He came close up to the brigand and spoke carelessly, with a slightly mocking smile playing round the corners of his mouth.
"Ebbene!" he said, "you are caught at last, Carmelo! You called me--here I am.

What do you want with me, rascal ?" Neri uttered a ferocious curse between his teeth, and looked for an instant like a wild beast ready to spring.
"You betrayed me," he said in fierce yet smothered accents--"you followed me--you hunted me down! Teresa told me all.

Yes--she belongs to you now--you have got your wish.

Go and take her--she waits for you--make her speak and tell you how she loves you--IF YOU CAN!" Something jeering and withal threatening in the ruffian's look, evidently startled the young officer, for he exclaimed hastily: "What do you mean, wretch?
You have not--my God! you have not KILLED her ?" Carmelo broke into a loud savage laugh.
"She has killed herself!" he cried, exultingly.

"Ha, ha, I thought you would wince at that! She snatched my knife and stabbed herself with it! Yes--rather than see your lying white face again--rather than feel your accursed touch! Find her--she lies dead and smiling up there in the mountains and her last kiss was for ME--for ME--you understand! Now go! and may the devil curse you!" Again the gendarmes clashed their swords suggestively--and the brigand resumed his sullen attitude of suppressed wrath and feigned indifference.