[The CARABINIERE beckon to MARIANO and speak to him.]

VASILI [seriously, stepping toward PIKE].  Do you know what you are asking me to do?

PIKE [watching CARABINIERE].  To put on a new tire.

[VASILI, with exclamation and gesture of despair grimly tinged with humor, turns away, greatly disturbed.]

MARIANO [addressing PIKE with an embarrassed bow].  The carabiniere with all excuses beg if you will command the chauffeur to step forth from the automobile.

PIKE. No, sir; I worked on that machine myself for three hours.  He’s got his hands full of nuts and screws and bolts half fastened.  If he lays them down now to come out I don’t know how long it’ll take to get them back in place.  We want to get this job finished. [Continues with a plaintive uplift of voice.] This is serious!  Tell them to go on up Main Street with their Knights of Pythias parade, and come around some day when we haven’t got our hands full.

MARIANO [meekly].  I tell them—­yes, sir.

[Turns and confers with the CARABINIERE.]

PIKE.  It’ll be your turn in a minute, Doc; be mighty careful what you say.

MARIANO.  Because the chauffeur have been engaged only to-day and have just arrived, the carabiniere ask ten thousand pardons, but inquire how long he have been known to his employer.

[He bows to VASILI with embarrassment.]

PIKE.  How long?  Why, he was raised on his father’s farm.

[He faces VASILI, and stretches his arm out toward him as if for corroboration.]

MARIANO [to VASILI].  Oh, if that is so!

PIKE.  It is so; ain’t it, Doc?

VASILI [to.  MARIANO, with dignity].  You have heard my friend say it.

MARIANO [to VASILI, in a serious undertone].  Monseigneur graciously consents that I reveal his incognito to the carabiniere.

VASILI.  Is it necessary?

MARIANO.  Otherwise I fear they will not withdraw; they have suspicion.

VASILI [with a gesture of resignation].  Very well, tell them.  I rely upon them to preserve my incognito from all others.

MARIANO [bowing deeply].  Monseigneur, they will be discreet.

[Goes up to CARABINIERE and speaks to them.]

PIKE [aside to IVANOFF].  Make a noise—­keep busy. [Then with more emphasis.] But don’t you unscrew anything!

MARIANO [to VASILI, smiling].  Monseigneur, they withdraw.

[The CARABINIERE, with great deference and gravity, salute VASILI.  He returns the salute curtly.]

FIRST CARABINIERE.  Mille grazias, Signore!

[MARIANO throws the gates open, the two CARABINIERE go rapidly out, sweeping the crowd away.  MARIANO closes the gates.]

PIKE [giving MARIANO a coin].  You’re pretty good.  MARIANO.  It required but the slightest diplomacy, Signore.  Thank you, Signore!

[Exit into the hotel.]

PIKE [puzzled].  He must have mesmerized the militia.