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Updated: May 18, 2025
"Citizeness, don't you remember the stone footprint of our Lord in the church of Domine quo vadis? And may not the footprint of an angel have been left in the sand of the Colosseum for a devout artist to copy in his sketch-book? Such a sketch is enough for the Cittadino Scalcagnato to make a pair of shoes from, so that they cannot fail to fit." The princess turned rosy red.
Citizen Scalcagnato issues all the passports for those that leave the city by the Colosseum gate. From him I have learned that the Countess X is to leave for the south to-night. I have obtained a pass for you, and you have only to make yourself ready and go with me to the Colosseum gate, where we will wait for her carriage.
Almost in despair, and bewildered by the sudden turn of events which had thus cast her homeless on the streets, the princess returned to her carriage. "Do you know where Signor Scalcagnato lives?" she asked the driver. "Scalcagnato the shoemaker, the champion of the people? To be sure I do: in the Piazza di Colosseo.
Whatever violence the rioters may have allowed themselves in storming the marchioness's quarters, her own wing of the palace, for some reason that she could only vaguely conjecture, had been spared. After assuring herself of this, the princess tried on her new shoes, and found that Citizen Scalcagnato was no less skilful as a shoemaker than eminent as a politician and a party-leader.
But if the lady wishes to buy shoes of him she should not address him as Signor Scalcagnato." "Why not?" "Because he will ask half as much more for them than if he were called plain Citizen Scalcagnato." After this gratuitous bit of information the coachman whipped up his horse and rattled away toward the Colosseum with his passenger.
"How do you know it, may I ask?" "Oh, I have wide-reaching connections. My landlord is a cobbler. 'Messere Scalcagnato' lounges about the piazza by the hour, is therefore well instructed in political matters, and keeps me duly informed of all that takes place at the Vatican." The princess gave a merry laugh at the thought of Manasseh's taking lessons in politics from the professor of shoemaking.
Arriving at the shoemaker's shop, Blanka was received by a little man of lively bearing and a quick, intelligent expression. "Pst! No words needed," was his greeting. "I know all about it. I am Citizen Scalcagnato, il calzolajo. Take my arm, citizeness. Cittadino Adorjano lives on the top floor, and the stairs are a trifle steep. He is out at present, but his studio is open to you."
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