Fabrice faisait des mines à la petite Marietta et ne s’occupait guère des cris jaloux du Giletti, lorsque tout à coup il vit à trois pieds de sa poitrine le bout du pistolet rouillé ; il n’eut que le temps de donner un coup sur ce pistolet, en se servant de son fusil comme d’un bâton : le pistolet partit, mais ne blessa personne.
Fabrizio was engaged in smiling at little Marietta, and barely heeding the jealous shouts of Giletti, when suddenly he saw within three feet of his chest the muzzle of the rusty pistol; he was just in time to aim a blow at it, using his gun as a club: the pistol went off, but did not hit anyone.