Paolo turned his head and looked kindly at his brother.
"Courage, Marzio," he said, "I have been asleep, I believe--what has happened to me?
Why are you all crying ?" Marzio's tears broke out again, mingled with incoherent words of joy.

In his sudden happiness he clasped the two persons nearest to him, and hugged them and kissed them.

These two chanced to be Lucia and Gianbattista.

Paolo smiled, but the effort of speaking had tired him.
"Well," said Marzio at last, with a kinder smile than had been on his face for many a day--"very well, children.

For Paolo's sake you shall have your own way." Half an hour later the surgeon made his visit and assured them all that there was no serious injury, nor any further danger to be feared.