"This is my brother Giovanni," said Pancrazio. "He is not quite sensible." Then he broke into a loud flood of dialect.
Giovanni touched his hat to Alvina, and gave the lantern to Pancrazio. Then he disappeared, returning in a few moments with the a*s. Ciccio came out with the baggage, and by the light of the lantern the things were slung on either side of the a*s, in a rather precarious heap. Pancrazio tested the rope again.
"There! Go on, and I shall come in a minute."
"Ay-er-er!" cried Giovanni at the a*s, striking the flank of the beast. Then he took the leading rope and led up on the dark highway, stalking with his dingy white legs under his muffled cloak, leading the a*s. Alvina noticed the shuffle of his skin-sandalled feet, the quiet step of the a*s.
She walked with Ciccio near
