The young man hesitated. Then he spread out his hands with an appealing gesture and said:
"Not yet, Mr. Merrick! Do not press me now, I implore you. Perhaps I have done wrong to try to deceive you, but in good time I will explain everything, and then you will understand me better."
"You are no count."
"That is true, Mr. Merrick."
"You are not even an Italian."
"That is but partly true, sir."
"You have seen fit to deceive us by—"
Tommaso threw wide the door.
"Il dejuné é servito," he said gruffly.
"What does that mean?" asked Uncle John.