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goodimaginations,'saidabig,heavy-lookingman—anugly,sallow-facedperson,whomIhatedatfirstsight.
'Itwasonlyonceinaway,andwewantedtogethome.'
'Youcouldnothavecomefasterifyouhadbeenrunningawayfromabattlefield,'saidtheman.
Ithoughthimneedlesslydisagreeable,butIdidnotspeak.Matteohadnotcultivatedthegoldenquality.
'Youtalkasonewhohashadexperience,'heremarked,smilinginhismostamiablemanner.
IsawCheccofrownatMatteo,whilethebystanderslookedoninterestedly.
'Ionlysaidthat,'addedtheman,shrugginghisshoulders,'becausetheDukeofCalabriaisrathercelebratedforhisretreativetactics.'
IentertainedaverygreatrespectfortheDuke,whohadalwaysbeenakindandgenerousmastertome.
'Perhapsyoudonotknowverymuchabouttactics,'IremarkedasoffensivelyasIcould.
Heturnedandlookedatme,asiftosay,'Whothedevilareyou!'Helookedmeupanddowncontemptuously,andIbegantofeelthatIwasalmostlosingmytemper.
'Mygoodyoungman,'hesaid,'IimaginethatIwasengagedinwarwhenyourbattleswerewithyournursemaid.'
'Youhavetheadvantageofmeincourtesyaswellasinyears,sir,'Ireplied.'ButImightsuggestthatamanmayfightallhislife,andhavenomoreideaofwarattheendthanatthebeginning.'
'Itdependsontheintelligence,'remarkedMatteo.
'ExactlywhatIwasthinking,'saidI.
'Whatthedevildoyoumean?'saidtheman,angrily.
'Idon'tsupposehemeansanythingatall,Ercole,'putinChecco,withaforcedlaugh.
'Hecananswerforhimself,Isuppose,'saidtheman.AflushcameoverChecco'sface,buthedidnotanswer.
'Mygoodsir,'Isaid,'youhavetoconsiderwhetherIchoosetoanswer.'
'Jackanapes!'
Iputmyhandtomysword,butCheccocaughtholdofmyarm.Irecoveredmyselfatonce.
'Ibegyourpardon,MesserChecco,'Isaidthen,turningtotheman,'Youaresafeininsultingmehere.Youshowyourbreeding!Really,Matteo,youdidnottellmethatyouhadsuchacharmingfellow-countryman.'
'Youaretoohardonus,Filippo,'answeredmyfriend,'forsuchamonstrosityasthatForliisnotresponsible.'
'IamnoForlivese,thankGod!NeithertheCountnorI.'Helookedroundscornfully.'WeofferupthankstotheAlmightyeverytimethefactoccurstous.IamacitizenofCastello.'
Matteowasgoingtoburstout,butIanticipatedhim.'I,too,amacitizenofCastelloandallowmetoinformyouthatIconsi