"For two reasons. The first is, I have barely enough tin left to take me to Paris."
At once both the Senator and Dick offered to make unlimited advances. Buttons made a deprecatory gesture.
"I know well that I could look to you for any help in any way. But that is not the reason why I don't go to Spain. I have money enough for my wants if I don't go there."
"What is the real reason, then?"
"Well, I thought that in an affair of this kind it would be just as well to get the Governor's concurrence, and so I thought I'd drop a line to him. I've just got the letter written, and I'll put it in the mail this evening."
"You have done right, my boy," said the Senator, paternally. "There are many excellent reasons for getting your father's consent in an affair like this."
"I don't mind reading you what I have written," said Buttons, "if you care about hearing it."
"Oh, if you have no objection, we should like to hear very much," said Dick.
Whereupon Buttons, taking a letter from his pocket, read as follows:
"DEAR FATHER,--I have endeavored to follow out your instructions and be as economical as possible.
"During my tour through Italy, have made the acquaintance of the senior member of the house of Francia, in Cadiz, a gentleman with whom you are acquainted. He was travelling with his two sisters. The younger one is very amiable. As I know you would like to see me settled I have requested her hand in marriage.
"As I wish to be married before my return I thought I would let you know. Of course in allying myself to a member of so wealthy a family I will need to do it in good style. Whatever you can send me will therefore be quite acceptable.
"Please reply immediately on receipt of this, addressing me at Paris as before.
"And very much oblige E. BUTTONS."
"Well," said the Senator, "that's a sensible letter. It's to the point. I'm glad to see that you are not so foolish as most lads in your situation. Why should not a man talk as wisely about a partnership of this kind as of any other? I do declare that these rhapsodies, this highblown, high-flown, sentimental twaddle is nauseating."
"You see, Dick," said Buttons, "I must write a letter which will have weight with the old gentleman. He likes the terse business style. I think that little hint about her fortune is well managed too. That's a great deal better than boring him with the state of my affections. Isn't it?"
"There's nothing like adapting your style to the disposition of the person you address," said Dick.
"Well," said the Senator, "you propose to start to-morrow, do you?"
"Yes," said Buttons.
"I'm agreed then I was just beginning to get used up myself. I'm an active man, and when I've squeezed all the juice out of a place I want to throw it away and go to another. What do you say, Dick? You are silent."
"Well, to tell the truth," said Dick, "I don't care about leaving just yet. Gonfaloniere expects me to stay longer, and he would feel hurt if I hurried off, I am very sorry that you are both going. It would be capital if you could only wait here a month or so."
"A month!" cried Buttons. "I couldn't stand it another day. Will nothing induce you to come? What can we do without you?"
"What can I do without you?" said Dick, with some emotion.
"Well, Dick," said the Senator, "I'm really pained. I feel something like a sense of bereavement at the very idea. I thought, of course, we would keep together till our feet touched the sacred soil once more. But Heaven seems to have ordained it otherwise. I felt bad when Figgs and the Doctor left us at Florence, but now I feel worse by a long chalk. Can't you manage to come along nohow?"
"No," said Dick. "I really can not. I really must stay."
"What! must!"
"Yes, must!"
The Senator sighed.
CHAPTER LVI
.
THE FAITHFUL ONE!--DARTS, DISTRACTION, LOVE'S VOWS, OVERPOWERING SCENE AT THE MEETING OF TWO FOND ONES.--COMPLETE BREAK-DOWN OF THE HISTORIAN.
About a month after the departure of the Senator and Buttons from Milan, Dick reappeared upon the scene at Rome, in front of the little church which had borne so prominent a part in his fortunes; true to his love, to his hopes, to his promises, with undiminished ardor and unabated resolution. He found the Padre Liguori there, who at once took him to his room in a building adjoining the church.
"Welcome!" said he, in a tone of the deepest pleasure. "Welcome! It has been more than a passing fancy, then."
"It is the only real purpose of my life, I assure you."
"I must believe you," said Liguori, pressing his hand once more.
"And now, where is Pepita?"
"She is in Rome."
"May I see her at once?"
"How at once?"
"Well, to-day."
"No, not to-day. Her brother wishes to see you first. I must go and let them both know that you are here. But she is well and has been so."
Dick looked relieved. After some conversation Liguori told Dick to return in an hour, and he could see the Count. After waiting most impatiently Dick came back again in an hour. On entering he found Luigi. He was dressed as a gentleman this time. He was a strongly knit, well-made man of about thirty, with strikingly handsome and aristocratic features.
"Let me make my peace with you at once," said he, with the utmost courtesy. "You are a brave man, and must be generous. I have done you wrongs for which I shall never forgive myself," and taking Dick's outstretched hand, he pressed it heartily.
"Say nothing about it, I beg," said Dick; "you were justified in what you did, though you may have been a little hasty."
"Had I not been blinded by passion I would have been incapable of such a piece of cowardice. But I have had much to endure, and I was always afraid about her."
With the utmost frankness the two men received each other's explanations, and the greatest cordiality arose at once. Dick insisted on Luigi's taking dinner with him, and Luigi, laughingly declaring that it would be a sign of peace to eat bread and salt together, went with Dick to his hotel.
As they entered Dick's apartments Gonfaloniere was lounging near the window. He had accompanied Dick to Rome. He started at the sight of Luigi.
"God in Heaven!" he cried, bounding to his feet.
"Ugo!" exclaimed the other.
"Luigi!"
And the two men, in true Italian fashion, sprang into one another's arms.
"And is my best friend, and oldest friend, the brother of your betrothed?" asked Gonfaloniere of Dick.
But Dick only nodded. He was quite mystified by all this. An explanation, however, was soon made. The two had been educated together, and had fought side by side in the great movements of '48, under Garibaldi, and in Lombardy.
For full an hour these two friends asked one another a torrent of questions. Luigi asked Gonfaloniere about his exile in America; whereupon the other described that exile in glowing terms--how he landed in Boston, how Dick, then little more than a lad, became acquainted with him, and how true a friend he had been in his misery. The animated words of Gonfaloniere produced a striking effect. Luigi swore eternal friendship with Dick, and finally declared that he must come and see Pepita that very day.
So, leaving Gonfaloniere with the promise of seeing him again, Luigi walked with Dick out to the place where he lived. The reason why he had not wanted him to see Pepita that day was because he was ashamed of their lodgings. But that had passed, and as he understood Dick better he saw there was no reason for such shame. It was a house within a few rods of the church.
Dick's heart throbbed violently as he entered the door after Luigi and ascended the steps inside the court-yard. Luigi pointed to a door and drew back.
The Door.
[Illustration: The Door.]
Dick knocked.
The door opened.
"Pepita!"
***
To describe such a meeting is simply out of the question.
"I knew you would come," said she, after about one solid hour, in which not a single intelligible word was uttered.
"And for you! Oh, Pepita!"
"You do not think now that I was cruel?" and a warm flush overspread the lovely face of the young girl.
"Cruel!" (and Dick makes her see that he positively does not think so).
"I could not do otherwise."
"I love you too well to doubt it."
"My brother hated you so. It would have been impossible. And I could not wound his feelings."
"He's a splendid fellow, and you were right."
"Padre Liguori showed him what you were, and I tried to explain a little," added Pepita, shyly.
"Heaven bless Padre Liguori! As for you--you--"
"Don't."
"Well, your brother understands me at last. He knows that I love you so well that I would die for you."
Tears came into Pepita's eyes as the sudden recollection arose of Dick's misadventure on the road.
***
"Do you remember," asked Dick, softly, after about three hours and twenty minutes--"do you remember how I once wished that I was walking with you on a road that would go on forever?"
"Yes."
"Well, we're on that track now."
[The Historian of these adventures feels most keenly his utter inadequacy to the requirements of this scene. Need he say that the above description is a complete _fiasco_? Reader, your imagination, if you please.]
CHAPTER LVII
.
THE DODGE CLUB IN PARIS ONCE MORE.--BUTTONS'S "JOLLY GOOD HEALTH."
Not very long after the events alluded to in the last chapter a brilliant dinner was given in Paris at the "Hotel de Lille et d'Albion." On the arrival of the Senator and Buttons at Paris they had found Mr. Figgs and the Doctor without any trouble. The meeting was a rapturous one. The Dodge Club was again an entity, although an important member was not there. On this occasion the one who gave the dinner was BUTTONS!
He's A Jolly Good Fellow.
[Illustration: He's A Jolly Good Fellow.]
All the delicacies of the season. In fact, a banquet. Mr. Figgs shone resplendently. If a factory was the sphere of the Senator, a supper-table was the place for Mr. Figgs. The others felt that they had never before known fully all the depth of feeling, of fancy, and of sentiment that lurked under that placid, smooth, and rosy exterior. The Doctor was epigrammatic; the Senator sententious; Buttons uproarious.
Dick's health was drunk in bumpers with all the honors:
"For he's a jolly good fe-e-e-e-e-e-llow!
For he's a jolly good fe-e-e-e-e-e-llow!!
For he's a jolly good FE-E-E-E-E-E-LLOW!!!
Which nobody can deny!"
All this time Buttons was more joyous, more radiant, and altogether more extravagant than usual. The others asked themselves, "Why?" In the course of the evening it became known. Taking advantage of a short pause in the conversation he communicated the startling fact that he had that day received a letter from his father.
"Shall I read it?"
"AYE!!!" unanimously, in tones of thunder.
Buttons opened it and read:
DEAR SON.--Your esteemed favor, 15th ult., I have recd.
"I beg leave hereby to express my concurrence with your design.
"My connection with the house of Francia has been of the most satisfactory kind. I have no doubt that yours will be equally so.
"I inclose you draft on Mess. Dupont Geraud, et Cie of Paris, for $5000--say five thousand dollars--rect of which please acknowledge. If this sum is insufficient you are at liberty to draw for what may be required.
"I remain, HIRAM BUTTONS."
Thunders of applause arose as Buttons folded the letter.
A speech from the Senator proposed health of Buttons Senior.
Another from the Doctor.
Another from Mr. Figgs.
Acknowledgment by Buttons.
Announcement by Buttons of immediate departure for Cadiz.
Wild cheers! Buttons's jolly good health!
"For he's a jolly good fe-e-e-e-e-e-llow!
For he's a jolly good fe-e-e-e-f-e-llow!!
For he's a jolly good FE-E-E-E-E-E-LLOW!!!
Which nobody can deny!"
THE END.