It was the Austrian who planned my undoing, and you, his
paramour, who cajoled me out of my senses."
"I refuse to stay here and be insulted by such a coward," she said,
gathering her skirts as though she intended to take her departure
instantly. "But it will be a fine story that Signor Fenshawe cables
from Aden when he tells how the Governor of Massowah aided and abetted
this half-crazy poltroon in onslaughts on defenseless women. It was not
enough that Italian law should be misused to further his ends, but the
scum of the bazaar is enlisted under his banner, and he is supported by
the authorities in an act that would be reprobated by any half-savage
state in existence."
"I pray you calm yourself, signora," exclaimed Marchetti, now fully
alive to the dangers confronting him. "You must see that I have only
acted in an official capacity. I, at least, have no feeling in the
matter. I received certain information--"
"Which was entirely misleading and one-sided," she broke in
imperiously.
"Which certainly did not refer to you in any particular," was the sharp
rejoinder, while he glanced at Alfieri, "If this gentleman is now
prepared to say that he was mistaken--"
"Who dares to hint at any admission on my part?" shouted Alfieri.
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