Volume II Part 53 (1/2)
”Listen,” said Anselmo, ”you do not know hwayman But I have suffered, suffered terribly for my sins, and since years it has been my only ambition to lead a blameless life as repentance for , and to defend her I will sacrifice rief and misery; in fact, if it were necessary, I would accept her contempt, for if she ever found out who I am, she would despise me”
”Have you pen, ink and paper?” asked Benedetto, after Anselmo had concluded
”Yes What do you want to do with them?”
”You shall soon find out”
Ansel materials lay
Benedetto dipped the pen in the ink, and, grinning, said:
”My friend, have the kindness to take this pen and write what I dictate”
”I?”
”Yes, you I only want you to write a few lines”
”What shall I write?”
”The truth”
”I do not understand you”
”It is very simple; you rite dohat you have just said”
”Explain yourself more clearly”
”With pleasure; better still, write what I dictate”
Anselmo looked uneasily at the wretch; Benedetto quietly walked behind the ex-priest's chair, and began:
”On the 24th of February, 1839, Benedetto, an escaped convict frolars, histhe pen down; ”I shall not write that”
”You rite; you know I can force you; therefore--”
Anselain
”So, I aned, too?”
”Certainly; though the na to do with it You can put any one you please under it”
It sounded very simple, and yet Anselmo hesitated