“That’s very long, but no matter.”
The child finished the litany in a feeble voice.
“Have you finished?”
“Oh, father! mercy! forgive me! I won’t do it again! I will pray so hard to my uncle the caporal that he’ll forgive Gianetto!”
He continued to speak; Mateo had cocked his gun, and he took aim at him, saying:
“May God forgive you!”
The child made a desperate effort to rise and grasp his father’s knees; but he had not time. Mateo fired, and Fortunato fell stark dead.
Without glancing at the body, Mateo returned to his house to fetch a spade, in order to bury his son. He had taken only a few steps, when he met Giuseppa, who was running after them, terrified by the report.
“What have you done?” she cried.
“Justice.”