Standing close to Sangalli, Vercesi, Dei Cas and Peppino wearing a gown stolen from the ward to appear as if he were a patient, Anna Molinari wept hard.
‘He’s about to be decorated, not killed!’ commented Vercesi.
‘You may be a doctor, but your sensitivity is naught!’ hissed the woman.
‘Look at Metternich in black with those gilt buttons. He looks like a god,’ commented Sangalli in such a low voice.
‘The God of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia,’ added Peppino over their shoulders.
‘What are you doing in that leper’s garb? Disgusting!’ exclaimed the sergeant.
‘I’m ’ere to give yer good news from the Kingdom of ’Eaven’.
‘All the better compared to the nonsense of that turkey Saurau,’ replied Sangalli.
‘An hour ago, God sent a message to quarters of the D’rect’rate-Gen’ral of
