XVI

hewouldtakeyoutohisarmsandcomfortyou,andneveroncecomplainthatyouhadstrayedaway.IlongedtobewithMatteo,claspinghishand.InmyhurryIputthespurstomyhorse,andclatteredalongthestreet.InafewminutesIhadreachedthePalazzo,leaptoffmyhorse,sprungupthestairs,andflungmyselfintothearmsofmyfriend. Afterthefirstgreetings,MatteodraggedmealongtoChecco. 'Thegoodcousinismosteagertohearyournews.Wemustnotkeephimwaiting.' CheccoseemedaspleasedtoseemeasMatteo.Hewarmlypressedmyhand,andsaid,— 'Iamgladtohaveyouback,Filippo.Inyourabsencewehavebeenlamentinglikeforsakenshepherdesses.Now,whatisyournews?' Iwasfullyimpressedwithmyimportanceatthemoment,andtheanxietywithwhichIwasbeinglistenedto.Iresolvednottobetraymyselftoosoon,andbegantellingthemaboutthekindnessofLorenzo,andtheplaywhichhehadinvitedmetosee.Idescribedthebrilliancyoftheassembly,andtheexcellenceoftheacting.Theylistenedwithinterest,butIcouldseeitwasnotwhattheywantedtohear. 'ButIseeyouwanttohearaboutmoreimportantmatters,'Isaid.'Well—' 'Ah!'theycried,drawingtheirchairsclosertome,settlingthemselvestolistenattentively. WithaslightsmileIproceededtogivethemthedetailsofthecommercialtransactionwhichhadbeentheostensiblepurposeofmyvisit,andIlaughedtomyselfasIsawtheirdisgust.Checcocouldnotrestrainhisimpatience,butdidnotliketointerruptme.Matteo,however,sawthatIwasmocking,andbrokein. 'Confoundyou,Filippo!Whydoyoutormentuswhenyouknowweareonpinsandneedles?' Checcolookedupandsawmelaughing,andimplored,— 'Putusoutoftorture,forHeaven'ssake!' 'Verywell!'Ianswered.'LorenzoaskedmeaboutthestateofForli,andItoldhim.Then,afterthinkingawhile,hesaid,"TellthistoChecco—"' AndIrepeatedwordforwordwhatLorenzohadsaidtome,and,asfarasIcould,Ireproducedhisaccentandgesture. WhenIhadfinishedtheybothsatstillandsilent.AtlastMatteo,glancingtohiscousin,said,— 'Itseemssufficientlyclear.' 'Itis,indeed,veryclear,'answeredChecco,gravely.