Modesta now appeared in answer to the ring.
"Two men are coming to-day to work in the olive-grove," said Dennison; "tell Peppino to have the tools ready; they will come every afternoon for a week. Your eyes are better, I trust?"
"Almost well, as lordship can behold. It was too much carelessness—mine—with that pepper!"
"Pepper, indeed; I feel peppery myself," replied Dennison. "Why didn't you tell me about the man who was injured here this morning?"
"Eh—lordship has heard? It was a slight accident."
"His leg and his arm were broken, and you know it. Also his head was cut."
"Most surely that is an error. It was a sprain, a wrench; nothing more."
"But I have seen him myself. And it was old Niccolo."
"Lordship has seen him? It is possible that it was Niccolo; I did not observe closely."
"You should have come to my door and wakened me, instead of taking it upon yourself to give orders," said Dennison.