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falco falcone
317i
ill before." And Passafiore struggles with himself
before he can speak out. At length he admits that,
although Falco is a very great man, he has at times
attacks of insanity. And now he had not only spoken
of the aged Caterina, but had said like this: " If
Caterina will allow me to pass into the church, and if
Donna Micaela Alagona comes down into the quarry
and stretches out her hand and leads me to the church,
then I will go to the image." And from this he will
not swerve. Donna Micaela, who was the best and
holiest among women, should come to him, else he
would not go.
When Passafiore has finished, he holds his head
continually bowed down. He dares not look up.
But Donna Micaela does not hesitate a moment
after mention has been made of the Christ-image.
She does not seem to consider that Falco is insane.
She does not say a word about how afraid she is.
Her trust in the image is such, that she answers gently
as a vanquished and obedient child :
" Passafiore, I will accompany you."
Afterwards, she follows him as though she were
walking in her sleep. She does not hesitate to ascend
Etna with him. She does not hesitate to climb down
the steep rocky wall of the quarry. She advances,
quite pale, yet with beautiful beaming eyes to the
aged robber in his cave, and holds out to him her
hand. And he rises as ghastly pale as she, and
follows her. It is as if they were not human beings but
specters. They proceed toward their goal in perfect
silence. Their own being is dead, but a mightier
spirit leads and guides them.
The next day it all seems to Donna Micaela like a
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