To all this discourse the kind priest lent an attentive ear in profound
silence, until Mrs. Menotti had quite finished. Indeed, he could not
have got a word in edgewise if he had been inclined; for the good woman
had not opened her heart for a long time, and it was so full that it
almost choked her when she gave her words full expression, and she quite
lost her breath.
Now quiet reigned for a while, then the good man began very calmly to
smoke his second pipe; and presently he said, "H--m, h--m, Mrs. Menotti;
I rather think you have an impression of the mountaineers that is
decidedly exaggerated. There are good Christians there as elsewhere; and
now that there are so many ways of doing things discovered, it would be
also quite possible to get up there without danger. We must bethink
ourselves about that, and find out about it."
After this opinion, the priest stopped to refresh himself a little from
his snuffbox; then he went on:--
"There are all sorts of trades-people who are always coming down to
Bergamo,--sheep and horse dealers: they know the road well enough, of
course. We can obtain information, and then bethink ourselves: we can
find a way sooner or later. It you are in earnest about it, Mrs.
Menotti, I will look about a little. I go every year once or twice to
Bergamo, and I will take the thing in hand for you.
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