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Updated: June 18, 2025
After this burned maquis came a number of cultivated fields, inclosed, according to the fashion of that country, with breast-high walls, built of dry stones. The path ran between these fields, producing, from a distance, the effect of a thick wood. The steepness of the declivity made it necessary for Orso to dismount. The gun was levelled, and he recognised Orlanduccio, just ready to fire.
The second shot struck him in the chest, and tore his coat, but coming in contact with the blade of his dagger, it luckily flattened against it, and only inflicted a trifling bruise. Orso's left arm fell helpless at his side, and the barrel of his gun dropped for a moment, but he raised it at once, and aiming his weapon with his right hand only, he fired at Orlanduccio.
The prefect and the elder Barricini appeared to believe in the sincerity of his regret, and indeed this belief was justified by his evident confusion and the reproaches he addressed to his sister. But the mayor's two sons did not seem satisfied. "We are being made to look like fools," said Orlanduccio audibly.
He would not have looked at the two poor wretches he had just destroyed, for anything on earth. "Hark ye, Ors' Anton'," quoth the bandit, as he caught hold of the horse's bridle, "shall I tell you the truth? Well, no offence to you! I'm sorry for those poor young fellows! You'll pardon me, I hope; so good-looking, so strong, so young. Orlanduccio, I've shot with him so often!
Would you a French officer think of going out with a man you suspect of being a forger?" "I struck him, monsieur!" "But supposing you struck a convict, and he demanded satisfaction of you, would you fight him? Come, come, Signor Orso! But I'll ask you to do even less, do nothing to seek out Orlanduccio. I'll consent to your fighting him if he asks you for a meeting."
There was an astonished pause. The mayor turned visibly pale. Orso, knitting his brows, leaned forward to look at the papers, which the prefect was perusing most attentively. "We are being made to look like fools!" cried Orlanduccio again, springing angrily to his feet. "Let us be off, father! We ought never to have come here!"
"If we were in the open country, and each of us had his gun, he wouldn't talk in that way." "Here's a pretty folly!" cried Brandolaccio. "Don't you quarrel with the Padre, Orlanduccio!" "Will you be good enough to allow me to leave this room, Signor della Rebbia," said the prefect, and he stamped his foot in his impatience. "Saveria! Saveria!" shouted Orso, "open the door, in the devil's name!"
He felt no doubt that the savage mutilation was due to one of his foes, and he specially suspected Orlanduccio; but he did not believe that the young man, whom he himself had provoked and struck, had wiped out his shame by slitting a horse's ear.
Tomaso refused my offer, telling me he was certain to be all right, as lawyer Barricini had spoken to all the judges for him, and he was sure to get out of prison with a character as white as snow, and with money in his pocket, too. As for me, I thought it better to get into the fresh air. Dixi." "Everything that fellow has said is a heap of lies," reiterated Orlanduccio stoutly.
"Well, what was there so very dreadful in that remark? Are you so very much set upon being considered a skilful sportsman?" "But don't you see the ruffian was telling me I shouldn't have courage to kill Orlanduccio!" "Do you know, M. della Rebbia, you frighten me! The air of this island of yours seems not only to give people fevers, but to drive them mad. Luckily we shall be leaving it soon!"
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