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But out of all this finery, Jackeymo held the small-clothes in especial veneration; for as they had cost exactly what the medallion had sold for, so it seemed to him that San Giacomo had heard his prayer in that quarter to which he had more exclusively directed the saint's direction.
"And the Padrone should think in time that he must lay by for the dower of the poor signorina." Riccabocca sighed, and made no reply. "She must be that high now!" said Jackeymo, putting his hand on some imaginary line a little above the balustrade. Riccabocca's eyes, raised over the spectacles, followed the hand. "If the Padrone could but see her here " "I thought I did," muttered the Italian.
He thought he had detected a new motive for Randal's interest, a motive to an Italian the most natural, the most laudable of all. "Find the house, Signore, write to the padrone. He shall come. I'll talk to him. I can manage him. Holy San Giacomo, bestir thyself now, 't is long since I troubled thee!" Jackeymo strode off through the fading trees, smiling and muttering as he went.
"And with a word," said Jackeymo, resolutely, "the padrone might secure to his child all that he needs to save her from the sepulchre of a convent; and ere the autumn leaves fall, she might be sitting on his knee.
Randal obeyed, and the two gained the shade of a stately chestnut avenue. "Sir," then said Jackeymo, speaking in his native tongue, and expressing himself with a certain simple pathos, "I am but a poor man; my name is Giacomo. You have heard of me; servant to the signore whom you saw to-day, only a servant; but he honours me with his confidence.
"Married!" said Jackeymo, more dispassionately "that's very bad, certainly; but more than a hundred and fifty thousand lire, and perhaps a pretty young lady, and " "Pretty young lady!" growled Riccabocca, jumping into bed and drawing the clothes fiercely over him. "Put out the candle, and get along with you, do, you villanous old incendiary!"
"Poor Giacomo, a little chat in the servants' hall will do you good; and the squire's beef is more nourishing, after all, than the sticklebacks and minnows. It will lengthen your life." "The padrone jests," said Jackeymo, statelily; "as if any one could starve in his service." "Um," said Riccabocca.
The man-servant, who was styled in the neighbourhood "Jackeymo," did all else for his master, smoothed his room, dusted his papers, prepared his coffee, cooked his dinner, brushed his clothes, and cleaned his pipes, of which Riccabocca had a large collection.
Jackeymo seized Randal's hand, and lifted it towards his lip; then, as if struck by a sudden suspicion, dropped the hand, and said bluntly, "Signore, I think you have seen the padrone twice. Why do you take this interest in him?" "Is it so uncommon to take interest even in a stranger who is menaced by some peril?" Jackeymo, who believed little in general philanthropy, shook his head sceptically.
"Six thousand pounds English! why, that must be a hundred thousand blockhead that I am! more than L150,000 Milanese!" And Jackeymo, who was considerably enlivened by the squire's ale, commenced a series of gesticulations and capers, in the midst of which he stopped and cried, "But not for nothing?" "Nothing! no!" "These mercenary English! the Government wants to bribe you?" "That's not it."
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