THE SOCIETY
"'How could you manage in so many different places without knowing the
language?' I inquired, not quite knowing the ramifications of the
Mafia.
"'I found Italians everywhere, and would get directions from them
until I found some _friends_.' He spoke the last word significantly.
"'Did you understand English then?'
"'Did not even dream of it.'
"'Have you worked while you have been in America?'
"'Never,' grinned Uncle Vincent. 'Neither do I expect to work. If I
knew the man who invented work, and met him, I would kill him.'
"'What do you do to live?'
"'You are too young to know certain things,' he explained with a
veiled glance. 'When you have become well interested in the affairs of
our society you will know _how to live without work_.'
"'Then you belong to some society which gives you money?' I inquired,
feigning stupidity.
"'Yes, but not like _your_ societies. When you leave your societies
and join ours you will feel better.'
"'And what is the price of initiation?'
"'Nothing.'
"'How will I be admitted then?'
"'We must try you with a courageous deed requiring secrecy.'
"'And what is this society of yours called?' I asked.
"'It has no name.'
"'Is it a mutual aid society?'
"'No.'
"'Where are its headquarters?'
"'In all parts of the world.'
"'In Italy?'
"'Yes, in Italy.'
"'Then it must be the Masons?'
"'What, the Masons? Pooh-pooh! my friend. _Ours_ is a society that
_never ends_ and is bigger than the Masons.'
"'And when will you allow me to enter?'
"'I must school you first,' he grumbled, eyeing me suspiciously. 'And
when you become known to the heads, and are respected, then we will
christen you.'
"'You will christen me?' I exclaimed.
"'Yes.'
"'How is that? I have already been baptized in the Roman Catholic
religion, and now you would baptize me again?'
"'Certainly!' he grinned. 'But it is not a matter of religion. You are
christened into the society. We give you a title that you will bear in
secret, a title that will make you obeyed and respected in all parts
of the world.'
"'I am curious to attend a meeting of your society.'
"'In time you will attend; but first, I would have to ask the
superiors.'
"At this moment I was called by Caterina and the discussion ended. I
had absorbed enough to surmise about the vast, hidden power of the
'Black-Hand' menace reaching as it does with arms steeped in gore all
around the globe."