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"But as it happens, my dear fellow, I don't want the dagger and I do want the tape-worm. Martini, I must run off. Are you in charge of this obstreperous patient?" "Only till three o'clock. Galli and I have to go to San Miniato, and Signora Bolla is coming till I can get back." "Signora Bolla!" the Gadfly repeated in a tone of dismay. "Why, Martini, this will never do!
When Grassini brought up a Frenchman "who wishes to ask Signora Bolla something about the history of Young Italy," the M. P. rose with a bewildered sense that perhaps there was more ground for Italian discontent than he had supposed. Later in the evening Gemma slipped out on to the terrace under the drawing-room windows to sit alone for a few moments among the great camellias and oleanders.
The gendarmes were evidently trying to entrap him into making some admission which might compromise Bolla; and so great was his fear of slipping, by any inadvertency, into a pitfall, that he was really in danger of doing so through sheer nervousness.
The studied politeness of the officers, the dull game of fencing and parrying, of insidious questions and evasive answers, worried and annoyed him, and the clumsy tramping backward and forward of the sentinel outside the door jarred detestably upon his ear. "Oh, by the bye, when did you last meet Giovanni Bolla?" asked the colonel, after a little more bandying of words.
A rush began, but at the top of the winding stairs another grating barred the way. Through this, however, could be seen Salvatore di Marco, Giordano Bolla, and the elder Cressi. The three Sicilians had fled to this last stronghold, slammed the steel door behind them, and now crouched in the shelter of a brick column.
I expressly stipulated, when I gave in to Signora Bolla, that I should be allowed a l-l-little chuckle all to myself now. It is so nominated in the bond!"
Di mezza quella bolla anco cortese Mi fu, della quale ora il mio Bibbiena Espedito m'ha il resto alle mie spese. Indi col seno e con la falda piena Di speme, ma di pioggia molle e brutto, La notte andai sin al Montone a cena."
The colonel carelessly handed him a paper headed: "Protocol," and signed: "Giovanni Bolla." Glancing down it Arthur came upon his own name. He looked up in surprise. "Am I to read it?" "Yes, you may as well; it concerns you." He began to read, while the officers sat silently watching his face. The document appeared to consist of depositions in answer to a long string of questions.
Surely Bolla isn't fool enough to believe that sort of stuff?" "Then it really isn't true?" Enrico stopped at the foot of the stairs and looked searchingly at Arthur, who merely shrugged his shoulders. "Of course it's a lie." "Well, I'm glad to hear it, my lad, and I'll tell him you said so.
I am sure you must be in a hurry to get home; and my time is very much taken up just now with the affairs of that foolish young man, Bolla, who tried your Christian forbearance so hard. I am afraid he will get a rather heavy sentence. Good-afternoon!" Arthur signed the receipt, took his papers, and went out in dead silence.
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