Note: Translator Pauline Bancroft Flach died in 1966, less than 70 years ago. Therefore, this work is protected by copyright, restricting your legal rights to reproduce it. However, you are welcome to view it on screen, as you do now. Read more about copyright.
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176 THE MIRACLES OF AJVTICHRIST
Then came the smith, who related all the miracles
San Sebastiano had worked in Sicily during the
pest in the fifteenth century. They were all much
applauded. They spoke many strong words of blood
and death, and the people rejoiced in them. But
every one from Diamante was anxious for little
Gandolfo.
“The smith takes all the words from him. He
must fail,” they said.
“Ah,” said others, “little Rosalia will not take
the engagement ribbon out of her hair for that.”
Gandolfo shrunk together in his corner of the
wagon. He grew smaller and smaller. Those
sitting near could hear how his teeth chattered with
fright.
When his turn came at last, and he rose and began
to improvise, he was very bad. He was worse than
any one had expected. He faltered out a couple of
verses, but they were only a repetition of what the
others had said.
Then he suddenly stopped and gasped for breath.
In that moment the strength of despair came to
him. He straightened himself up, and a slight
flush rose to his cheeks.
“Oh, signori,” said little Gandolfo, “let me speak
of that of which I am always thinking! Let me
speak of what I always see before me!”
And he began unopposed and with wonderful
power to tell what he himself had seen.
He told how he who was son to the watchman of
the town-hall had crept through dark attics and had
lain hidden in one of the galleries of the court-room
the night the court-martial had been held to pass
sentence on the insurgents in Diamante.
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