flung him out through the open
window into the street below.
Then, aghast at what she had done, she stood as if turned to stone, not
daring to go to the window to see what the effect of her novel
proceeding might have been.
Minutes, to her ages, passed: then came a ring at the bell. Answer she
must; the maid was out marketing, her mother in tears--for it might be
the post--it might be--! Ah, she shivered as she thought thereon--it
might be a municipal guard with a "contravenzione"--fine; for in Italy
one cannot now fling even saints from a window down upon the passers'
heads with impunity. Time was when worse things were periodically
showered down upon passengers, but, thanks to government and wholesome
laws, nous avons change tout cela.
With a beating heart Guiseppina drew the bolt and opened the door. There
on the landing stood, not a policeman, but an elderly gentleman, his hat
in one hand, Saint Antonio in the other, and his bald head looming out
from the gloom--some Turin stairs are _very_ dark--like the moon in a
fog.
"Signora"--he began in a hesitating voice, and holding forward the
imperturbable Saint as a shield and excuse for his intrusion--
"Signore," replied the ancient maiden, gazing forth at her visitor with
wonder on her face and relief in her heart.
The relief fled quickly, however, for she suddenly remembered that many
of the police were said to prowl about in civil clothes and inflict no
end of fines, of which they pocketed a part.
But he didn't look a bit like a policeman. So she smiled upon him, and
listened benignantly to his tale. He had been passing the house--musing
upon his business--that of a broker--and trying to guess at the truth of
a report relative to certain investments, when suddenly his calculations
had been put to flight by the arrival of some unseen object from on
high, which, after alighting upon the crown of his Panama, fell at his
feet.
Here a wave of his hand and a flourish of the Saint indicated his having
picked up the same.
He then proceeded to relate his having looked up--the Saint could only
have come from Heavenward, he had perched so exactly upon the crown of
his hat--having seen the open window--all the rest in the house were
closed--and having taken the liberty--
Here another wave of the hand, followed by a bow.
And then, at this juncture, Signora Pace came out from her room, and
she, after being informed of the cause of her daughter's being foun
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