In the distance a cook with a white cap on his head and
bare arms was visible, as he moved to and fro in the lighted kitchen
of the old ristorante, preparing a "zuppa di pesce" for the gentlemen
from Naples.
"Che bella notte!" said the Marchesino, suddenly.
His voice sounded sentimental. He twisted his mustaches and added:
"Emilio, we ought to have brought two beautiful women with us
to-night. What are the moon and the sea to men without beautiful
women?"
"And the fishing?" said Artois.
"To the devil with the fishing," replied the young man. "Ecco! Our
dinner is ready, with thanks to the Madonna!"
They sat down, one on each side of the small table, with a smoking
lamp between them.
"I have ordered vino bianco," said the Marchesino, who still looked
sentimental. "Cameriere, take away the lamp. Put it on the next table.
Va bene. We are going to have 'zuppa di pesce,' gamberi and veal
cutlets. The wine is Capri. Now then," he added, with sudden violence
and the coarsest imaginable Neapolitan accent, "if you fellows play
'Santa Lucia,' 'Napoli Bella,' or 'Sole mio' you'll have my knife in
you.
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