She waived him aside and turned to me. "I should warn you, sir, that we are of one clan here, though I may not tell you our name; and against the slayer of one it is vendetta with us all. But I spare you until your father arrives."
"I thank you," answered I, feeling blue, but fetching up my best bow. (Here was a pleasant prospect!) "I only beg to observe that I killed this man—if I have killed him—in self-defence," I added.
"Do you wish me to repeat that as your plea?" she asked, half in scorn.
"I do not," said I, with a sudden rush of anger. "Moreover, I dare say that these savages of yours would see no distinction."
"You are right," she replied carelessly, "they would see no distinction."
"But excuse me, principessa," persisted the scowling man, "a feud is a feud, and if he has slain our Giuse—"
"Attend to me, sir," I broke in. "Your Giuseppe came at me like a hog, and I gave him his deserts. For the rest, if you move your hand another inch towards that gun I will knock your brains out." I clubbed my musket ready to strike.
"Gently, sir!" interposed the girl. "This is folly, as you must see."
I shrugged my shoulders. "You will allow me, Princess. If it come to vendetta, you have slain my friend."
She gave her back to me and faced the ring. "I tell you," she said, "that Giuseppe's death rests on the prisoner's word alone. Marc'antonio and Stephanu have gone down and will bring us the truth of it. Meanwhile I say that this one is our prisoner, like as the others. Give him room and let him wait by his friend. Does any one say 'nay' to that?" she demanded.