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esitissimpleandcertainlyfatal.' 'Yes,'saidChecco,'butnotimmediately!Myimpressionisthatthebestwayisbetweentheshoulders.Thenyoustrikefromtheback,andyourvictimcanseenoupliftedhandtowarnhim,and,ifheisveryquick,enablehimtowardtheblow.' 'Itislargelyamatteroftaste,'Ianswered,shruggingmyshoulders.'Inthesethingsamanhastojudgeforhimselfaccordingtohisownidiosyncrasies.' AfteralittlemoreconversationIproposedtoMatteothatweshouldgoouttothemarket-placeandseethepeople. 'Yes,do!'saidChecco,'andIwillgoandseemyfather.' Aswewalkedalong,MatteotoldmethatCheccohadtriedtopersuadehisfathertogoawayforawhile,butthathehadrefused,asalsohadhiswife.IhadseenoldOrsod'Orsionceortwicehewasveryweakanddecrepithenevercamedownstairs,butstayedinhisownroomsalldaybythefireside,playingwithhisgrand-children.Checcowasinthehabitofgoingtoseehimeveryday,morningandevening,buttotherestofusitwasasifhedidnotexist.Checcowascompletemasterofeverything. Themarket-placewasfullofpeople.Boothswereerectedinrows,andonthetablesthepeasantwomenhaddisplayedtheirwares:vegetablesandflowers,chickens,ducksandallkindsofdomesticfowls,milk,butter,eggsandotherboothswithmeatandoilandcandles.Andthesellerswereajoyfulcrew,deckedoutwithredandyellowhandkerchiefs,greatchainsofgoldaroundtheirnecks,andspotlessheaddressestheywerestandingbehindtheirtables,withascaleononehandandalittlebasinfullofcoppersontheother,cryingouttooneanother,bargaining,shoutingandjoking,laughing,quarrelling.Thentherewerethepurchasers,whowalkedalonglookingatthegoods,pickingupthingsandpinchingthem,smellingthem,tastingthem,examiningthemfromeverypointofview.Andthesellersoftokensandamuletsandcharmspassedthroughthecrowdcryingouttheirwares,elbowing,cursingwhensomeoneknockedagainstthem.Glidinginandout,betweenpeople'slegs,underthebarrowwheels,behindthebooths,werecountlessurchins,chasingoneanotherthroughthecrowdunmindfulofkicksandcuffs,pouncingonanyboothofwhichtheproprietorhadt