Lord Maltravers started from his chair, and seized a cane.
"Dog," he said, "am I to stand this impertinence?"
"Yes."
"You say 'yes!' do you know of what you are talking?"
Bambino rose and displayed his dagger.
"Cospetto!" he cried. "Touch me not. If you so much as lay your little finger on me, I will stab you to the heart."
Maltravers dropped the cane.
"Oh! decidedly," he said, "I shall have to go to the Italian Consul."
"No, my lord," replied Bambino. "It is I, who will have to go to the British Consul."
Maltravers turned pale with rage.