"What is it, Gaspare?"
"That is the man who is going to sell the clock!"
The boy's face was intent. His eyes were shining, and his glum manner had vanished, under the influence of a keen excitement. Maurice realized that very soon he would be free. Once his friends were in the crowd of buyers and sellers everything but the chance of a bargain would be forgotten. His own blood quickened but for a different reason.
"What beautiful carts!" he said. "We have no such carts in England!"
"If you would like to buy a cart, signore——" began Salvatore.
But Gaspare interrupted with violence.
"Macchè! What is the use of a cart to the signorino? He is going away to England. How can he take a cart with him in the train?"
"He can leave the cart with me," said Salvatore, with open impudence. "I can take care of it for the signore as well as the donkey."
"Macchè!" cried Gaspare, furiously.
Maurice took him by the arm.