The Children of the King

his brother, who had not appeared since the midday meal. The piece of information he had just received was worth communicating, for

f he once gave his word that he would not, Bastianello would be no longer bound to suffer in silence as he had suffered so many weeks. The younger of the brothers was less passionate, less nervous and less easily moved in every way than the elder, but he possess

lo immediately whistled to him, giving a signal which had served the brothers since they were children. Ruggiero starte

s oars swing astern and laying hol

took the boat-hook to hit his fingers. And just then he said to me, 'You have a beautiful pair of masters you and your brother.' 'Why?' I asked, and I held the boat-hook ready. But I would not have hurt the boy, because he is one

imed Ruggiero in a low voice

one and a liar. And then she went away. And I think the boy was speaking the truth, because if it were a lie he would have spoken in another

a stroke!" mu

o anything to your padrone, because the girl is a good girl and gave h

his body and the d

you should speak to the girl, because I see how white you get when we talk of her, and you are consuming yourself and will have an illness, and though I could work for both you and me, f

e, but pulled out his pipe and

that he did not really care for Teresina. If he betrayed this fact it would be hard hereafter to account for his own stat

, and stirring the ashes in his pipe with the point of his kni

e if I do," observe

ht hundred francs in the bank, and who is very fond of you, but he does not know how to say it. Think well if you will have him,' I would say, 'and if you will not, give me an honest answer and God bless you and let it be the end.' That is how I would speak, and she

ourse she would thank, and say 'Who is this Rugg

atical speech when there was a stir on the pier and two or three boa

anello of the boatman wh

nina," answ

the main-sheet in his hand. She was running wing and wing, with her bright new sails spreading far over the water on each side. Then came a rattle and a sharp creak as the main-yard swung over and came down on deck, the men taking in the bellying canvas with wide open arms and old Luigione catching the end of the yard on his shoulder while he steered with his knees, his great gaunt profile black against the bright sky. Down foresail, a

ings the papers ashore and friends crowd around the fel

giero," said one of the men, lo

sage from me to Don Pi

gie

," said the man, "and his wife is

is gone to show the saints the no

aro when we please," obse

board, will you?

ew their conversation concerning Teresina, and an hour or two later they went up to the hotel to be in readiness for their

she always did when she met him, for though she admired both the brothers, she liked Bastian

ello," she said, w

Bastianello. "Can you tell me whether th

they will not, because there is the devil in the house to-day, and the

astianello. "You can tell me

ave betrothed her to the Count, and she does not like it. But if yo

at he would not repeat what he had heard. The

se than an animal

hing deeply and turning away. "I will ask the Marchesa i

and in a few mome

-day,"

. Will you listen to me? Can I say it here?" Bastianello felt

of the corridor. We shall be further from the door there, and there is mor

all his courage for what was the most difficult unde

hink so! I see

because the little boy of the Son of the Fool saw you with that apoplexy of a Count in the garden to-day,

shed scarlet while he was speaking, an

have done. And so I will go on, and you must listen. Ruggiero is not a great signore like the Count of San Miniato, but he is a

asked Teresina wi

it at all. And moreover Ruggiero is a quiet man and does not drink nor play at the lotto, and there is no harm

are very much alike, you too. But what has this abo

hree francs in the bank, and will soon have more, because he saves his money carefully, though he is not stingy. And Ruggiero, if you will hav

who had suspected what was coming, "I

into the sailor's eyes with a pr

e surprise than disappointment. But he had honestly pleaded his brother's cause. "Th

im at all, though he is

a step or two. He was in great perturbation of spirit, for he loved the gi

m a few days ago," h

ina's

never did

se?" asked Bast

answered the girl, blushin

is name, because I sho

m an injury. It is b

laughed

is," she said. "You can find that out

giero or I might hurt him, an

u,

dly into Teresina's eyes. Since she did not love Ruggiero, why should he

the Venetian blind round and round her hand, looking down at it all the tim

up and meeting his eyes and the

asked Bastianello

ury whom I love. I suppose that is because

and a

?" she asked in a very low tone,

it, though. Ah, Teresina, you have made a traito

llo. But you have

e him-" began the sai

m, but

that

anello," said Teresina, g

nly utter the on

s,

whispered the words in her ear. She let him hold her so wit

She was blushing still, and smiling at the same

and there was not the fierce passion in Bastianello's breast that was eating up his brother's heart. Yet Beatrice, at least, would have changed places with Teresin

e corridor with resolute steps, meaning not to lose a moment in telling Ruggiero the whole truth, how he had honestly said the best things he could for him and

ea, or rather, at a vessel far away towards Ischia, running down the bay with every stitch

uiet tone. "If you want to kill me

, to see whether he we

nderstand what you say.

, it is well. But if she will not, I will ask Ruggiero if I may court her for myself.' And so I did. And she will tell you the truth, and I spoke well for you. But she said she never loved you. And then, I do not know how it was, but we foun

and his chest heaved, and his handsome head went back, and at last it came out, a mighty peal of Homeric laughter that echoed and rolled down the pier and rang cl

rstand, and when the laugh s

ther, and very honest, and when you want to marry Teresina,

ted Bastianello, in the greatest

you believe it. It is much more I who have cheated you, Bastianello, and when you and T

uching his cap, and staring at the same ves

observed Ruggiero. "You do not often

en I looked. And I thank you for what you say, Ruggiero, and with my

same crew once or t

hat we have," ans

d, for they meant a good

nello after a pause, "since you

is what I cannot tell

t ask. But I th

at his brother loved Beatrice. Then everything explained itself in an instant. Ruggiero was such

ou do, then do not tell me. It is a business better not spo

mer, and dashing spray at each other. They had a shabby-looking old skiff with which they amused the

. "A baby can upset her and it tak

ired Ruggiero idly,

wo by the steamer in the Mouth of Procida. I suppose she belongs to Black Rag himself now. She is a crazy old craf

him so. There he i

, a middle-aged, bow-legged, leathery fellow wit

d, stopping before them wit

u could caulk her and paint her white with a red stripe and take foreigners to the Bath of Queen

"Why does he not buy her of me and paint her himself? The

giero. "I will give you ha

ing that he was in earnest. But Ruggiero slowly

essed soul, my brother, who was drowned-health to us-to-day is Saturday-and

l give you thirt

and proceeded to take possession of the old tub at once, to the infinite and forcibly expressed regret of the lads who had been playing with her. Then the two brothe

t her for, Ruggiero?

o-morrow she will be dry and we will caulk the seams, and the next day we will paint her and then we can take foreigners to the

trong men almost carried the old tub t

hing more to her to-nig

N

I will

y we

g to try and get another glimpse of Teresina. The ladies would pro

uple of bags of pebbles in the right place would keep her steady enough, and she had room for three or four people in the stern sheets and for two men to pull. Not bad for fifty francs, thought Ruggiero. And San Miniato had asked about going after crabs by torchlight. This would be the ve

rprised at the trim appearance of his old boat when the brothers at last put her into the water and pulled themselves round the little harbour to see whether the seams were all tight. But he pretended to put a good face on the matter, and explained that there were more rotten planks in her than any one knew of and that only the nails below the water line were copp

heavy to pull," objected

But you have not. So you had better go and play three numbers at the lottery, the day of the month, the number of the boat and any other one that you

k would have it the two first numbers actually turned up and he won thirty francs that week, which, as he justly observed, brought the price of the boat up to

door when he came out. The sailor grew leaner and more silent ev

, Excellency," said the former, "the weather is g

hem?" asked San Miniato.

ettle with milk, and they drink all the milk in t

e the ladie

Signorina can go with me in the little one with my brother, and

a small boat ready fo

of my own,

the ladies will not go,

Excell

dered why Ruggi