"Stop them, sir! Stop them, pray!" cried Giovanni. "I will have the door opened for you."
Suddenly there was silence as the officer caught one of his men by the arm and bade them all wait.
"Who are you, sir?" he inquired.
"I am Giovanni Beroviero," answered Giovanni, sure that his name would inspire respect.
The officer took off his cap politely and then replaced it. The two men who were looking on nudged each other.
"I have a warrant to arrest a certain Zorzi," began the lieutenant.
"I know! It is quite right, and he is within," answered Giovanni. "Pasquale!" he called, standing on tiptoe under the grating. "Pasquale! Open the door at once for these gentlemen."
"Gentlemen!" echoed one of the men softly, with a low laugh and digging his elbow into his companion's side.
No one else spoke for a moment. Then Pasquale looked through the grating.
"What did you say?" he asked.