"It won't do that anyhow." The Neapolitan
rose and came across to the table. "Gentlemen,
you're on the wrong tack. Conciliating the government
will do no good. What we must do is to
rouse the people."
"That's easier said than done; how are you
going to start?"
"Fancy asking Galli that! Of course he'd start
by knocking the censor on the head."
"No, indeed, I shouldn't," said Galli stoutly.
"You always think if a man comes from down
south he must believe in no argument but cold
steel."
"Well, what do you propose, then? Sh! Attention,
gentlemen! Galli has a proposal to make."
The whole company, which had broken up into
little knots of twos and threes, carrying on separate
discussions, collected round the table to
listen. Galli raised his hands in expostulation.
"No, gentlemen, it is not a proposal; it is merely
a suggestion. It appears to me that there is a
great practical danger in all this rejoicing over
the new Pope. People seem to think that, because
he has struck out a new line and granted
this amnesty, we have only to throw ourselves--
all of us, the whole of Italy--into his arms and he
will carry us to the promised land.
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