Of course he spoke in Italian.
Rollo, instead of answering him, immediately began to turn away and look out towards the other carriages.
"Si, signore, si," said the coachman. "Two pauls let it be."
So he held open the carriage door wider than ever, and Rollo assisted Allie to get in. He and Charles followed, and then the coachman drove away.
"You agreed to give him too much," said Charles, as soon as they were seated. "A paul and a half is the regular fare."
"I know it," said Rollo; "but I always offer a little more than the regular fare, especially when I have a lady with me, for then they have not a word to say."
"But this man had a word to say," replied Charles. "He wanted you to give him three pauls."
"Yes," said Rollo, "sometimes they try a little to make a dispute; but they have no chance at all, and they give right up."
Rollo had ordered the coachman to drive to the Capitol, because he had found, by studying the map and the Guide Book, that the entrance to the enclosure where the Tarpeian Rock was to be seen was very near there. He had examined the map attentively, and so he knew exactly which way he must go after being set down at the foot of the Capitol stairs.
Accordingly, when the carriage stopped, Rollo got out first himself, and then helped Allie and Charles out. He paid the coachman the price agreed upon, and a couple of coppers over for buono mano.