WEissuedoutintothesilenceofthenight.Therehadbeenalittlerainduringtheday,andtheairinconsequencewasfreshandsweetthelightbreezeofthespringmadeoneexpandone'slungsanddrawinlongbreaths.Onefeltthetreesburstingoutintogreenleaves,andthebudsontheplantsopeningtheirdownymantlesanddiscoveringtheflowerwithin.Lightcloudswerewanderinglazilyalongthesky,andbetweenthemshoneoutafewdimstars.CheccoandMatteowalkedinfront,whileIlingeredenjoyingthespringnightitfilledmewithasweetsadness,areactionfromtheboisterousjoyoftheevening,andpleasantbythecontrast.
WhenMatteofellbehindandjoinedme,Ireceivedhimalittleunwillingly,disappointedattheinterruptionofmyreverie.
'IaskedCheccowhattheCounthadsaidtohimofthetaxes,buthewouldnottellmehesaidhewantedtothinkabouttheconversation.'
Imadenoanswer,andwewalkedoninsilence.Wehadleftthepiazza,andweregoingthroughthenarrowstreetsborderedbythetallblackhouses.Itwasverylate,andtherewasnotasoulabouttherewasnosoundbutthatofourownfootsteps,andofCheccowalkingafewyardsinfront.Betweentheroofsofthehousesonlyalittlestripofskycouldbeseen,asinglestar,andthecloudsfloatinglazily.Thewarmairblewinmyface,andfilledmewithanintoxicationofmelancholy.Ithoughthowsweetitwouldbetofallasleepthisnight,andneveragaintowake.Iwastired,andIwantedtherestofanendlesssleep....
SuddenlyIwasstartledbyacry.
IsawfromtheshadowofthehousesblackformsspringoutonChecco.Anarmwasraised,andaglitteringinstrumentflashedinthedarkness.Hestaggeredforward.
'Matteo,'hecried.'Help!Help!'
Werushedforward,drawingourswords.Therewasascuffle,threeofusagainstfourofthem,aflashofswords,acryfromoneofthemenashereeledandfellwithawoundfromMatteo'ssword.Thenanotherrush,alittleb