"Yes, my friends," he said, in clear, penetrating tones, which could be heard by the crowd gathered outside the caffè, "yes, Evviva la Principessina Bianca! You are her people, and you wish her well—is it not so?"
"We wish ourselves well also!" shouted a voice from without; and another round of applause, mingled with laughter, burst from the audience.
Sor Stefano came forward and placed himself at Don Agostino's side.
"Your reverence is right," he said, "and the signore who just spoke is right also. Sicuro! It is because we wish the Principessina Bianca well that we mean to see her and speak with her; because, too, we believe that she wishes her people well. Do I speak truly?"
"Bene! bene! Evviva Casa Acorari—non vogliamo gli stranieri!"
"Your reverence," Sor Stefano continued, as soon as there was silence again, "you come among us no doubt to hear our intentions. It is right. You have our confidence and our esteem."
"Evviva il parroco! Evviva Don Agostino!"
Don Agostino smiled.
"I come among you as one of yourselves," he said, "as one of the deputation to which an audience has been refused. You invited me to join the deputation, and I did so gladly, knowing that its object was a just object. You, Signor Mazza, are perfectly right. I have come here this morning to hear what my fellow-members propose to do next."
Sor Stefano shrugged his shoulders.