"Per Bacco! it is most strange," cried Ferrari, throwing himself back on his sky-blue sofa. "Alfieri himself could have thought nothing so terrible."
"The story, sir, the story."
"Eh, signor, I excite your wonder," said the Italian, equably. "Is it not so? Dio, I myself am lost in fear. Signor, I will tell all."
Maxwell bit his nether lip with impatience at the leisurely way in which Ferrari was acting, as he saw from the agitation of Mrs. Belswin that the name of the woman who had found the scarf-pin moved her powerfully.
"Signor," said Ferrari, gracefully, "I departed with the signora here to the villagio on the day you saw me. Myself I waited at the osteria you know of, I doubt not. The signora departed to the casa of Il----"
"Of Sir Rupert," interrupted Mrs. Belswin, quickly.
"Grazia, signora. To the casa of Seer Ruperts. I am alone, and I weary of being myself at the osteria. See, then, signor, I take a leetle walk for amusement. I come to the ground of Seer Ruperts, and there I meet a galantuomo, handsome as the Apollo."
"Samson Belk?"
"Yes, the signora tells me that is his name. Well, this large one orders me away from the place. I say 'no,' and he would fight me--the box, signor, you understand. I am not afraid, and I tell him I am not afraid. Then he says, 'I will put you in prison because you are on the estate of Seer Ruperts.' At this I fear. I know not the English laws, so I say, 'Addio, I will go,' but he, signor, answers, 'Not so.' Then what am I to do? I cannot fight that large man; I have not the box. I do not know the English laws, and he may truly place me in prison for being on the grounds of Seer Ruperts. Then, signor, I think, 'Aha, the money!' but not he refuses the money. Again I say, 'Signor, I will give you my pin of diamonds if you let me depart.' He says, 'Alright.' I give him the pin of diamonds. I go away; and that, signor, is all I am informed of."
"But, signor," cried Maxwell, jumping to his feet in a state of uncontrollable agitation, "by this story the diamond pin was in the possession of Belk."