'And my presence is required elsewhere. I regret that
I cannot relieve you of the presence of these men, but I do not feel I
should be justified in accepting your _parole_.'
"The President did not seem to be angered at this insult.
"'I have not offered it,' he said simply. 'It is better you should
take your own measures. Need I detain you, colonel?'
"The colonel did not answer him, but turned to me and said:
"'Signorina Nugent, we wait only for you, and time is precious.'
"'I will follow you in a moment,' I said, with my head still among the
cushions.
"'No, come now,' he commanded.
"Looking up, I saw a smile on the President's face. As I rose
reluctantly, he also got up from the chair into which he had flung
himself, and stopped me with a gesture. I was terribly afraid that he
was going to say something hard to me, but his voice only expressed a
sort of amused pity.
"'The money, was it, signorina?' he said. 'Young people and beautiful
people should not be mercenary. Poor child! you had better have stood
by me.'
"I answered him nothing, but went out with the colonel, leaving him
seated again in his chair, surveying with some apparent amusement the
two threatening sentries who stood at the door.
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