But no head-dress availed to disfigure that brow or the young
imperious eyes beneath it.
"Are you a friend of this man?" she asked in Italian.
"He is my best friend," I answered her, in the same language.
"Why have you done this to him?"
She seemed to consider for a moment, thoughtfully, without pity.
"I can talk to you in French if you find it easier," she said, after
a pause.
"You may use Italian," I answered angrily. "I can understand it more
easily than you will use it to explain why you have done this
wickedness."
"He was very foolish," she said. "He tried to run away. And you
were all very foolish to come as you did. We saw your ship while you
were yet four leagues at sea. How have you come here?"
"I came here," answered I, "being led by your hogs, and after
shooting an assassin in disguise of a hog."
"You have killed Giuseppe?"
"I did my best," said I, turning and addressing myself to three
Corsicans who had stepped from the bushes around me. "But whatever
your purpose may be, you have shot my friend here, and he is dying.
If you have hearts, deal tenderly with him, and afterwards we can
talk.
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