‘I was on the point of falling, but I collected myself, and went close up to my father, as pale as death, and with frenzied threatening gestures, so that he drew back.
‘ “Surely you are not going to strike your father,” he exclaimed.
‘ “No,” I said; “but I will know the truth. Where is Annita? What have you done with her? Have you murdered her?”
‘ “As I tell you, she disappeared a month ago; nobody knows any more.”
‘ “Father, that is not true. You are lying to your son. You hide things from me, but I will know the truth, even if I have to squeeze it from you like drops of blood.”
‘ “You can do what you like.”
‘ “Did you look for her?”
‘ “Yes; your mother and the servants searched for her.”
‘ “And found no trace?”
‘ “No; none that I know of.”