“I am in earnest,” I said, turning to him, and couldn’t help adding, “It was the Haji of Funato, your Haji.”
The laughter increased. “Legends, superstitions, fancies,” I heard in the midst of the hilarity.
I was so bewildered I didn’t know whether to get angry or laugh with them.
Suddenly I felt a touch on my shoulder. I turned to see an officer looking attentively at me. “My name is Tasa. Let me feel your pulse. Show me your tongue. I recommend a little ice on the head.”
FOOTNOTES:
[1]. “Fiammiferino,” in Italian.
Transcriber's Notes
Original spelling and punctuation have been preserved as much as possible. Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note.