I am not poor Elettra, whom you
intended to accuse. I am the Princess of Acireale; I have been your
ward; you and your husband have robbed me, and you have tried to murder
me. Though I am only a girl, justice will move more quickly for me than
it would for you, even if you could call it to help you. Now choose, and
waste no time."
While she had been speaking, Macomer had stared at her with an
expression of genuine childish amusement.
"Poor Pulcinella!" he exclaimed softly. "How your wife can talk, when
she is angry! Poor fellow!"
The tone was so natural that Matilde again looked at him uneasily, and
moved nearer to him, not answering Veronica.
"Come, Gregorio," she said, "you are ill. Come to your room--you must
not stay here."
"I am sorry you do not like the marionettes," he said gravely. "They
always amuse me. Stay a little longer."
Veronica supposed that he was ill from the effects of the poisoning and
that he was in some sort of delirium. But she did not pity him, and was
relentless. She moved nearer to her aunt.
"Answer me!" she said sternly. "This is the last time. If you deny the
truth now, I will go to the chief of police at once."
"Oh! poor old Pulcinella!" cried Macomer, laughing gently. "How she
gives it to him!"
Matilde was almost distracted.
"You will be arrested at once," said Veronica, pitilessly.
"Never mind, Pulcinella!" exclaimed Macomer. "Courage, my friend! You
know you always get away from the policeman! Ha! ha! ha!"
Matilde saw Veronica moving to go to the door.
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