"Look, brother, they have begun to protect themselves! They have put up barricades! But some day or other they'll have to come out." Orso's presence on the southern side of the square made a great sensation at Pietranera, and was taken to be a proof of boldness savouring of temerity.

It was subject of endless comment on the part of the neutrals, when they gathered around the evergreen oak, that night.
"It is a good thing," they said, "that Barricini's sons are not back yet, for they are not so patient as the lawyer, and very likely they would not have let their enemy set his foot on their ground without making him pay for his bravado." "Remember what I am telling you, neighbour," said an old man, the village oracle.

"I watched Colomba's face to-day.

She had some idea in her head.

I smell powder in the air.