Volume I Part 34 (2/2)
Bartolomeo cast a look of contempt toward him, and exclaimed: ”Go to the devil!”
Benedetto clinched his fist and held it in the face of the major
”Did you not understandto the impleer!”
”Tellof his shoulders, ”at the time when you introduced me into the salon of the Count of Monte-Cristo?”
A cry of rage, uttered by Benedetto, interrupted hiritting his teeth
”If I kill you off and slay Aslitta it will only be to wreak eance upon that alley slave once--the murderer!”
And he stopped short, his voice half choked with rage Bartolomeo trembled visibly; and to humble him the arded this last insult He was busied with many reflections Hoould it be if he tried to overpower Benedetto?
”Well, I a,” said San Pietro, after a pause; ”will you speak?”
”No”
”You know that Aslitta is in ”
”Listen to me, Benedetto,” said the major, earnestly ”I have lied and defrauded, but never will I consent to beco!” cried Benedetto, seizing thehim to a corner of the closet There stood an old wardrobe Benedetto opened the door, and, by the flickering light of the torches, Bartolomeo saw the dim outlines of a human head, which stood out like a silhouette from the wall
”Do you see that apparatus?” he asked
”Yes”
”And do you know its purpose?”
”No”
”Then o an Italian nobleman was deceived by his wife, who had a liaison with one of his pages The noblenorance in order to complete his plans for the destruction of both One day he presented the page with a beautifully wrought hele placed it upon his head, and, lo! it fitted him so perfectly that he could not take it off, and he died a horrible death; for as soon as it touched the forehead a concealed spring loosened and caused the hel him”
”Well,” replied Bartolomeo, in suspense
”Well, in this closet you will find the counterpart of that beautiful helmet If you refuse to accede to my demands I shall summon aid and have you placed in the closet A delicate attachment will push the helmet into place, and after your head has been placed inside, you will die a most horrible slow death by starvation, and that indeed is a terrible way to die”
”I aned,” was the quick response of the rasp he seized Benedetto, as unprepared for the attack, and pushed him into the wardrobe The oles, he could not free hi a prudent reen coat across his shoulders, he approached Benedetto He tore the embroidered coat froether with the kalpak, which Benedetto had thrown aside, completed his toilet