the dark about everything?"

No one breathed.

"The taking of Rome," one of the girls ventured to say presently, after
having consulted her papa with a glance--"we know of it."

"What! Nothing else?"

"Nothing else."

"But what a taking of Rome!" burst out the young man with a cry that
made them all tremble--"what a taking of Rome! Then I bring you the
account of it."

They all rose and gathered around him.

"But how is it possible," he went on crying, waving his hands--"how is
it possible that you know nothing of it? Has not the news spread through
the country? Have not the country-people assembled? What is the city
government doing? Listen, then--listen; seat yourselves around me; I
will relate all to you. My heart beats so that I can hardly speak."

"But what has happened?"

"Nothing: I will tell you nothing. I wish to relate everything in order:
give me breathing-time. I wish you to hear the facts one by one as I saw
them."

"Oh, you mean the Roman feasts?"

"The plebiscite?"

"The arrival of the king?"

"No, indeed, no: something quite different."

"Well, tell us."

"But sit down."

"Oh, how is it that we have heard nothing about it here?"

"How can I tell? All I know is, that to be the first who brings you this
news is the greatest pleasure I have experienced in my whole life. I
arrived this morning at Florence: they knew all about it. I left
immediately. Who knows? thought I, perhaps the news has not yet reached
home. I am out of breath."

"Tell us! tell quickly!"

They all seated themselves around him.

"You shall hear, mamma--things to make one wild! Come nearer: so! You
know all about the morning of the 21st, do you not? The other regiments
entered: crowds, noise, music, as on the previous day, until twelve
o'clock. At twelve o'clock, as if by common consent, the confusion
ceased--first in the Corso, then in the other main streets, and
gradually everywhere. The crowds of citizens stood still, formed groups
and chatted in an undertone; then they dispersed in all directions,
nodding to each other like people who expect to meet soon again. It
seemed as if the order had circulated to prepare for some great event.
People meeting in the street spoke to each other hastily, and then each
one went his own way. From one end to the other of the Corso there was a
general bustle, some going home, others going out; some calling from the
street, others answering from the windows; the soldiers rush