Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XXVII. Summer
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At San Michele work had already been
suspended, all my people were in their Sunday
clothes on their way to the Piazza where the band
was to play to celebrate the event, over a hundred
lire having already been collected for the
fireworks. The Sindaco had sent word hoping I
would assist in my quality of cittadino onorario—
this unique distinction had in fact been bestowed
upon me the year before.
In the midst of the pergola sat Billy by the side
of the biggest tortoise, too absorbed in his
favourite game to notice my coming. The game
consisted in a series of rapid knocks at the back door
of the tortoise-house where the tail comes out.
At each knock the tortoise would pop out its
sleepy head from the front door to see what was
the matter, only to receive a stunning blow on
the nose from Billy’s fist with the rapidity of
lightning. This game was forbidden by the law
of San Michele. Billy knew it quite well and
screamed like a child when, for once quicker
than he, I got hold of the strap round his
stomach.
“Billy,” said I sternly, “I am going to have a
private conversation with you under your fig-tree,
there are several accounts to be settled between
us. It is no good smacking your lips at me like
that, you know that you deserve a good spanking
and that you are going to get it. Billy, you have
been drinking again! Two empty wine-bottles
have been found in a corner of the monkey-house,
one bottle of Buchanan’s ‘Black and White’
is missing. Your general conduct during my
absence in Calabria has been disgraceful. You
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