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Page 25
"I regret though," said Gino, when they had finished
laughing, "that I toppled him on to the bed. A great tall
man! And when I am really amused I am often impolite."
"You will never see him again," said Spiridione, who
carried plenty of philosophy about him. "And by now the
scene will have passed from his mind."
"It sometimes happens that such things are recollected
longest. I shall never see him again, of course; but it is
no benefit to me that he should wish me ill. And even if he
has forgotten, I am still sorry that I toppled him on to the
bed."
So their talk continued, at one moment full of
childishness and tender wisdom, the next moment scandalously
gross. The shadows of the terra-cotta pillars lengthened,
and tourists, flying through the Palazzo Pubblico opposite,
could observe how the Italians wasted time.
The sight of tourists reminded Gino of something he
might say. "I want to consult you since you are so kind as
to take an interest in my affairs. My wife wishes to take
solitary walks."
Spiridione was shocked.
"But I have forbidden her."
"Naturally."
"She does not yet understand. She asked me to accompany
her sometimes--to walk without object! You know, she would
like me to be with her all day."
"I see. I see." He knitted his brows and tried to
think how he could help his friend. "She needs employment.
Is she a Catholic?"
"No."
"That is a pity. She must be persuaded. It will be a
great solace to her when she is alone."
"I am a Catholic, but of course I never go to church."
"Of course not. Still, you might take her at first.
That is what my brother has done with his wife at Bologna
and he has joined the Free Thinkers. He took her once or
twice himself, and now she has acquired the habit and
continues to go without him."
"Most excellent advice, and I thank you for it. But she
wishes to give tea-parties--men and women together whom she
has never seen."
"Oh, the English! they are always thinking of tea.
They carry it by the kilogramme in their trunks, and they
are so clumsy that they always pack it at the top. But it
is absurd!"
"What am I to do about it?"
"Do nothing. Or ask me!"
"Come!" cried Gino, springing up. "She will be quite pleased."
The dashing young fellow coloured crimson. "Of course I
was only joking."
"I know. But she wants me to take my friends. Come
now! Waiter!"
"If I do come," cried the other, "and take tea with you,
this bill must be my affair."
"Certainly not; you are in my country!"
A long argument ensued, in which the waiter took part,
suggesting various solutions. At last Gino triumphed. The
bill came to eightpence-halfpenny, and a halfpenny for the
waiter brought it up to ninepence. Then there was a shower
of gratitude on one side and of deprecation on the other,
and when courtesies were at their height they suddenly
linked arms and swung down the street, tickling each other
with lemonade straws as they went.
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