"Yes," said the consul, gazing reflectively, "he had a taste for
weapons. And also for old cookery books."
The consul said that he thought that there was a boat at San Giovanni.
We cheered, for our luck seemed to be holding, and while he went off to
the Italian consul we went to the governor to beg for transport. Neither
consul nor governor was in, but we caught the Italian consul in the
afternoon. He admitted that there was a boat, but warned us that it was
no nosegay. He said that two Frenchmen who had thought of taking it had
sent him back a telegram which had quite unnerved him.
"Et je n'ai jamais dit qu'elle etait une Transatlantique," he said,
waving his arms.
He said that the archbishop had told him that a party of English had
come into the town last night, "en haillons," but that he had not
believed it possible. However, he had seen two of us in the street that
morning, and had realized that it was true.
We said that any boat would do. He warned us of the danger of
submarines.
Pages:
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399