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Page 24
"No compliments, I beg," said Gino, standing with his
hands crossed on his chest and a smile of pleasure on his face.
Spiridione addressed the other men, none of whom he had
ever seen before. "Is it not true? Does not he deserve
this wealthy blonde?"
"He does deserve her," said all the men.
It is a marvellous land, where you love it or hate it.
There were no letters, and of course they sat down at
the Caffe Garibaldi, by the Collegiate Church--quite a good
caffe that for so small a city. There were marble-topped
tables, and pillars terra-cotta below and gold above, and on
the ceiling was a fresco of the battle of Solferino. One
could not have desired a prettier room. They had vermouth
and little cakes with sugar on the top, which they chose
gravely at the counter, pinching them first to be sure they
were fresh. And though vermouth is barely alcoholic,
Spiridione drenched his with soda-water to be sure that it
should not get into his head.
They were in high spirits, and elaborate compliments
alternated curiously with gentle horseplay. But soon they
put up their legs on a pair of chairs and began to smoke.
"Tell me," said Spiridione--"I forgot to ask--is she young?"
"Thirty-three."
"Ah, well, we cannot have everything."
"But you would be surprised. Had she told me
twenty-eight, I should not have disbelieved her."
"Is she SIMPATICA?" (Nothing will translate that word.)
Gino dabbed at the sugar and said after a silence,
"Sufficiently so."
"It is a most important thing."
"She is rich, she is generous, she is affable, she
addresses her inferiors without haughtiness."
There was another silence. "It is not sufficient," said
the other. "One does not define it thus." He lowered his
voice to a whisper. "Last month a German was smuggling
cigars. The custom-house was dark. Yet I refused because I
did not like him. The gifts of such men do not bring
happiness. NON ERA SIMPATICO. He paid for every one, and
the fine for deception besides."
"Do you gain much beyond your pay?" asked Gino, diverted
for an instant.
"I do not accept small sums now. It is not worth the
risk. But the German was another matter. But listen, my
Gino, for I am older than you and more full of experience.
The person who understands us at first sight, who never
irritates us, who never bores, to whom we can pour forth
every thought and wish, not only in speech but in
silence--that is what I mean by SIMPATICO."
"There are such men, I know," said Gino. "And I have
heard it said of children. But where will you find such a woman?"
"That is true. Here you are wiser than I. SONO POCO
SIMPATICHE LE DONNE. And the time we waste over them is
much." He sighed dolefully, as if he found the nobility of
his sex a burden.
"One I have seen who may be so. She spoke very little,
but she was a young lady--different to most. She, too, was
English, the companion of my wife here. But Fra Filippo,
the brother-in-law, took her back with him. I saw them
start. He was very angry."
Then he spoke of his exciting and secret marriage, and
they made fun of the unfortunate Philip, who had travelled
over Europe to stop it.
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