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ccowasquitestill,leaninghisfaceonhishand,occasionallyraisinghiseyesandfixingthemonMatteoorme.Oneoftheservantsdroppedsomeplatesweallstartedatthesound,andCheccoutteredanoathIhadneverheardhimswearbefore.HewassopaleIwonderedifhewerenervous.Iaskedthetime:stilltwohoursbeforewecouldstart.Howlongwouldtheytaketopass!Ihadbeenlongingtofinishdinner,sothatImightgetupandgoaway.Ifeltanurgentneedforwalking,butwhenthemealwasoveraheavinesscametomylegsandIcoulddonothingbutsitandlookattheothertwo.Matteofilledhistankardandemptieditseveraltimes,butafterawhile,ashereachedoverforthewine,hesawChecco'seyesfixedontheflagon,withafrownonhisforehead,andthecuriousraisingofonecornerofthemouth,whichwasasignhewasdispleased.Matteowithdrewhishandandpushedhismugawayitrolledoverandfellonthefloor.Weheardthechurchbellstrikethehouritwasthreeo'clock.Woulditneverbetime!Wesatonandon.AtlastCheccoroseandbeganwalkingupanddowntheroom.Hecalledforhischildren.Theycame,andhebegantalkingtotheminahuskyvoice,sothattheycouldscarcelyunderstandhim.Then,asiffrightenedofhimself,hetooktheminhisarms,oneaftertheother,andkissedthemconvulsively,passionately,asonekissesawomanandhetoldthemtogo.Hestifledasob.Wesatonandon.Icountedtheminutes.Ihadneverlivedsolongbefore.Itwasawful.... Atlast! Itwashalf-pastthreewegotupandtookourhats. 'Now,myfriends!'saidChecco,drawingabreathofrelief,'ourworsttroublesareover.' Wefollowedhimoutofthehouse.Inoticedthejewelledhiltofhisdagger,andeverynowandthenIsawhimputhishandtoittoseethatitwasreallythere.Wepassedalongthestreets,salutedbythepeople.Abeggarstoppedus,andCheccothrewhimapieceofgold. 'Godblessyou!'saidtheman. AndCheccothankedhimfervently. Wewalkedalongthenarrowstreetsintheshade,butasweturnedacornerthesuncamefullonourfaces.Checcostoppedamomentandopenedhisarms,asiftoreceivethesunbeamsinhisembrace,and,turningtous,withasmile,hesaid,— 'Agoodomen!' Afewmorestepsbroughtustothepiazza.