"And I say truly. Now listen, you cold-blooded islander, and see if I cannot disturb your phlegmatic disposition."
He paused a moment to give greater weight to his remarks, the conclusion of which I impatiently awaited.
"I was the man who drugged you and had you carried to the Piazza Vittorio."
"You!"
"I was the man who carried away the body of Guiseppe Pallanza."
"You!"
"I am the man who, knowing what I do, calmly and with open eyes, have made up my mind to marry Madame Morone."
"You!"
I was so overwhelmed with the disclosures made by Beltrami that I could only sit thunderstruck in my chair, looking like an idiot and repeating "You! you! you!" parrot-fashion. Beltrami enjoyed my confusion for some time, and then went on speaking with a mocking smile:--
"Eh! I astonish you, Hugo. Well, I admit I treated you rather badly, my friend; but then at the time I did not know whom you were. Dame! I cannot see in the dark like Madame Gatta."