Military life in Italy : sketches - Societa italiana di storia militare

A BUNCH OF FLOWERS.
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fits
and flowers which were scattered over the pavement, at the
risk of being crushed by the horses, and to the great annoyance
of the coachmen, who, in order to get on, were obliged to shout
themselves hoarse in telling them to be careful and get out of
the way. One of the soldiers who was on duty, after having
warned and scolded them five or six times, seeing that they
were behaving worse and worse, lost his patience, put spurs to
his horse, and raised his sword, as if to give them a blow on
the head, which he certainly never had any real idea of doing.
A gentleman who was near me, seeing this, exclaimed :
'
Ah !
'
and when the soldier drew his sabre back to his shoulder,
added :
'
I should like to have seen him do it !
'
Then, turning
to his neighbor, said '
This is the result of his education
:
oppression and brutality.' My blood boiled, I raised one hand,
drew it back and thrust it into my pocket, and with all the
calmness of which I was capable, and in the most courteous
tone, I whispered in that gentleman's ear :
'
What education ?
'
The gentleman turned, gave a start of surprise, paled ;
but instantly
recovered himself, and answered with insolent nonchalance
: The military education.' I neither saw him,
'
the
crowd, nor the corso, and I do not recollect what I said or he
replied ; I only remember that the following morning I returned
home with a wounded hand, and my friends said that
that gentleman had his left cheek laid open. That is all. I
was just saying that my hand bore no sign of
that the other man is better."
the scratch, and
The lady, who up to that time had been listening very
gravely, raising her eyes from time to time, and exclaiming
:
" Heavens ! heavens !
"
grew more cheerful on learning of the
fortunate ending of the duel, and then suddenly broke out with