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caseyouwouldnotseriouslyinjureyourfriend.' 'Youcanhithimintheneck.' 'Thespaceistoosmall,andthechinmaygetintheway.Ontheotherhand,awoundinthelargevesselsofthatregionisalmostimmediatelyfatal.' 'Itisaninterestingsubject,'Isaid.'Myopinionisthatthebestofallblowsisanunderhandone,rippingupthestomach.' ItookthedaggerandshowedhimwhatImeant. 'Therearenohindrancesinthewayofbonesitissimpleandcertainlyfatal.' '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,eggsandotherboothswithmeatandoilandc