"Yes," replied the other, almost in a whisper, "you are Marcello. But what else? What is your family name? It is very important. Will you tell me?"
The vague look came into Marcello's eyes, and then the look of pain, and he shook his head rather feebly.
"I cannot remember," he answered at last. "It hurts me to remember."
"Is it Consalvi?" asked the officer, smiling encouragement.
"Consalvi?" Marcello's eyes wandered, as he tried to think. "I cannot remember," he said again after an interval.
The Chief of Police was not discouraged yet.
"You were knocked down and robbed by thieves, just after you had been talking with Aurora," he said, inventing what he believed to have happened.
A faint light came into Marcello's eyes.
"Aurora?" He repeated the name almost eagerly.
"Yes. You had been talking to Signorina Aurora dell' Armi. You remember that?"