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don ferrante 79
Don Ferrante, and the shining instruments, and the
image-decked facade of the dome ! And the sunshine
and Mongibello’s snowy crown, which to-day had
seemed so near that one could almost touch it, all
had been unparalleled in gaiety.
Now when the poor lady in black had arrived in
the midst of all this, everybody had stared at her, and
some had made the sign of the cross. And the
children had rushed down from the courthouse steps,
where they had been riding on the railing, and
followed at a short distance. And even the lazy Piero
who had been lying on the edge of the balustrade,
had raised himself on his elbow. The excitement
could not have been greater had the black Madonna
from the dome come walking along.
But had it occurred to any one that it was a pity to
stare so at her? Had any one felt sorry to see her
walk so slowly and so bent.
Yes, one had been touched, and that was Don
Ferrante. He had music in his heart, he was a kind
man and he thought: " Cursed be these funds which
are raised for the needy, and which only bring people
into trouble. Is not this the poor Signorina Palmeri,
whose father has stolen from a charity fund, and who
now dares not show her face for shame? " And
immediately Don Ferrante went over to the black lady
and intercepted her just outside the church door.
There he had saluted her and mentioned his name.
" If I am not greatly mistaken," Don Ferrante had
said, " then you are Signorina Palmeri. I have a
request to make."
Whereupon she had started and stepped backward
as if to flee, yet had remained standing.
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