At this moment, a small beggar, who had been pleading unnoticed at her
side, was lifted from his feet by a powerful hand, and a shower of soft
Italian imprecations fell on Mae's ear. She sprang up quickly, "No, no,"
she cried in Italian, "how dare you hurt a harmless boy?" She lifted
her face full toward that of the man who had inspired her wrath, and her
eyes met those of the Piedmontese officer. She blushed scarlet.
"Pardon, a thousand pardons," began he. "It was for your sake,
Signorina. I saw you shake your hand that he should leave you, and I
fancied that the little scamp was troubling the foreign lady."
Mae laughed frankly, although she was greatly confused. The officer and
the beggar boy behind him waited expectantly. "I shook my hand at my
thoughts," she explained. "I did not see the boy. Forgive me, Signor,
for my hasty words."
The officer enjoyed her confusion quietly. He threw a handful of small
coin at the beggar, and bade him go. Then he turned again to Mae.
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