“He gave me four sequins to come here; otherwise, I should never have been able to do the journey.”
“Then he did a very foolish thing. You’re a mere beggar, then; you take alms. Why did you leave Venice? What do you want with me? I can do nothing for you.”
“Ah! do not make me despair, or I shall kill myself.”
“That’s the very best thing you could do; but you are too great a coward. I ask again why you left Venice, where you could say mass, and preach, and make an honest living, like many priests much better than you?”
“That is the kernel of the whole matter. Let us go in and I will tell you.”
“No; wait for me here. We will go somewhere where you can tell me your story, if I have patience to listen to it. But don’t tell any of my people that you are my brother, for I am ashamed to have such a relation. Come, take me to the place where you are staying.”
“I must tell you that at my inn I am not alone, and I want to have a private interview with you.”
“Who is with you?”
“I will tell you presently, but let us go into a coffeehouse.”
“Are you in company with a band of brigands? What are you sighing at?”