Page 148 (1/1)

"You do not answer me--" interrupted Rivardi with impatience--"What of your search for the Brazen City?"

She raised her lovely, mysterious eyes and looked full at hiesture of annoyance

"Whether I believe or not is of no importance,"--he answered--"YOU have so the truth of your idea--yet, afterthe journey from Sicily for the purpose, you suddenly turn back!"

Still she kept her eyes upon him

"You must not mind the caprices of a woman!" she said, with a smile--"And do please reend of this undiscovered place in the desert was related by your friend Don Aloysius--and he was careful to say it was 'only' a legend Why should you think I accept it as a truth?"

"Surely it was the ht here?" he deht frown

"My dear Marchese, I allow no one to question my motives"--she said with sudden coldness--"That I have decided to go no farther in search of the Brazen City is ht!" he expostulated--"You could not see it by night even if it existed!"

"Not unless it was lit like other cities!" she said, s--"I suppose if such a city existed, its inhabitants would need sorope about in the dark In that case it would be seen froht as by day"

Gaspard, busy with some mechanical detail, looked up

"Then why not make a search for it while we are here?" he said--"You evidently believe in it!"

"I have turned the 'White Eagle' hoain"--she said--"But I do not see any reason why such a city should not exist and be discovered soinnings of a different race of s--there is nothing really against the possibility of an undiscovered City in the Great Desert We reat deal--but our wisdoe limited We have not mastered EVERYTHING under the sun!"

The Marchese Rivardi looked at her with solance