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.
Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Second book - IX. Palazzo Geraci and Palazzo Corvaja
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280 the miracles of antichrist
the latter, “ we did not find him. Marcia was dressed
in black, and her rooms were draped with black,
and a lot of women sat and mourned with her. And
she showed us the certificate of the child’s death.
Then we went and told Ninetta that her child was
in the churchyard.
“ Well, well, a while afterwards I went on guard
here in the square. I watched the children playing
there. Who was strongest, and who shouted the
loudest, if not one of the girls ? * What is your
name ?’ I asked her. ’ Francesco,’ she answered
instantly.
“ It occurred to me that that girl, Francesco, might
be Ninetta’s boy, and I stood quiet and waited.
Just now I saw Francesco go into Marcia’s house.
I followed, and there sat the girl Francesco and
ate supper with Marcia. She and all the mourners
began to scream when I appeared. Then I seized
Signorina Francesco and ran. For the child is not
Marcia’s. Remember that, signori! He is Ninetta’s.
Marcia has no right to him.”
Then at last Marcia began to speak. She spoke
in a deep voice which compelled every one to listen,
and she made only a few, but noble gestures. Had
she no right to the child? But who had given him
food and clothing? He had been dead a thousand
times over if she had not been there. Ninetta had
left him with La Felucca. They knew La Felucca.
To leave one’s child to her was the same as saying
to it: “ You shall die.” And, moreover, right ? right ?
What did that mean ? The one whom the boy loved
had a right to him. The one who loved the boy had
a right to him. Piero and she loved the boy like
their own son. They could not be parted from him.
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