She dropped a courtesy and the crack widened.
"Your commands, signorina ?" "We wish to come in." [Illustration: "The two mounted the steps of the jail and jerked the bell"] "But it is against the orders.

Friday is visiting-day at thirteen o'clock.

If the signorina had a _permesso_ from the _sindaco_, why then--" The signorina shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.

She had no _permesso_ and it was too much trouble to get one.

Besides, the _sindaco's_ office didn't open till ten o'clock.