“You are sure he will not be back for two hours?” asked Vitalis.
“Quite sure, Signor. That will be dinner time, and no one ever serves dinner but Signor Garofoli.”
“Well, if he comes in before, tell him that Vitalis will be back in two hours.”
“Very well, Signor.”
I was about to follow Vitalis, when he stopped me.
“Stay here,” he said; “you can rest.
“Oh, I’ll come back,” he added, reassuringly, noticing my look of anxiety.
“Are you Italian?” asked the boy, when Vitalis’ heavy step could no longer be heard on the stairs.
“No,” I replied in French, “I’m French.”
“That’s a good thing.”