“Ay, ay—I knew that beforehand,” said Bruno; “they had rather that all their houses should be burned to the ground than touch a hair of my head. Well, captain, go back to those who sent you, and tell them to extinguish the flames.”
“What do you mean?” asked the Maltese.
“I will give myself up,” said Bruno.
“Give yourself up, father?” cried Ali.
“Yes, but I promised to surrender to one man alone, and I will only give myself up to him. Let them, therefore, as I have said—let them put out the flames, and then send to Messina in search of the man I shall name.”
“And who is this man?” asked the Maltese.
“Paolo Tomassi, a brigadier in the gendarmerie,” replied Bruno.
“Have you any other request to make?” asked the Maltese.
“One only,” replied Bruno, and he spoke to the Maltese in a whisper.
“I hope you are not asking for my life?” said Ali.