It's very interesting.' The young man shrugged his shoulders.
'It's a queer business that book.

My chief here is awfully sick about it.
So are a good many other English.

Why should an Englishman come out here and write a book to run down Italy ?--And an Englishman that's been in the Government, too--so of course what he says'll have authority.

Why, we're friends with Italy--we've always stuck up for Italy! When I think what he's writing--and what a row it'll make--I declare I'm ashamed to look one's Italian friends in the face!--And just now, too, when they're so down on their luck.' For it was the year of the Abyssinian disasters; and the carnage of Adowa was not yet two months old.
Lucy's expression showed her sympathy.
'What makes him--' 'Take such a twisted sort of a line?
O goodness! what makes Manisty do anything?
Of course, I oughtn't to talk.

I'm just an understrapper--and he's a man of genius,--more or less--we all know that.