"Yes. I am Bambino," he said, in a faint voice. "Who calls me?"
"I," replied Mole.
"Who are you? My eyes are dim. I cannot see you. All is a blank."
"A friend."
"What would you with me, friend?"
"Who shot you?"
This was a random question on the part of the professor, but it touched the right chord.
"My master," replied Bambino, for it was he, and Mr. Mole by a strange fatality had been placed in the same ward and in the bed next to the scoundrel.
"Why did he shoot you?"
"Because he was going to marry a young lady in New York and I told him he had a wife alive and that it would be bigamy. I wanted money to keep quiet and he would not give it me. Then I threatened to produce the first wife, so he shot me."