Turiddu, now that the cat was at home, no longer went out on the street by day, and he whiled away the tedium at the inn with his friends; and on Easter eve they had on the table a dish of sausages.
When compare Alfio came in, Turiddu realized, merely by the way in which he fixed his eyes on him, that he had come to settle that affair, and he laid his fork on the plate.
"Have you any commands for me, compare Alfio?" he asked.
"No favors to ask, compare Turiddu; it's some time since I have seen you, and I wanted to speak concerning something you know about."
Turiddu at first had offered him a glass, but compare Alfio refused it with a wave of his hand. Then Turiddu got up and said to him,—
"Here I am, compare Alfio."
The carter threw his arms around his neck.
"If to-morrow morning you will come to the prickly pears of la Canziria, we can talk that matter over, compare."
"Wait for me on the street at daybreak, and we will go together."
With these words they exchanged the kiss of defiance. Turiddu bit the carter's ear, and thus made the solemn oath not to fail him.