XV
關燈
小
中
大
NEXTmorningImountedmyhorseandsetoutwithMatteo,whowastoaccompanymeforalittleway.
Butatthetowngateaguardstoppedusandaskedwhereweweregoing.
'Out!'Iansweredshortly,movingon.
'Stop!'saidtheman,catchingholdofmybridle.
'Whatthedevild'youmean?'saidMatteo.'D'youknowwhomweare?'
'Ihaveorderstoletnoonegobywithoutthepermissionofmycaptain.'
'Whattyrantstheyare!'criedMatteo.'Well,whatthehellareyoustandingtherefor?Goandtellyourcaptaintocomeout.'
Themansignedtoanothersoldier,whowentintotheguard-househewasstillholdingmybridle.Iwasnotverygood-temperedthatmorning.
'Havethegoodnesstotakeyourhandsoff,'Isaid.
Helookedasifhewereabouttorefuse.
'Willyoudoasyouaretold?'Then,ashehesitated,Ibroughtdownthebutt-endofmywhiponhisfingers,andwithanoathbadehimstandoff.Heletgoatonce,cursing,andlookedasifhewouldwillinglystabmeifhedared.Wewaitedimpatiently,butthecaptaindidnotappear.
'Whythedevildoesn'tthismancome?'IsaidandMatteo,turningtooneofthesoldiers,ordered,—
'Goandtellhimtocomehereinstantly.'
Atthatmomentthecaptainappeared,andweunderstoodtheincident,foritwasErcolePiacentini.Hehadapparentlyseenuscoming,orheardofmyintendedjourney,andhadsethimselfouttoinsultus.Wewerebothfurious.
'Whythedevildon'tyouhurryupwhenyou'resentfor?'saidMatteo.
Hescowled,butdidnotanswer.Turningtomeheasked,—
'Whereareyougoing?'
MatteoandIlookedatoneanotherinamazementattheman'simpudence,andIburstforth,—
'Youinsolentfellow!Whatdoyoumeanbystoppingmelikethis?'
'IhavearighttorefusepassagetoanyoneIchoose.'
'Takecare!'Isaid.'IsweartheCountshallbetoldofyourbehaviour,andnowadaystheCountisinthehabitofdoingastheOrsitellhim.'
'Heshallhearofthis,'growledthePiacentini.
'Tellhimwhatyoulike.DoyouthinkIcare?YoucantellhimthatIconsiderhiscaptainaveryimpertinentruffian.Now,letmego.'
'YoushallnotpasstillIchoose.'
'ByGod!man,'Isaid,absolutelybesidemyself,'itseemsIcannottouchyouhere,butifeverwemeetinCittàdiCastello—'
'Iwillgiveyouanysatisfactionyouwish,'heansweredhotly.
'Satisfaction!Iwouldnotsoilmyswordbycrossingitwithyours.Iwasgoin