"You're not my child? What do you mean?"
"I'm the child of an Italian, am I not?"
"Of an Italian?"
"And that's why they call me the Italian?"
Van der Welcke, in his amazement, did not know what to say. He stared at Addie; and his silence meant confession to Addie.
"I am Mamma's child, am I not, but not yours? I am the child of an Italian...."
"My boy, who told you that?"
"Jaap."
"But, Addie, it's not true!"
"Oh, you only say that it's not true, but it is true...."