They try to come in. He drives them
back with a napkin, which has been hanging over his arm, crying: "Vate,
vate! Devo dire al maresciallo di cacciarvi?"]
[Meanwhile VASILI has entered from the hotel, a bundle of clean white
rags in his hand.]
VASILI. Is there a new eruption of Vesuvius?
PIKE [meeting him and taking the rags]. No; it's an eruption of colonels
trying to arrest a high-school professor. I've got him under your car
there.
VASILI [astounded]. What!
PIKE. I told them he's your new chauffeur.
VASILI. My friend, do you realize the penalty for protecting a criminal
from arrest?
PIKE. We'll be proud of the risk.
[Speaks in an undertone to IVANOFF.]
This man owns the car. You can trust him the same as your own father.
VASILI [remonstrating]. My friend, my friend!
[Illustration: "THE NEW CHAUFFEUR FOR THE MACHINE, FROM NAPLES"]
PIKE [quietly]. Look out, the Governor's staff is coming back.
MARIANO [closing the gates and wiping his face]. Lazzaroni!
[At the same time FIRST CARABINIERE enters from right; SECOND
CARABINIERE from left.]
SECOND CARABINIERE. Niente!
FIRST CARABINIERE. Niente la!
[The two CARABINIERE cross briskly to each other as they speak, and
stand conferring.]
MARIANO. Grazia Dio! He has gone some other place!
PIKE [very casually to VASILI].
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