“Carl,” Alresca burst out with a start — he was decidedly in a mood to be communicative that evening — ”have you ever been in love?”

In the gloom I could just distinguish that he was leaning his head on his arm.

“No,” I answered; “at least, I think not;” and I wondered if I had been, if I was, in love.

“You have that which pleases women, you know, and you will have chances, plenty of chances. Let me advise you — either fall in love young or not at all. If you have a disappointment before you are twenty-five it is nothing. If you have a disappointment after you are thirty-five, it is — everything.”

He sighed.