"Diamine! Wait! You have not seen her. We are to be married by a bishop."
"No doubt that will insure your happiness."
"A marriage like this does not occur every day. It will be an event, I tell you."
"And you're sure I won't be in the way this evening?"
"No, no! It is arranged. She is waiting—expecting you. She knows you already. This morning, however, you will amuse yourself—will you not?—for I must ride down to San Sebastiano and meet the colonel of carabinieri from Messina."
"Certainly. Don't mind me."
Martel hesitated an instant, then explained:
"It is a matter of business. One of my farm-hands is in prison."
"Indeed! What for?"
"Oh, it is nothing. He killed a fellow last week."