No one else spoke for a moment. Then Pasquale looked through the
grating.
"What did you say?" he asked.
"I said open the door at once!" answered Giovanni. "Can you not
recognise the officers of the law when you see them?"
"No," grunted Pasquale, "I have never seen much of them. Did you say I
was to open the door?"
"Yes!" cried Giovanni angrily, for he wished to show his zeal before the
officer. "Blockhead!" he added with emphasis, as Pasquale disappeared
again and was presumably out of hearing.
They all heard him dragging the furniture away again, the box-bed and
the table and the old chair.
Zorzi came up as Pasquale was clearing the stuff away.
"They want you," said the old sailor, seeing him and hearing him at the
same time. "What have you been doing now? Where is the young lady?"
"In the main furnace room," whispered Zorzi. "Do not let them go there
whatever they do."
Pasquale gave vent to his feelings in a low voice, as he dragged the
last things back and began to unbar the door. Zorzi leaned against the
wall, for his lameness prevented him from helping. At last the door was
opened, and he saw the figures of the men outside against the light. He
went forward as quickly as he could, pushing past Pasquale to get out.
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