"Who dares thus break in upon my happiness?" inquired Signor Rodicaso.
"Know you not, young man, that you are committing a breach of the peace?" remarked the notary, regarding the intrusion with the eye of a lawyer.
The wild figure answered them all at once: "I am Alberto, and I come to rend this impious contract--thus--thus--thus!" (snatching the parchment from the table, tearing it to pieces, and trampling on it).
Fidelia, astonished at the turn events were taking, leaned back in her chair, and looked on silently. Her time for fainting had not yet come.
"Draw and defend yourself, caitiff!" exclaimed Signor Rodicaso, brandishing his sword.
"Anywhere but in the presence of a lady," was the sarcastic reply. "Besides, I have claims on you, which, perhaps may teach you to respect me."
"Claims! Thou liest! What claims?"
"These! Hast seen them before? Ha! ha!" shouted Alberto, shaking a bundle of papers in the face of his rival.
"Allow me to examine them, if you please?" asked Signor Rodicaso, with forced calmness.
"No, you don't," was the response. "But I'll tell you what they are. They are judgments to the extent of one hundred and seventy thousand florins--dost hear? one hundred and seventy thousand florins--against you, which I have bought for less than quarter price from Jinkerini Bros, No. 124 Rialto. With them I offset the sum which this unhappy but excellent merchant" (pointing to the father) "owes you. Here, sir; now you are released from yon monster's clutches." (Hands package of judgments to the father, who, overpowered by the scene, takes and holds them in dumb amazement.)