ButDon Cosmo appeared surprised to see him still
there. Finally Don Cosmo appeared at one of the windows of the villa.
Here Capolino laughed again, but his laughter was
like the splutteringof a snail in the fire.
But you have chosen this roomfor yourself, perhaps,
Don Cosmo?
And he hadbeen obliged to go for the first time to
Salvos bank for an advanceupon his securities. And you shall hear of usagain before
long.
ThePrince, to say the very least, must be a man of
five or six andsixty. FlaminioSalvo, in General Laurentanos villa? Why, yes,
Laurentano assured him, with a fresh sigh.
I shall walk out of the house, if he comes! He
ought to have had the answer in his pocket overnight,had he carried out Preolas
instructions.
How the shipping of the sulphur is still being
done?
Hemust hold her himself and remain standing there,
outside, waiting, asthough he had come for alms.
Religious and politicalviews, if they count at all,
what figure do they cut compared with thelaw? Because the big pots of the place are
the people who own thelighters! Do you know, you really have profited by all the
sermonsyou had to listen to as a sacristan? The whole countryside was steaming as
though a veil of mist hung andquivered over it. In that case, Don Cosmo said
quietly, turning to face him, I canstill sleep with the door open.
ButDon Cosmo appeared surprised to see him still
there. He certainly would not repeat the mistake of leading theconversation to the
books of philosophy.