He fancied he could hear a faint flutter in the breast.

He looked up and a little colour came to his pale face.
"I think he is alive," he said to the two women, and then bent down again and listened.

"Yes," he continued joyfully.

"The heart beats.
Gently--help me to carry him to the sacristy; get his hat one of you.
So--carefully--do not twist that arm.

I think I see colour in his cheeks--" With four other men Gianbattista raised the body and bore it carefully to the sacristy.