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In the harbour, preparing to weigh anchor, was a fleet of three little caravels, commanded by Pedro Nino, about to set out for Espanola with supplies and despatches. Columbus hurried on board Nino's ship, and there read the letters from the Sovereigns which it had been designed he should receive in Espanola. The letters are not preserved, but one can make a fair guess at their contents.
It happened again once or twice, the next day, and then the house was quiet. I found him at night asleep over the old piano, his eyes all wet with tears. "What is the matter, Nino?" I asked. "It is time for youngsters like you to be in bed." "Ah, Messer Cornelio," he said, when he was awake, "I had better go to bed, as you say.
"Eh, caro mio, what am I to know?" I answered indifferently. "They are some foreigners, some pupil of De Pretis, and her father. How should I know?" "She is a Roman," said Nino between his teeth. "I have heard foreigners talk. The old man is a foreigner, but she she is Roman," he repeated with certainty. "Eh," said I, "for my part she may be Chinese. The stars will not fall on that account."
"We must get him inside at once, or he will die here. Come, Ercole! Make that dog lie down and keep quiet." Between them they carried Corbario into the house. Nino watched on the step in the rain, but when the door was shut behind him, he crawled down to the wet grass and lapped the blood and water in the dark.
I need not defend myself from any charge of unwillingness, I believe," he added, proudly. "In that case, sir," said Nino, "and since we have convinced each other that we are serious and desire to be courteous, let us converse calmly." "Have you anything more to say?" asked the count, once more allowing his horse to pace along the dusty road, while Nino's mule walked by his side.
"Ah, how can you let me so disgrace myself! how can you see me fallen so low as to use the strength of my hands, and yet have no pity? Nino, Nino, do not kill me!" "Indeed, it would be the better for you if I should," he answered bitterly, but without attempting to free his wrists from the strong, soft grip. "But you will," she murmured, passionately. "You are killing me by leaving me.
Nino was glad that he was not called upon to use his own judgment, and there he sat, content to look at her, twisting his hands together below the table to concentrate his attention and master himself; and he read just what she told him to read, expounding the words and phrases she could not understand.
"It seems that you are sorry I have discovered you," she added presently, looking down at her hands. "Is that all?" he said, with a bitter sneer on his pale young face. "Then, since you are sorry, you must have a reason for concealment," she went on, as though reflecting on the situation. It was deftly done, and Nino took heart.
Nino ground his teeth, and drew her even closer to him, so that her head rested on his shoulder. "Infamous wretch!" he muttered. "Hush, Nino," said Hedwig gently; "he is my father." "Oh, I mean Benoni, of course," exclaimed Nino quickly. "Yes, dear, of course you do," Hedwig responded. "But my father has changed his mind. He no longer wishes me to marry the Jew." "Why is that, sweetheart?"
He seemed to say that he in his profession was constantly thrown with people like that, whereas I oh, I, of course, was always occupied with students and poor devils who had no voice, nothing but brains. "But she," objected Nino, "she is Roman, I am sure of it." "Eh," said Ercole, "you know how it is.
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