A Foregone Conclusion by William Dean Howells
page 92 of 230 (40%)
page 92 of 230 (40%)
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lamp of petroleum lighted the scene, and shone upon the figures of two
fishermen, who bewailed themselves unintelligibly in the vibrant accents of Chiozza, and from time to time advanced upon the gondoliers, and shook their heads and beat their breasts at them, A few police- guards reclined upon benches about the room, and surveyed the spectacle with mild impassibility. Ferris politely asked one of them the cause of the detention. "Why, you see, signore," answered the guard amiably, "these honest men accuse your gondoliers of having stolen a rope out of their boat at Dolo." "It was my blood, you know!" howled the elder of the fishermen, tossing his arms wildly abroad, "it was my own heart," he cried, letting the last vowel die away and rise again in mournful refrain, while he stared tragically into Ferris's face. "What _is_ the matter?" asked Mrs. Vervain, putting up her glasses, and trying with graceful futility to focus the melodrama. "Nothing," said Ferris; "our gondoliers have had the heart's blood of this respectable Dervish; that is to say, they have stolen a rope belonging to him." "_Our_ gondoliers! I don't believe it. They've no right to keep us here all night. Tell them you're the American consul." "I'd rather not try my dignity on these underlings, Mrs. Vervain; there's no American squadron here that I could order to bombard Fusina, |
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