Here is the Commendatore, in his hat and overcoat. He closes the door
behind him, gathers up the papers lying on the table, and says to
Benedetto, with a disdainful air:
"Mark this. We give you three days in which to leave Rome. Do you
understand?" Without even waiting for an answer, he pressed a bell. The
usher entered, and he commanded:
"Show him out!"
* * * * *
On reaching the great stairway with his guide, Benedetto, believing
himself free to descend, begged for a little water.
"Water?" the usher replied. "I cannot go for it now. His Excellency is
waiting. Please step this way."
To Benedetto's' great astonishment, he invited him to enter the lift.
"Both their Excellencies," said the usher, correcting himself, and, as
the lift ascended to the second floor, he looked at Benedetto as at one
about to receive a great honour which he does not appear to deserve.
When they reached the second floor, the two traversed an immense hall
dimly lighted. From this hall Benedetto was shown into an apartment so
brilliantly illumined as to cause him discomfort and suffering, and he
was nearly blinded.
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