"
"What is that?" asked the Baron, beginning to show his impatience at
last.
"Signor Malipieri--is that your name, sir? Yes. Signer Malipieri will
be kind enough to let me and my men walk through the rooms of the
apartment."
"I think that is quite unnecessary," Malipieri answered. "By this time
Signor Sassi has probably recovered consciousness, and has told his
own story, which will explain the accident."
"In the performance of my duty," objected the detective, "I must go
through the house, to see whether there are any traces of blood. I am
sure that you will make no opposition."
Fate was closing in upon Malipieri, but he kept his head as well as he
could. He opened the door that led back to the hall.
"Will you come?" he said, showing the way.
The detective glanced at the other door, but said nothing and prepared
to follow.
"I will stay here," said the Baron, settling himself in the armchair
again.
"Oh, no! Pray come," Malipieri said. "I should like you to see for
yourself that Sassi was not hurt here."
Volterra rose reluctantly and went with the rest. His chief
preoccupation was to get rid of the detective and his men as quickly
as possible. Malipieri opened the doors as he went along, and showed
several empty rooms, before he came to Masin's.
"This is where my man sleeps," he said carelessly.
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