"Your immutable confidence in your wife is to be envied, but really it is out of place here. Aurora Vertelli has confessed to me what you will doubtless deny. I forced her to admit the truth at the point of the pistol."
The major grew pale, and beneath his clinched lips a terrible feeling raged.
"Base coward! to wring a confession from a woman in such a way."
"Enough—cease your idle talk," cried Benedetto, stamping his foot nervously. "Tell me, where do the so-called patriots hold their meetings? Do not hesitate. Aslitta is a prisoner like yourself, and I desire to know the truth."
"I do not know," replied the major, with a sinister smile.
"You don't say so. I am sorry for you, for I believed that your memory would come to the rescue," said Benedetto, casting a knowing glance at the implements of torture.
Bartolomeo's heart beat fast. He knew that Benedetto was capable of any crime. Not a muscle of his face trembled as Benedetto said threateningly:
"So you will not speak!"
Bartolomeo cast a look of contempt toward him, and exclaimed: "Go to the devil!"
Benedetto clinched his fist and held it in the face of the major.