If I faint, someone will steal my horse, and
myclothes, perhaps, and my money and jewels with them. Aniken, the younger and less
sophisticated, kissed him withoutceremony.
And, besides, I dontknow how to load a musket, and
you have seen that I can manage ahorse.
The enemy sendsus any number of them; everybodys a
traitor in this war.
Fabrizio got up like a partridge; the soldier
seemed frightened. Look at my father, said the Contessa, pointing to Fabrizio. From
Cambrai on the Scheldt: its a good town and quite small, if youknow what I mean.
Look at my father, said the Contessa, pointing to Fabrizio. They wanted to make up a
bed for him upstairs in theinn.
Iwho love the Emperor so and the French people! I
feel nothing, he said to the serjeant,except the old wound in my hand.
As soon as Fabrizio had amoment to himself he fired
his pistol in the air to warn the colonel. Why shouldhe go and get his bones broken
free, gratis and for nothing? Fabrizio looked in vain for the little cart and
Cocotte.
He was sure of the nobilityof the womans nature;
that is the fine side of France.
Why repeat sooften, Fabrizio said to himself, what
all three of us know perfectlywell?
This lady is the Signora Contessa Pietranera;
theother is the Signora Marchesa del Dongo.
I have no doubt you are, replied
Fabrizio.
Thesoldiers, who were puzzled by my accent, had me
arrested.
If I faint, someone will steal my horse, and
myclothes, perhaps, and my money and jewels with them.