"Let the Saint come!"
Among the students forming the rear-guard voices shouted: "Bring the
Saint forward! Let the Saint speak!"
"What actions are these?" the old man exclaimed, turning round with
the indignation of the popular orator who finds himself deposed. "What
actions are these?"
A rumble of angry voices drowned his words, and the students continued
to shout louder than ever:
"The Saint! Let the Saint speak! Away with the priest! Away with him!"
The women turned threateningly:
"Away with you, yourselves! Away with you!"
Up above, among the hovels perched on the hillside, the plumes of the
_carabinieri_ appeared. Then Benedetto rose, and came out into the open.
As soon as the people perceived him, they greeted him with a great,
joyous clamour. The Selvas went to the door of the cave and looked down.
Noemi ran swiftly down the hill. In a second Benedetto found himself
surrounded by people kissing his habit, and pouring out blessings upon
him. Many were weeping, on their knees. Noemi, who had rushed down alone
behind the students, pressed forward, and saw the man, at last!
Jeanne had shown her several photographs of him, telling her at the same
time that no one of them was entirely satisfactory.
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