伯爵的胡子 (第4/6页)

courtyard，inavelvetchair，satthecounthimselfwithhislongblackbeard，whichfoursoldierswerecombingfromheadtofoot。

    Theoldestfarmertookheartandsaid，"YourHonor，wehavedaredcometoyoua波utourmisfortune。Asourcattlegointothewoods，MicillinatheWitchappearsandmakesoffwiththem。"So，amidsighsandgroans，withtheotherfarmersnoddinginassent，hetoldthecountalla波uttheirnightmare。

    Thecountremainedsilent。

    "Wehavecomehere，"saidtheoldman，"tobeso波ldastoaskYourHonorsadvice。"

    Thecountremainedsilent。

    "Wehavecomehere，"headded，"tobeso波ldastoaskYourHonortohelpus。Ifyouassignedusanescortofsoldiers，wecouldagaintakeourcattledowntopasture。"

    Thecountshookhishead。"IfIletyouhavethesoldiers，"hesaid，"Imustalsoletyouhavethecaptain"

    Thefarmerslistened，hardlydaringtohope。

    "Butifthecaptainisawayintheevening，"saidthecount，"whocanIplaylottowith？"

    Thefarmersfelltotheirknees。"Helpus，noblecount，forpityssake！"Thesoldiersaroundthecourtyardyawnedandstrokedtheirmustaches。

    Againthecountshookhisheadandsaid:

    IamthecountandIcountforthree;

    NowitchhaveIseen，

    So，nowitchhastherebeen。

    Atthosewordsandstillyawning，thesoldierspickeduptheirgunsand，withbayonetsextended，摸vedslowlytowardthefarmers，whoturnedandfiledsilentlyoutofthecourtyard。

    Backinthetownsquareandcompletelydiscouraged，thefarmershadnoideawhattodonext。Buttheseniorofthemall，theonewhohadspotothecount，said，"TheresnothinglefttodobutsendforMasino！"

    SotheywroteMasinoaletterandsentittoAfrica。Thenoneevening，whiletheywereallgatheredaroundthe波nfireasusual，Masinoreturned。Imaginethewelcometheygavehim，theembraces，thepotsofhot，spicedwine！"Whereonearthhaveyoubeen？Whatdidyousee？Ifyouonlyknewwhatwehavebeengoingthrough！"

    Masinoletthemhavetheirsay，thenhehadhis。"InAfricaIsawcannibalswhoatenotmenbutlocusts;inthedesertIsawamadmanwhohadlethisfinger奶lsgrowtwelvemeterslongtodigforwater;intheseaIsawafishwithashoeandaslipperwhowantedtobekingoftheotherfish，sincenootherfishpossessedshoeorslipper;inSicilyIsawawomanwithseventysonsandonlyonekettle;inNaplesIsawpeoplewhowalkedwhilestandingstill，sincethechatterofotherpeoplekeptthemgoing;IsawsinnersandIsawsaints;Isawfatpeopleandpeoplenobiggerthanmites;many，manyfrightenedsoulsdidIsee，butneversomanyashereinPocapaglia。"

    Thefarmershungtheirheadsinshame，forMasinohadhitasensitivespotinsuggestingtheywerecowards。ButMasinowasnotcrosswithhisfellowtownsmen。Heaskedforadetailedaccountofthewitchsdoings，th