"Because they asked me last year to ride for them."
"Then why did you ride for Onda in July?"
"Because then Nicchio was one of the seven contradas that did not run."
"Ah, yes. Of course. So it is one chance in ten that your mare should be assigned to Nicchio?"
The boy nodded. And again his questions flew like arrows to a target. "Monsignore! the Palio is a religious festival. Why then is it right for the captains to make the secret agreements? Why is it right for the fantinos to help other horses win and hold back their own? Why is it?"
The voices out in the halls faded away. The room seemed to contract. There were just the two of them—the man thinking, and the boy with the eager hope in him, sitting ... watching ... waiting out his answer.
"It is an honest question, Vittorino"—the words came slowly—"and only half the answer do I know."
"Yes?"
"Suppose we turn back some pages into history. Suppose we remember that before the year 1721 all seventeen contradas were allowed to race. Is not that true?"
"Si, si."