XXXVII
關燈
小
中
大
ather.'
'Filippo!'
Hestartedup,andsteppingback,stoodagainstthewall,hisarmsagainstit,outstretched,withwhiteandhaggardfaceandstaringeyes,likeahuntedbeastatbay.
Itoldhimhowtheyhadtakenhisfatherandboundhim,andthrownhimdown,andtiedhimtothesavagebeast,andhowhehadbeendraggedalongtillhisbloodspatteredonthepavementandhissoullefthim.
Checcoutteredamostawfulgroan,and,lookinguptoheaven,asiftocallitinwitness,cried,—
'Oh,God!'
Then,sinkingintoachair,heburiedhisfaceinhishands,andinhisagonyswayedfromsidetoside.Matteowentuptohimandputhishandonhisshoulder,tryingtocomforthimbuthemotionedhimaside.
'Letmebe.'
Herosefromhisseat,andwesawthathiseyesweretearless,forhisgriefwastoogreatforweeping.Then,withhishandsbeforehimlikeablindman,hestaggeredtothedoorandleftus.
Scipione,theweakman,wascrying.
