her arm through his.
"Monsieur Stubbs," said he, taking of his hat, "the reception I
offer you is rather problematical; but let me beseech you to give
us the pleasure of your society. You are a little embarrassed for
the moment; you must, indeed, permit me to advance what may be
necessary.
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