The Lady and the Pirate

"I have your word, then?" I demanded of her.

"Yes. You can't blame me for wanting to get out, to see what is going

on."

"A great deal may be going on here any moment," said I. "In fact, if I

could show you the evening newspapers--which I purpose doing to-morrow

morning--it might seem to you that a great deal already has gone on.

For one thing, Cal Davidson is in town ahead of us. That's his boat

yonder, rubbing sides with us. He doesn't know we're here. He himself

is off up-town, at the Boston Club, probably, or perhaps some of the

cafés--he knows a thousand people here."

"So do I, Harry," said she. "To think of going by in this plight! And

to think of leaving New Orleans without even one little supper at

Luigi's, Harry--it breaks my heart."

"We are almost ready to sail, Helena. Suppose we see Luigi's some

other time. Things are getting pretty close about us here."

"Any pirate should be a man of courage," said she; "he should be ever

willing to take a chance."

"Very well; have I not taken several chances already?"

"And again, a pirate ought to be kind toward all women, oughtn't he,

Harry? I asked you this afternoon, why couldn't we be friends again

and stop all this foolishness. Let's forget everything and just be

friends."

"What! Again, Helena? Have I not tried that and found it a failure?"

"You have no courage. You are no pirate. I challenge you to a test."

"What is it, Helena?"

"Let us go up-town and have a little supper at Luigi's, the way we

used to, Harry, when we really were friends."

"What, with Cal Davidson loose in the town and his boat lying here?"

"That is the adventure!"

"You would turn me over to the authorities?"

"No, but I would sell my parole for a mess of woodcock, Harry." She

laid a hand upon my arm. "I can't tell you how much I want a little

supper at Luigi's, Harry. I like the Chianti there. Between us we

could afford thirty cents a bottle, could we not? Now, if I gave my

parole--and of course, every one would be here at the boat just the

same--But of course, I did not expect you would."

"Why did you not?"

"Because it is an adventure, because it will take something of real

courage, I fancy, to meet a risk like that!"

"There would be some risk for us all," said I truly.

"There you go, balancing and not deciding. You are no pirate."

"What will you give me if I go, Helena?" said I.

"Nothing beyond thanking you. One thing, you must not think that I

would trick or trap you."