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dominoes； or put my hand to any kind of work？'
'Never！'
'Have you ever thought of looking to me to do any kind of work？'
John Baptist answered with that peculiar back…handed shake of the
right forefinger which is the most expressive negative in the Italian
language。
'No！ You knew from the first moment when you saw me here； that I was a
gentleman？'
'ALTRO！' returned John Baptist； closing his eyes and giving his head a
most vehement toss。 The word being； according to its Genoese emphasis；
a confirmation； a contradiction； an assertion； a denial； a taunt；
a pliment； a joke； and fifty other things； became in the present
instance； with a significance beyond all power of written expression；
our familiar English 'I believe you！'
'Haha！ You are right！ A gentleman I am！ And a gentleman I'll live； and
a gentleman I'll die！ It's my intent to be a gentleman。 It's my game。
Death of my soul； I play it out wherever I go！'
He changed his posture to a sitting one； crying with a triumphant air：
'Here I am！ See me！ Shaken out of destiny's dice…box into the pany
of a mere smuggler；……shut up with a poor little contraband trader； whose
papers are wrong； and whom the police lay hold of besides； for placing
his boat （as a means of getting beyond the frontier） at the disposition
of other little people whose papers are wrong； and he instinctively
recognises my position； even by this light and in this place。 It's well
done！ By Heaven！ I win； however the game goes。'
Again his moustache went up； and his nose came down。
'What's the hour now？' he asked； with a dry hot pallor upon him； rather
difficult of association with merriment。
'A little half…hour after mid…day。'
'Good！ The President will have a gentleman before him soon。 e！
Shall I tell you on what accusation？ It must be now； or never； for I
shall not return here。 Either I shall go free； or I shall go to be made
ready for shaving。 You know where they keep the razor。'
Signor Cavalletto took his cigarette from between his parted lips； and
showed more momentary disfiture than might have been expected。
'I am a'……Monsieur Rigaud stood up to say it……'I am a cosmopolitan
gentleman。 I own no particular country。 My father was Swiss……Canton de
Vaud。 My mother was French by blood； English by birth。 I myself was born
in Belgium。 I am a citizen of the world。'
His theatrical air； as he stood with one arm on his hip within the folds
of his cloak； together with his manner of disregarding his panion
and addressing the opposite wall instead； seemed to intimate that he
was rehearsing for the President； whose examination he was shortly to
undergo； rather than troubling himself merely to enlighten so small a
person as John Baptist Cavalletto。
'Call me five…and…thirty years of age。 I have seen the world。 I have
lived here； and lived there； and lived like a gentleman everywhere。 I
have been treated and respected as a gentleman universally。 If you try
to prejudice me by making out that I have lived by my wits……how do
your lawyers live……your politicians……your intriguers……your men of the
Exchange？'
He kept his small smooth hand in constant requisition； as if it were a
witness to his gentility that had often done him good service before。
'Two years ago I came to Marseilles。 I admit that I was poor； I had been
ill。 When your lawyers； your politicians； your intriguers； your men of
the Exchange fall ill； and have not scraped money together； they bee
poor。 I put up at the Cross of Gold；……kept then by Monsieur Henri
Barronneau……sixty…five at least； and in a failing state of health。 I had
lived in the house some four months when Monsieur Henri Barronneau had
the misfortune to die；……at any rate； not a rare misfortune； that。 It
happens without any aid of mine； pretty often。'
John Baptist having smoked his cigarette down to his fingers' ends；
Monsieur Rigaud had the magnanimity to throw him another。 He lighted the
second at the ashes of the first； and smoked on； looking sideways at his
panion； who； preoccupied with his own case； hardly looked at him。
'Monsieur Barronneau left a widow。 She was two…and…twenty。 She had
gained a reputation for beauty； and （which is often another thing） was
beautiful。 I continued to live at the Cross of Gold。 I married Madame
Barronneau。 It is not for me to say whether there was any great
disparity in such a match。 Here I stand； with the contamination of a
jail upon me； but it is possible that you may think me better suited to
her than her former husband was。'
He had a certain air of being a handsome man……which he was not； and
a certain air of being a well…bred man……which he was not。 It was mere
swagger and challenge； but in this particular； as in many others；
blustering assertion goes for proof； half over the world。
'Be it as it may； Madame Barronneau approved of me。 That is not to
prejudice me； I hope？'
His eye happening to light upon John Baptist with this inquiry； that
little man briskly shook his head in the negative； and repeated in an
argumentative tone under his breath； altro； altro； altro； altro……an
infinite number of times。
'Now came the difficulties of our position。 I am proud。 I say nothing
in defence of pride； but I am proud。 It is also my character to govern。
I can't submit； I must govern。 Unfortunately； the property of Madame
Rigaud was settled upon herself。 Such was the insane act of her late
husband。 More unfortunately still； she had relations。 When a wife's
relations interpose against a husband who is a gentleman； who is proud；
and who must govern； the consequences are inimical to peace。 There
was yet another source of difference between us。 Madame Rigaud was
unfortunately a little vulgar。 I sought to improve her manners and
ameliorate her general tone； she （supported in this likewise by her
relations） resented my endeavours。 Quarrels began to arise between us；
and； propagated and exaggerated by the slanders of the relations of
Madame Rigaud； to bee notorious to the neighbours。 It has been said
that I treated Madame Rigaud with cruelty。 I may have been seen to slap
her face……nothing more。 I have a light hand； and if I have been seen
apparently to correct Madame Rigaud in that manner； I have done it
almost playfully。'
If the playfulness of Monsieur Rigaud were at all expressed by his smile
at this point； the relations of Madame Rigaud might have said that
they would have much preferred his correcting that unfortunate woman
seriously。
'I am sensitive and brave。 I do not advance it as a merit to be
sensitive and brave； but it is my character。 If the male relations of
Madame Rigaud had put themselves forward openly； I should have known how
to deal with them。 They knew that； and their machinations were conducted
in secret； consequently； Madame Rigaud and I were brought into frequent
and unfortunate collision。 Even when I wanted any little sum of money
for my personal expenses； I could not obtain it without collision……and
I； too； a man whose character it is to govern！ One night； Madame Rigaud
and myself were walking amicably……I may say like lovers……on a height
overhanging the sea。 An evil star occasioned Madame Rigaud to advert to
her relations； I reasoned with her on that subject； and remonstrated on
the want of duty and devotion manifested in her allowing herself to be
influenced by their jealous animosity towards her husband。 Madame Rigaud
retorted； I retorted； Madame Rigaud grew warm； I grew warm； and provoked
her。 I admit it。 Frankness is a part of my character。 At length； Madame
Rigaud； in an access of fury that I must ever deplore； threw herself
upon me with screams of passion （no doubt those that were overheard
at some distance）； tore my clothes； tore my hair； lacerated my hands；
trampled and trod the dust； and finally leaped over； dashing herself to
death upon the rocks below。 Such is the train of incidents which
malice has perverted into my endeavouring to force from Madame Rigaud
a relinquishment of her rights； and； on her persistence in a refusal to
make the concession I required； struggling with her……assassinating her！'
He stepped aside to the ledge where the vine leaves yet lay strewn
about； collected two or thre