"Oh," replied Lucien, "in a quarrel it is not the motive that matters, it is the result. If a fly causes a man's death the man is none the less dead because a fly caused it."
I saw that he hesitated to tell me the cause of this terrible war, which for the last ten years had desolated the village of Sullacaro.
But, as may be imagined, the more he attempted to conceal it the more anxious I was to discover it.
"But," said I, "this quarrel must have a motive; is that motive a secret?"
"Good gracious, no! The mischief arose between the Orlandi and the Colona."
"Well, a fowl escaped from the farm yard of the Orlandi and flew into that of the Colona.
"The Orlandi attempted to get back the hen, the Colona declared it belonged to them. The Orlandi then threatened to bring the Colona before the judge and make them declare on oath it was theirs. And then the old woman in whose house the hen had taken refuge wrung its neck, and threw the dead fowl into her neighbour's face, saying--
"'Well, then, if it belongs to you, eat it.'
"Then one of the Orlandi picked up the fowl by the feet, and attempted to beat the person who had thrown it in his sister's face; but just as he was about to do so, one of the Colona appeared, who, unfortunately, carried a loaded gun, and he immediately sent a bullet through the Orlandi's heart."
"And how many lives have been sacrificed since?"
"Nine people have been killed altogether."
"And all for a miserable hen not worth twelve sous?"
"Yes, but as I said just now, it is not the cause, but the effect that we have to look at."
"Since there were nine people killed, then, there might easily be a dozen."
"Yes, very likely there would be if they had not appointed me as arbitrator."
"At the intercession of one of the two families no doubt?"
"Oh! dear no, at my brother's request, who heard of the matter at the Chancellor's house. I asked him what on earth they had to do in Paris with the affairs of an out-of-the-way little village in Corsica; but it seems the préfect mentioned it when he wrote to Paris, and said that if I were to say a word the whole thing would finish like a farce, by a marriage and a public recitation; so my brother took the hint, and replied he would answer for me. What could I do?" added the young man, throwing back his head proudly; "it shall never be said that a de Franchi passed his word for his brother, and that his brother did not fulfil the engagement."
