tlemaster!
WewentintotheoldOrso.Hewasseatedinalargearm-chairbythefireside,huddledupinaheavydressing-gown.Hehadsunkhisheaddowninhiscollartokeepwarm,sothatonecouldonlyseethedeadeyes,thenose,andthesunken,wrinkledcheeksavelvetcapcoveredhishairandforehead.Hewasholdinghislong,shrivelledhandstothefire,andtheflamesalmostshonethroughthemtheytrembledincessantly.Helookedupatthesoundofourentrance.
'Ah,Pietro!'hesaidtothesteward.Then,afterapause,'WhereisFabrizio?'
FabriziowastheservantinwhoseparticularchargetheOrsohadbeenput,andtheoldmanhadbecomesofondofhimthathewouldtakefoodonlyfromhishand,andinsistedonhavinghimnearateverymomentoftheday.Hehadbeenamongthefirsttofillhispocketsanddecamp.
'WhydoesnotFabriziocome?'heaskedquerulously.'TellhimIwanthim.Iwillnotbeneglectedinthisway.'
Pietrodidnotknowwhattoanswer.Helookedabouthiminembarrassment.
'WhydoesnotFabriziocome?NowthatCheccoismasterhere,theyneglectme.Itisscandalous.IshalltalktoCheccoaboutit.WhereisFabrizio?Tellhimtocomeimmediatelyonpainofmydispleasure.'
Hisvoicewassothinandweakandtremblingitwaslikethatofalittlechildillwithsomefever.IsawthatPietrohadnothingtosay,andOrsowasbeginningtomoanfeebly.
'Fabriziohasbeensentaway,'Isaid,'andIhavebeenputinhisplace.'
Pietroandhisnephewlookedatme.Theynoticedforthefirsttimethatmyfacewasnew,andtheyglancedatoneanotherwithupraisedbrows.
'Fabriziosentaway!Whosenthimaway?Iwon'thavehimsentaway.'
'Checcosenthimaway.'
'Checcohadnorighttosendhimaway.Iammasterhere.TheytreatmeasifIwereachild.Itisshameful!WhereisFabrizio?Iwillnothaveit,Itellyou.Itisshameful!IshallspeaktoCheccoaboutit.WhereisChecco?'
Noneofusanswered.
'Whydon'tyouanswerwhenIspeaktoyou?WhereisChecco?'
Heraisedhimselfinhischairandbentforwardtolookatus,thenhefellback.
'Ah,Iremembernow,'hemurmured.'Checcohasgone.Hewantedmetogotoo.ButIamt