He was a big, quiet
fellow, with china-blue eyes and a reddish moustache. The porter was
not used to such people, nor to servants who wore moustaches, and was
inclined to distrust the man. On the other hand, though Masin would
not drink, he often gave the porter a cigar, with a friendly smile.
One day, in the morning, Baron Volterra came to see Malipieri, and
stayed over an hour, a part of which time the two men spent in the
courtyard, walking up and down in the north-west corner, and then
taking some measurements with a long tape which Malipieri produced
from his pocket. When the Baron went away he stopped and spoke with
the porter. First he gave him five francs; then he informed him that
his wages would be raised in future by that amount; and finally he
told him that Signor Malipieri was an architect and would superintend
the repairs necessary to the foundations at the north-west corner,
that while the work was going on even the little postern door was to
be kept shut all day, and no one was to be admitted on any condition
without Signor Malipieri's express permission. The fat Baron fixed his
eyes on the porter's with an oddly hard look, and said that he himself
might come at any moment to see how the work was going on, and that if
he found anybody inside the gate without Signor Malipieri's authority,
it would be bad for the porter.
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