But I saved your life at risk of my own.
Some day, when it is safe, I will reveal to you everything." "Let us allow the past to remain," I said.

"Where is your wife now ?" He hesitated a moment, looking straight into my face.
"Well, Signor Commendatore, to tell the truth, she has disappeared." "Disappeared!" I echoed.

"And have you not made any report to the police ?" "No." "Why not ?" "For reasons known only to myself I did not wish the police to pry into my private affairs." "I know.

Because you were once convicted at Lucca of using a knife--eh?
I recollect quite well that affair--a love affair, was it not ?" "Yes, Signor Commendatore.

But I was a youth then--a mere boy." "Then tell me the circumstances In which Armida has disappeared," I urged, for I saw quite plainly that his sudden meeting with me had upset him, and that he was trying to hold back from me some story which he was bursting to tell.
"Well, signore," he said at last in a low tone of confidence, "I don't like to trouble you with my private affairs after those untruths I told you when we last met." "Go on," I said.