Volume I Part 38 (2/2)
”When do we go?”
”Thanks, Haydee,” said the count, tenderly ”We go as soon as my duty here is ended! Give the necessary orders Let Bertuccio inform Jacopo and rest easy! See, Aslitta has recovered--God will protect Spero!”
CHAPTER xxxII
ECARTE
Bartoloeon of the citadel, and now that Aslitta was lost he accepted his fate calmly He could not be of any further service to the fatherland
As he was sitting meditatively in his cell, the door opened and a corporal entered
”What do you wish?” asked the major politely ”What ti,” replied the corporal, a handso felloith blue eyes and blond hair
”Only three o'clock Then I have three long hours still to live Can't I be shot at once?”
”No, no chance whatever”
”Hoard What shall I do with myself? It's so monotonous here!”
”Oh, you can re
”How so? What do you mean?” asked Bartoloood card-player To- so I came here to ask you to do me a favor
Will you please teach me _ecarte_?”
”With pleasure,” replied the leefully, and pulling a pack of cards out of his pocket, he threw the shortly afterith a drum
The major seated himself on a chair, the corporal on the bed, and the druood scholar and soon learned the elehted He dealt, picked up, truot entirely that in a few hours he would be shot
When the clock struck four, the young man had ice, and he proudly exclaimed:
”If my luck continues, I will be ahead of you soon Couldn't we play for money?”
”No, that would be unfair,” replied the major, ”I am so superior to you”
”Oh, that could be tested by a trial But first I will get some rum I am thirsty, and you are so also, no doubt”
”Thanks, I will take some too,” replied Bartolomeo