She glanced down; there was a shining two-franc piece in her hand.

Perhaps the jailoress would allow them to step inside away from the crowd and she would explain?
This sounded reasonable; the door opened farther and they squeezed through.

It banged in the faces of the disappointed spectators, who lingered hopefully a few moments longer, and then returned to their bargaining.

Inside the big damp stone-walled corridor Constance drew a deep breath and smiled upon the jailoress; the jailoress smiled back.
Then as a preliminary skirmish, Constance presented the two-franc piece; and the jailoress dropped a courtesy.
"We have heard that Antonio, our donkey-driver, has been arrested for deserting from the army and we have come to find out about it.

My father, the signore here--" she waved her hand toward Mr.Wilder--"likes Antonio very much and is quite sure that it is a mistake." The woman's mouth hardened; she nodded with emphasis.
"_Gia_.