Page “What plans?” He smiled uncomfortably. “Just plans, sir,” he answered in a low voice. “Well,” I said, “we’re leaving on Monday. Is there anything I can do for you before we go?” Nicola shook his head, but suddenly Jacopo said, “Sir,” he burst out, “every Sunday we make a visit to the country, to Poleta, kilometres from here.
Usually we hire bicycles. But tomorrow, since you are so kind, you might send us in your car.” I had already told Luigi he might have the Sunday off. However, I answered, “I’ll drive you out myself.” There was a pause. Nicola was glaring at his young brother in vexation.
“We could not think of troubling you, sir.” “It won’t be any trouble.” He bit his lip, then, in a rather put out tone, he said, “Very well.” The following afternoon we drove to the tiny village set high upon the hillside. I imagined that our destinations would be some humble dwellings. But, directed by Jacopo, we drew up at a large red-roofed villa, surrounded by a high stone wall. I could scarcely believe my eyes and before I could recover breath my two passengers had leaped from the car.
“We shall not be long, sir. Perhaps only an hour. May be you’d like to go to the cafe in the village for a drink?” They disappeared beyond the corner of the wall. After a few minutes I followed.
I found a grilled side-entrance and, determinedly, rang the bell. A pleasant-looking woman with steel-rimmed spectacles appeared. I blinked as I saw that she was dressed in the white uniform of a trained nurse. “I just brought two small boys here.” “Ah, yes.” Her face lit up; she opened the door to admit me.
“Nicola and Jacopo. I will take you up.” She led me through a cool, tiled vestibule into the hospital – for hospital the villa had become. At the door of a little cubicle the nurse paused, put her finger to her lips, and with a smile bade me look through the glass partition. The two boys