"Yes, your way of talking," said Angelo, "but you-- I don't believe you thought of yourself at all I keep that weapon yet that Luigi killed the man with, and I'll show it sometime That incident makes it interesting, and it had history before it came into Luigi's hands which adds to its interest given to Luigi by great Indian prince, the Gaikowar of Baroda, and it family centuries It killed disagreeable people who troubled the hearthstone at or another It isn't much too look at, except it isn't shaped like other knives, or dirks, or whatever it called--here, I'll draw it " sheet of paper and made rapid sketch "There --a broad and murderous blade, with edges like razor for sharpness The devices engraved are the ciphers or names long line of possessors--I had Luigi's name added in Roman letters myself coat of arms, as You notice what curious handle the thing has solid ivory, polished like mirror, four or five inches long--round, and as thick as large man's wrist, end squared off flat, for your thumb to rest on; grasp it, with your thumb resting blunt end-- so--and lift it along and strike downward The Gaikowar showed us how the thing when it to Luigi, and night was ended, Luigi had used the knife, Gaikowar was man short by reason of it The sheath is magnificently ornamented with gems of great value sheath more worth looking at knife itself, "

Tom said to himself:

"It's lucky here sold that knife for song; I supposed the jewels were glass "

"But go on; don't stop," said Wilson "Our curiosity is up now, to hear homicide Tell us "

"Well, briefly, the knife was to blame , all around native servant slipped into our room palace night, to kill us and steal the knife on account fortune encrusted on its sheath, without doubt Luigi had it under his pillow; we were in bed together dim night-light burning asleep, but Luigi was awake, and he thought he detected vague form nearing the bed He slipped the knife sheath and was ready and unembarrassed by hampering bedclothes, weather was hot and we hadn't any Suddenly that native rose bedside, and bent over me right hand lifted and dirk aimed at my throat; but Luigi grabbed his wrist, pulled him downward, and drove his own knife man's neck whole story "

Wilson and Tom drew deep breaths, and after some general chat tragedy, Pudd'nhead said, taking Tom's hand:

"Now, Tom, I've never had look at your palms, as it happens; perhaps you've got some little questionable privacies that need--hel-lo ! "

Tom had snatched away his hand, and was looking confused

"Why, he's blushing ! " said Luigi

Tom darted an ugly look at him, and said sharply:

"Well, if , it ain't because I'm murderer ! " Luigi's dark face flushed, but before speak or move, Tom added with anxious haste: "Oh, I beg thousand pardons I didn't mean that; out before , and I'm very, very sorry-- forgive me ! "

Wilson came rescue, and smoothed things down as ; and was entirely successful as far twins were concerned, for they felt sorrier affront put upon him by his guest's outburst of ill manners than insult offered to Luigi But the success was not so pronounced offender Tom tried to seem at his ease, and he went motions fairly well, but at bottom resentful toward all the three witnesses exhibition; , so annoyed at them for having witnessed it and noticed it that he almost forgot annoyed at himself for placing it before them However, something presently happened which made him almost comfortable, and brought him nearly back to state of charity and friendliness little spat twins; not much of spat, but still spat; and got far with it, they were in decided condition of irritation while pretending actuated by more respectable motives By his help the fire got warmed blazing point, and had the happiness of seeing the flames show up in another moment, but interruption of knock door--an interruption which fretted him as it gratified Wilson Wilson opened the door

The visitor was good-natured, ignorant, energetic middle-aged Irishman named John Buckstone, who was great politician in small way, and always took large share in public matters of every sort town's chief excitements, just now, was over the matter of rum strong rum party and strong anti-rum party Buckstone was training rum party, and he sent to hunt up the twins and invite them to attend mass meeting faction He delivered his errand, and said the clans were already gathering big hall over the market house Luigi accepted the invitation cordially Angelo less cordially, since he disliked crowds, and drink the powerful intoxicants of America , even teetotaler sometimes-- when judicious one

The twins left with Buckstone, and Tom Driscoll joined the company uninvited

distance, one long wavering line of torches drifting down the main street, and could hear the throbbing bass drum, the clash of cymbals, the squeaking of fife or two, faint roar of remote hurrahs The tail end procession was climbing the market house stairs twins arrived in its neighborhood; reached the hall, full of people, torches, smoke, noise, and enthusiasm They were conducted platform by Buckstone--Tom Driscoll still following--and were delivered chairman midst of prodigious explosion of welcome noise had moderated little, the chair proposed that "our illustrious guests be at once elected, by complimentary acclamation, to membership ever-glorious organization, the paradise free perdition slave "

This eloquent discharge opened the floodgates of enthusiasm again, election was carried with thundering unanimity Then arose storm of cries:

"Wet them down ! Wet them down ! Give them drink ! "

Glasses of whisky were handed twins Luigi waves his aloft, then brought it lips; but Angelo set his down another storm of cries

"What's the matter other one ? " " the blond one going back on us for ? " "Explain ! Explain ! "

The chairman inquired, and then reported:

" an unfortunate mistake, gentlemen Count Angelo Capello is opposed to our creed--is teetotaler, , and was not intending to apply for membership He desires that we reconsider the vote elected the pleasure house ? "

general burst of laughter, plentifully accented with whistlings and catcalls, but the energetic use gavel presently restored something like order Then man spoke crowd, and said that while very sorry mistake made, it possible to rectify it present meeting According bylaws, it must go over next regular meeting for action offer motion, as none was required He desired to apologize gentlemen name house, and begged to assure him that as far as it might lie power Sons of Liberty, his temporary membership order made pleasant to him

This speech was received with great applause, mixed with cries of:

"That's the talk ! "He's good fellow, anyway, if teetotaler ! " "Drink his health ! " "Give him rouser, and no heeltaps ! "

Glasses were handed around, and everybody platform drank Angelo's health, while the house bellowed forth in song:

For he's jolly good fel-low, For he's jolly good fel-low, For he's jolly good fe-el-low, Which nobody can deny

Tom Driscoll drank his second glass, for he had drunk Angelo's the moment that Angelo had set it down The two drinks made him very merry--almost idiotically so, and he began most lively and prominent part proceedings, particularly music and catcalls and side remarks

The chairman was still standing front, the twins at his side The extraordinarily close resemblance brothers to suggested witticism to Tom Driscoll, and just chairman began speech he skipped forward and said, with an air of tipsy confidence, audience:

"Boys, I move that he keeps still and lets this human philopena snip you out speech "

The descriptive aptness phrase caught the house, and mighty burst of laughter followed

Luigi's southern blood leaped boiling point in moment under the sharp humiliation insult delivered presence of four hundred strangers not young man's nature to let the matter pass, or to delay the squaring account couple of strides and halted behind the unsuspecting joker Then he drew back and delivered kick titanic vigor lifted Tom clear over the footlights and landed him heads front row Sons of Liberty