If even this stranger had smiled and been good-humoured to me when I addressed him; if he had put off my offer of assistance gaily and with thanks, I should have gone on my way and not felt any vocation to renew inquiries: but the frown, the roughness of the traveller, set me at my ease: I retained my station when he waved to me to go, and announced--
Se quello straniero mi avesse sorriso, si fosse mostrato cortese con me, ringraziandomi per le mie offerte, avrei continuato la via senza esser tentata punto di ripetere le domande. Ma l'indifferenza e la rozzezza del viaggiatore mi dettero coraggio, e, quando mi fece cenno di partire, rimasi dicendogli: