This is a town of some size, and there must be a mayor here who marries people when they take the fancy." "Diavolo! I suppose so," I assented.
"A sindaco,--there must be one, surely." "Very well, go and find him, good-for-nothing!" I exclaimed.
"But I cannot go away and leave that door until she wakes," he objected.

"Dear Messer Cornelio, you have done so much for me, and are so kind,--will you not go out and find the sindaco, and bring him here to marry us ?" "Nino," I said, gravely, "the ass is a patient beast, and very intelligent, but there is a limit to his capabilities.

So long as it is merely a question of doing things you cannot do, very well.

But if it comes to this, that I must find not only the bride, but also the mayor and the priest, I say, with good Pius IX.,--rest his soul,--_non possumus_." Nino laughed.

He could afford to laugh now.
"Messer Cornelio, a child could tell you have been asleep.