Come dine with me.'
"'But I dined with you yesterday.'
"'Yes, I know--and you hated me afterward. I'll be better this time.'
"'I didn't hate you, I only----'
"'Yes, you did, and you had reason to. I wasn't myself, somehow. Try me
again to-day.'
"There was something in his eyes--a troubled, disappointed expression
that appealed to me--and so I said:
"'All right, but on one condition: it's my dinner this time.'
"'And my wine,' he answered, and a satisfied look came into his face.
"'Yes, your wine. Come along.'
"The fellow's blunt, jerky way of speaking had somehow made me speak in
the same way. Our talk sounded just like two boys who had had a fight
and who were forced to shake hands and make up. My own curiosity as to
who he might be, what he was doing in Venice, and why he was pursuing
me, was now becoming aroused. That he should again throw himself in my
way after the stupid dinner of the night before only deepened
the mystery.
"When we got inside, just as we were taking our seats at one of the
small tables in that side room off the street, a shout of laughter came
from the next room--the one we fellows always dined in.
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