His anger was like the fermentation of must that
has gone sour in adirty barrel.
He might have sent a squad of those terriblegreat
dolls of his, with their Captain Sciaralla.
Lando assured him, shewing a genuineinterest. Who
would believe in his honesty to-morrow, ifhe were arrested today?
Could not Italy fashion herself in any other way?
Whereupon Mauro hadclapped his hand to his forehead, with:There I go! Giulio at once
interrupted him, stung by the commonplaceexpression.
Was it he whose feet were treading thepavements of
Rome? The other two, who were Piedmontese, had begun to laugh, exchanging aglance of
merriment. For in truth the hero always dies with the heroic moment: the
mansurvives, and fares ill.
This is a terrible moment for me,from which only
you can deliver me, but. Hehimself would be obliged to confess everything. He went
up to him; laid a handon his shoulder:Giulio!
It is enough for me to know that he is honest,in my
own conscience!
Giulio declined the offer, in a burst of
scorn.
Pardon me, said Lando, with a note of irritation in
his voice.
Lando assured him, shewing a
genuineinterest.
And he had prepared himself for this talk with him
as for an assaultupon an enemy. Do you wish me to be your accomplice in
savingSelmi?
He would fling thebook from him, in a fit of
disgust, and begin to pace up and down theroom. Honesty, dishonesty, whatare you
getting at now?
Giulio Auriti remained silent for a while, brooding
darkly.
What a blaze ofbright and devouring fire from
Sicily, up north as far as Naples!
Giulio at once interrupted him, stung by the
commonplaceexpression. Guilty or innocent, replied Giulio, quivering with rage, that
isnot the point! There it was, his fine body, sleekand well-tended, smartly
dressed.
A son may weep for it; but, when youthink it over,
its a thing to rejoice at.
And that other had then taken a scoundrelly
advantage ofher. He even sends them to me, toValsania, dressed up like that, to his
Fathers house!
And now, at Girgenti, he holds all thepriests in
the hollow of his hand!
Dont keep me in suspense, for heavens
sake!
Landos lips had parted in a pained smile. Giulio
Auriti remained silent for a while, brooding darkly. To us, to myself, it is
everything; her pride,her sentiment. Instead, he had inquired after his father.