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As he prepared my breakfast I asked him: "By the way, when does the carnival begin?" "On the 26th," he answered, with a slight air of surprise. "Surely the eccellenza knows." "Yes, yes," I said, impatiently. "I know, but I had forgotten. I am not young enough to keep the dates of these follies in my memory. What letters have you there?"
One afternoon, however, after clearing away the remains of my light luncheon, he lingered in the room. "The eccellenza has not yet seen Lilla Monti?" he asked, hesitatingly. I looked at him in some surprise. There was a blush on his olive-tinted cheeks and an unusual sparkle in his eyes. For the first time I realized that this valet of mine was a handsome young fellow. "Seen Lilla Monti!"
'I am all right, said Eleanor, almost in her usual voice. 'Eccellenza! we must bid you good-bye have you seen our gentleman? 'Ecco, said the Ambassador, pointing to Manisty, who, in company with the American Monsignore, was now approaching them. 'Let him take you out of the sun at once you look as though it were too much for you. Manisty, however, came up slowly, in talk with his companion.
Whatever I may do, whether I sleep or wake, walk or sit still attend to YOUR duties and pay no heed to MY actions. So will you best serve me you understand?" "Si, signor!" and the poor fellow sighed again, and reddened with his own inward confusion. "You will pardon me, eccellenza, for my freedom of speech? I feel I have done wrong "
Yet thou and I, having wisdom thrust upon us by these same beards, if trouble come to thee, or too soon they put thee at the gransiere service, we will remember this day passed together." "Eccellenza, thanks; the gransiere has not much beside his beard to keep him warm, and the time draws near," the old man answered with pleasant Venetian insouciance.
I recalled my name to him; his face cleared and he smiled. "Ah! buon giorno, eccellenza!" he cried. "A thousand pardons that I did not at first know you! Often have I thought of you! often have I heard your name ah! what a name! Rich, great, generous! ah! what a glad life!
"Not I, eccellenza," he replied, with an air of dignity and most virtuous honesty. "No, no, not now. The law is the law, and I, Andrea Luziani, am not one to break it. No, Carmelo must take his punishment; it is for life they say and hard as it seems, it is but just.
Then his countenance fell, and he muttered, softly "Though it is just I am a fool I am mistaken quite mistaken there is no resemblance!" After a little pause he added, humbly, "I will take your message, eccellenza." And stooping more than ever, he shambled out of the room.
I let him go a few steps higher, and then I let him have it with both lungs. "Buona sera, eccellenza, signori! I roared after him. And a scream came down in answer such a scream! A dozen different terrors were in it; and the wheezing had stopped, with the old scoundrel's heart.
And as I moved away to return here, I heard a sound as of terrible weeping." "And that is all, Vincenzo?" "That is all, eccellenza." I was silent. There was something in the simple narration that touched me, though I remained as determinately relentless as ever. After a few moments I said: "You have done well, Vincenzo.
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