"Yes, excellenza," was the humble reply.
"How did you come by that scar?" sneered the patrician.
Antonio moved impatiently, and glanced imploringly at the marquis.
The latter merely repeated the question.
Antonio heaved a sigh, and his head dropped to his breast.
"It was inflicted by my father," murmured he, almost inaudibly.
"Speak louder," said Strozzi. "Why did he inflict it?"
The man's eyes shot fire, but he dared not remonstrate. His glance fell before the cold glitter of Strozzi's black orbs, as he muttered in reply, "I was trying to get at his money, when he rushed in upon me, and gashed my face with a dagger."
"Upon which YOU plunged your poniard into his throat, and made an end of your respectable parent on the spot."
"Excellenza," cried Antonio, in tones of deep emotion, "I had but raised it to ward off the blow, when my father rushed upon it, and so met his fate."