A few minutes after Luigi entered without the lantern, which he had left below in the stable, and although his sister bade him good night he made no reply.

As he entered the room his father called to him, "A fine time of night to come home." "What then ?" was the only answer given by Luigi.

"You have never been home since morning," went on the father.

"What then ?" was still the only answer.

The father then told the son to hold his tongue, and again received the same reply.
At last Venanzio, losing his temper, called out, "Be quiet, or I'll break your head;" or, according to the story, "I'll murder you:" to which Luigi only answered, "I may as well die to-day as to-morrow." After that there was a short scuffle heard, and Venanzio suddenly cried out as if in pain, "My God! my God!" The mother and daughter screamed for help, but by the time the neighbours had come in with lights, Luigi had run off.