ooold,tooold,tooold.ItoldCheccowhatitwouldbe.IknowtheForlivesiIhaveknownthemforeightyyears.TheyaremorefickleandcowardlythananyotherpeopleinthiscesspoolwhichtheycallGod'searth.Ihavebeenanexilefourteentimes.FourteentimesIhavefledfromthecity,andfourteentimesIhavereturned.Ahyes,Ihavelivedthelifeinmytime,butIamtirednow.Idon'twanttogooutagainandbesides,Iamsoold.ImightdiebeforeIreturned,andIwanttodieinmyownhouse.'
Helookedatthefire,murmuringhisconfidencestothesmoulderingashes.ThenheseemedtorepeathistalkwithChecco.
'No,Checco,Iwillnotcome.Goalone.Theywillnottouchme.IamOrsoOrsi.Theywillnottouchmetheydarenot.Goalone,andgivemylovetoClarice.'
ClaricewasChecco'swife.Hekeptsilenceforawhile,thenhebrokeoutagain,—
'IwantFabrizio.'
'WillInotdoinstead?'Iasked.
'Whoareyou?'
Irepeatedpatiently,—
'IamtheservantplacedheretoserveyouinsteadofFabrizio.MynameisFabio.'
'YournameisFabio?'heasked,lookingatme.
'Yes.'
'No,itisnot!WhydoyoutellmeyournameisFabio?Iknowyourface.Youarenotaserving-man.'
'Youaremistaken,'Isaid.
'No,no.YouarenotFabio.Iknowyourface.Whoareyou?'
'IamFabio.'
'Whoareyou?'heaskedagainquerulously.'Icannotrememberwhomyouare.Whydon'tyoutellme?Can'tyouseethatIamanoldman?Whydon'tyoutellme?'
Hisvoicebrokeintothemoan,andIthoughthewouldcry.Hehadonlyseenmetwice,butamonghisfewvisitorsthefacesofthosehesawremainedwithhim,andherecognisedmepartly.
'IamFilippoBrandolini,'Isaid.'Ihaveremainedheretolookafteryouandseethatnoharmhappens.Checcowishedtostayhimself,butweinsistedonhisgoing.'
'Oh,youareagentleman,'heanswered.'Iamgladofthat.'
Then,asifthetalkhadtiredhim,hesankdeeperdowninhischairandfellintoadose.
IsentAndrea,thesteward'snephew,toseewhatwashappeninginthetown,andPietroandIsatinthelargewindowtalkinginundertones.SuddenlyPietrostoppedandsaid,—
'Whatisthat?'
Webothlis