human
At first I wanted you to give him a good stiff punch, said Merrihew,
gpt
We should have slept in the lockup over night if I had. The _carabinieri_ would not have understood my excuses. If our friend is left-handed, he'll be inconvenienced for a day or two. I put some force into that grip. You see, Dan, the Italian still fights his duels. Dueling is not extinct in the army here. An officer who refuses to accept a challenge for a good or bad cause is practically hounded out of the service. It would have been a fine joke if I had been fool enough to accept his challenge. He would have put daylight through me at the first stroke.
human
I don't know about that, replied Merrihew loyally.
gpt
You are the crack fencer in New York.
human
But New York isn't Florence, my boy. I'll show you some fencing to-morrow. If my old fencing master, Foresti Paoli, is yet in Florence, I'll have him arrange some matches. New York affairs will look tame to you then.
gpt
But what has he to do with your vanishing lady?
human
I should like to know.
gpt
I wish I had thought to ask a waiter who the duffer is. Did you notice how respectful the _carabinieri_ were?
human
It set me thinking. Oh, I've a premonition that we haven't seen the last of this distinguished gentleman. Perhaps we'll find out who he is sooner than we care to.
gpt
When the time comes, said Merrihew with a laugh,