The effect produced by their sudden appearance may be conceived. The
mayor almost fell backward. His sons threw themselves boldly in front
of him, each one feeling for his dagger in his coat pocket. The prefect
made a step toward the door, and Orso, seizing Brandolaccio by the
collar, shouted:
"What have you come here for, you villain?"
"This is a trap!" cried the mayor, trying to get the door open. But, by
the bandits' orders, as was afterward discovered, Saveria had locked it
on the outside.
"Good people," said Brandolaccio, "don't be afraid of me. I'm not such a
devil as I look. We mean no harm at all. Signor Prefetto, I'm your very
humble servant. Gently, lieutenant! You're strangling me! We're here as
witnesses! Now then, Padre, speak up! Your tongue's glib enough!"
"Signor Prefetto," quoth the licentiate, "I have not the honour of being
known to you. My name is Giocanto Castriconi, better known as the Padre.
Aha, it's coming back to you! The signorina here, whom I have not
the pleasure of knowing either, has sent to ask me to supply some
information about a fellow of the name of Tomaso Bianchi, with whom I
chanced to be shut up, about three weeks ago, in the prison at Bastia.
Pages:
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155