"I assure you most solemnly," she continued in calmer tones, "that I am wholly ignorant of it.

I suppose you have a right to be told that." "I, on my part, assure you, upon my word, that I know no more than you yourself, excepting this: on some provocation, concerning which he will not speak, my son seized Del Ferice by the throat and used strong words to him.

No one witnessed the scene.

Del Ferice sent the challenge.
My son could find no one to act for him and applied to me, as was quite right that he should.

There was no apology possible--Giovanni had to give the man satisfaction.