Part 16 (2/2)
”Listen, youngster, don't bother yourself with these two scoundrels whose throats I'll cut some day with my kitchen knife as if they were pigs, and so you will be freed from the care of them, and I win back the honor which I lose in feeding the enemies of my country.”
”Are you crazy?”
”Why?”
”Didn't you hear what my captain said? We must make them sing.”
”Them sing? It's easier to make the statue of Marcus Aurelius sing that's of bronze and won't move from the Capitol for fear the Councilors of the Commune might take it to a p.a.w.nbroker's.”
”But I've found out already what their names are.”
”I, too.”
”Let's hear.”
”Pigs.”
”That is their family name, but the real name of the Croat is Stolz and the Hungarian's is Franz.”
”And then?”
”We've got to find out how many of them are down there in the trenches; if there are others behind them; how many pieces of artillery they have and where; from what point their munitions and supplies come, and how many officers are in command of the troops.”
”That's the easiest thing possible.”
”You think so?”
”You ask them and they will answer.”
”And if they pretend not to hear?”
”Leave it to me, youngster. I have a special way of making myself understood, even by the deaf. I didn't read for nothing _The Spanish Inquisition_. Bring to me here those two satellites of Franz Joe and you'll hear the speeches I'll make them.”
Ciampanella rubbed his ears, tied an ap.r.o.n around his waist as when he entered upon his official functions, filled up the little stove with charcoal and lighted a fine fire. When Pinocchio returned to the kitchen, followed by the prisoners, a pair of tongs and a shovel were heating on the red-hot charcoal.
At the sight of these the Croat and the Hungarian exchanged glances and a few quick, dry phrases in their language.
Ciampanella advanced triumphantly to within a foot of them, bowed like an actor to an applauding audience, and unfolded one of his most polished discourses:
”Gentlemen, our officers say that we must respect the enemy, and I respect you according to command; but in case any one should persist in refusing to speak, just like the beasts, I should feel it my duty to treat him like a beast, and my superiors would say to me, 'Ciampanella, you're right.' I explain this because we have need of certain information, so we take the liberty of asking you in secret certain things which you, gentlemen, can answer, after which we will give you special attention in our culinary service. This is said and promised, so I begin my questions. We want to know how many men and how many officers that big simpleton of your emperor has whipped up together against us.”
No answer.
”What? Are you deaf? Don't you understand modern Italian? Then I'll talk ancient Roman to you.”
Ciampanella grabbed from the stove the red-hot shovel and waved it before the Austrians' noses. Their eyes popped out with fright, but they didn't utter a word.
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