AndColombareplied，withherusualcomposure，thatOrsowasinthe/maquis/；thathewasbeingtakencareofbyabandit；thatitwouldbeagreatriskforhimtoshowhimselfuntilhewassureofthelinetheprefectandthejudgeswerelikelytotake；and，finally，thatshewouldmanagetohavehimsecretlyattendedbyaskilfulsurgeon。
\"Aboveallthings，colonel，\"sheadded，\"rememberthatyouheardthefourshots，andthatyoutoldmeOrsofiredlast。\"
Thecolonelcouldmakeneitherheadnortailofthebusiness，andhisdaughterdidnothingbutheavesighsanddryhereyes。
Thedaywasfaradvanced，whenagloomyprocessionwendeditswayintothevillage。ThebodiesofhistwosonswerebroughthometoLawyerBarricini，eachcorpsethrownacrossamule，whichwasledbyapeasant。Acrowdofdependentsandidlersfollowedthedreary/cortege/。Withitappearedthegendarmes，whoalwayscameintoolate，andthedeputy-mayor，throwinguphishands，andincessantlyrepeating，\"WhatwillSignorPrefettosay！\"Someofthewomen，amongthemOrlanduccio’sfoster-mother，weretearingtheirhairandshriekingwildly。Buttheirclamorousgriefwaslessimpressivethanthedumbdespairofoneman，onwhomalleyeswerefixed。Thiswasthewretchedfather，whopassedfromonecorpsetotheother，liftinguptheearth-soiledheads，kissingtheblackenedlips，supportingthelimbsthatwerestiffalready，asifhewouldsavethemfromthejoltingoftheroad。Nowandthenheopenedhismouthasthoughabouttospeak，butnotacrycame，notaword。Hiseyesneverleftthedeadbodies，andashewalked，heknockedhimselfagainstthestones，againstthetrees，againsteveryobstaclethatchancedtolieinhispath。
Thewomen’slamentationsgrewlouder，andthemen’scursesdeeper，whenOrso’shouseappearedinsight。WhensomeshepherdsofthedellaRebbiapartyventuredonatriumphantshout，theirenemy’sindignationbecameungovernable。\"Vengeance！Vengeance！\"exclaimedseveralvoices。