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

354 MILITARY LIFE.
too, drawing their seats near enough
to be able to talk in an
undertone.
" Do you think I can talk to him without any danger ?"
"Oh, yes, indeed," the brothers replied together; "now
there is no longer any danger."
" Very well, then. But if
you thought to the contrary, I
should beg you to tell me quite frankly ;
I should not wish, in
coming here to bring a little comfort, to be the cause of greater
evil. Listen : it is
only a short distance from here to Turin ;
I could run off for a few hours within two or three days."
" You are too good ! " exclaimed the two young men, pressing
his hand. " We thank you from our hearts, but really it is
not necessary for you to put yourself out again for us. Our
father is really better. If he were any other man, perhaps,
even in seeing him better, we should hesitate . . . but believe
us, captain, he has a heart so capable of feeling the consolation
that you bring him, as not to leave any doubt about
the effect which your words will produce upon
loving father, but a good citizen."
" I believe it," said the captain.
him. He is a
At that moment a door opened and a handsome blonde boy,
about ten years old, appeared. On seeing the captain, he
started back.
" Come here," said one of the brothers. The boy came forward.
" This is our little brother."
" How much he resembles that poor fellow ! " exclaimed the
officer.
" "
Quite true ! said the brothers.
After five minutes more conversation in a low tone, the cap-