buthedidnotanswer.
'Mygoodsir,'Isaid,'youhavetoconsiderwhetherIchoosetoanswer.'
'Jackanapes!'
Iputmyhandtomysword,butCheccocaughtholdofmyarm.Irecoveredmyselfatonce.
'Ibegyourpardon,MesserChecco,'Isaidthen,turningtotheman,'Youaresafeininsultingmehere.Youshowyourbreeding!Really,Matteo,youdidnottellmethatyouhadsuchacharmingfellow-countryman.'
'Youaretoohardonus,Filippo,'answeredmyfriend,'forsuchamonstrosityasthatForliisnotresponsible.'
'IamnoForlivese,thankGod!NeithertheCountnorI.'Helookedroundscornfully.'WeofferupthankstotheAlmightyeverytimethefactoccurstous.IamacitizenofCastello.'
Matteowasgoingtoburstout,butIanticipatedhim.'I,too,amacitizenofCastelloandallowmetoinformyouthatIconsideryouaveryinsolentfellow,andIapologisetothesegentlementhatacountrymanofmineshouldforgetthecourtesyduetothecitywhichisshelteringhim.'
'YouaCastelese!And,pray,whoareyou?'
'MynameisFilippoBrandolini.'
'Iknowyourhouse.MineisErcolePiacentini.'
'IcannotreturnthecomplimentIhaveneverheardofyours.'
Thesurrounderslaughed.
'Myfamilyisasgoodasyours,sir,'hesaid.
'Really,Ihavenoacquaintancewiththemiddle-classesofCastellobutIhavenodoubtitisrespectable.'
Inoticedthatthelistenersseemedverycontented,andIjudgedthatMesserErcolePiacentiniwasnotgreatlylovedinForlibutCheccowaslookingonanxiously.
'Youinsolentyoungboy!'saidtheman,furiously.'Howdareyoutalktomelikethat.Iwillkickyou!'
Iputmyhandtomyswordtodrawit,forIwasfurioustooIpulledatthehilt,butIfeltahandcatchholdofmineandpreventme.IstruggledthenIheardCheccoinmyear.
'Don'tbeafool,'hesaid.'Bequiet!'
'Letmebe!'Icried.
'Don'tbeafool!You'llruinus.'Heheldmysword,sothatIcouldnotdrawit.
Ercolesawwhatwasgoingonhislipsbrokeintoasarcasticsmile.
'Youarebeingtaughttheusefullessonofdiscreti