"You allow these
people to insult us? No Barricini would have dared to mutilate any beast
of ours in my father's time."
"I promise you they shall have reason to repent it. But it is gendarme's
and jailer's work to punish wretches who only venture to raise their
hands against brute beasts. I've told you already, the law will punish
them; and if not, you will not need to remind me whose son I am."
"Patience!" answered Colomba, with a sigh.
"Remember this, sister," continued Orso; "if I find, when I come back,
that any demonstration whatever has been made against the Barricini
I shall never forgive you." Then, in a gentler tone, he added, "Very
possibly--very probably--I shall bring the colonel and his daughter back
with me. See that their rooms are well prepared, and that the breakfast
is good. In fact, let us make our guests as comfortable as we can. It's
a very good thing to be brave, Colomba, but a woman must know how to
manage her household, as well. Come, kiss me, and be good! Here's the
gray, ready saddled."
"Orso," said Colomba, "you mustn't go alone."
"I don't need anybody," replied Orso; "and I'll promise you nobody shall
slit my ear.
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