The man bowed and looked with fixity at Michael, who stared back at him, dazed and confused. Where had he seen that face before?
Ah! He remembered!
"I perceive that you have not forgotten me," said the Delegato. "It was I who arrested you. It was to me that you confessed to the murder of the Marchese di Maltagliala."
"I remember."
"I never was able to reach any certainty that you were really guilty," continued the Delegato. "I was not even convinced that you had had a quarrel with the Marchese."
"I had no quarrel with him."
"I knew that. That you might be shielding someone occurred forcibly to my mind. But who?"
Michael looked steadily at the official.
"And there was blood upon your hand and sleeve when you confessed."