Some peasant women, who were braiding straw hats, laughed as they saw the men pass by.
One of them called out, gayly:
“Do you wish to find your sweethearts, signori? That isn’t the way!”
A little farther, Varhely and his adversary encountered a monk with a cowl drawn over his head so that only his eyes could be seen, who, holding out a zinc money-box, demanded ‘elemosina’, alms for the sick in hospitals.
Menko opened his pocketbook, and dropped in the box a dozen pieces of gold.
“Mille grazie, signor!”
“It is of no consequence.”
They arrived on the ground, and the seconds loaded the pistols.
Michel asked permission of Yanski to say two words to him.
“Speak!” said Varhely.