Bernardo eyed his companion from head to foot in great surprise.
"I would like to ask you something, but you might not understand the joke, and you would be angry with me," he said.
"Say candidly what you think," replied his companion.
"I am extremely surprised, Julio, that there is not the smallest drop of blood, not the least spot, upon your clothes. With your permission, I will say you dreamed all that?"
Julio sprang from his seat, gnashed his teeth, and looked at his companion as if ready to devour him.
"What! you dare to laugh at me? Are you then tired of life? Fool! were I only to lay my hand upon you, you would be crushed to atoms."
Bernardo arose also, and said, in a tone half ironical and half supplicating: "Pardon me, Julio; I believe all you told me, and I never doubted your marvellous courage. If sometimes I laugh at serious things, do not be offended; this kind of joking is usual with men."
"If you were not so feeble and powerless a being, I would have already laid you at my feet," said Julio; "as it is, I long to plunge my dagger in your breast."
"Leave it in its scabbard, Julio, and I will go to buy you a stoop[14] of Hamburg beer."
"Ah, hypocrite!" exclaimed Julio, "then you have money. I will renew my friendship for you, if you will do me a favor. I am in absolute want of money; lend me a few shillings, and the first one who insults you, I promise you, shall be a dead man."