"Still, I hope we may manage it somehow.

I have the greatest horror of a Genoese prison, for it is notorious that they treat their prisoners of war shamefully, and I certainly do not mean to enter one, if there is the slightest chance of avoiding it.

But for today, Matteo, I shall not even begin to think about it.

In the first place, my head aches with the various thumps it has had; in the second, I feel weak from loss of blood; and in the third, my wounds smart most amazingly." "So do mine," Matteo agreed.

"In addition, I am hungry, for the bread they gave us this morning was not fit for dogs, although I had to eat it, as it was that or nothing." "And now, Matteo, I shall try to get a few hours' sleep.