A sound of steps was heard in the passage; Nando felt a hand on his shoulder thrusting him aside, and Enrico Ferrati entered, glancing about him in astonishment at the scene before him.
"My God, Egidio! What does this mean? What has happened to the children?"
Carolina raised her tear-stained face.
"Ah, Signor Dottore! The good God himself has sent you! Look at these poor innocents, murdered by their father!"
He was kneeling beside them in an instant, examining the welts and cuts on their little necks and hands, feeling them cautiously over—fortunately no bones were broken.
"Take them to their room, my good girl, undress them and put them to bed. I shall come presently—you can put some compresses on these bruises, and wash the cuts with the solution in the big green bottle on the Signora's dressing table. Go, Mimmo caro, go, Beppino mio, Zio Rico is here and will come to you. There now, don't cry! There is nothing to be afraid of, it is all over!"
Carolina took Mimmo in her arms and staggering a little under his weight, led the way, Assunta following with Beppino.
"Go also, my friend," said the Doctor to Nando, "I shall ring if you are wanted."
Nando slunk off in his turn, casting many curious backward glances.
Ferrati waited till the last footstep had died away then he raised his eyes from the foil he had picked up and was fingering.