Chapter VIII

Arthur had thought of being threatened, insulted, and abused, and was prepared to respond with dignity and patience. Pen Fun Pavilion wWw. biquge。 info But they were polite to him, which disappointed him. He was asked the usual questions, such as his name, age, nationality and social status, to which he answered. His answers are also recorded in order. He began to feel bored and a little impatient. Then the colonel asked, "Now, Mr. Burton, what do you know about the Young Italian Party?"

"I understood that this was an organization that published a newspaper in Marseille and distributed it in Italy with the aim of mobilizing people to stand up and drive the Austrian army out of the country. ”

"I think you've read this paper, right?"

"Yes, I'm interested in that. ”

"When you read the newspaper, did you recognize that your actions were illegal?"

"Of course. ”

"Where did you get the newspaper we found in your room?"

"I can't say anything about that. ”

"Mr. Burton, you are not allowed to say, 'I can't say,' here. It is your responsibility to answer my questions. ”

"If you don't allow me to say 'no,' then I'll say 'no.' ”

If you allow yourself to use these words, you're going to regret it. The colonel said solemnly. Since Arthur didn't answer, he continued, "I can tell you this, from the evidence we have, that you have a close relationship with this organization, not just reading forbidden reading. You're still going to be honest, it's good for you. Either way, things will fall apart, and you'll find that avoiding and denying yourself just to exonerate yourself won't help. ”

"I have no intention of exculpating myself. What do you want to know?"

"First of all, as a foreigner, how did you get involved in such a thing?"

"I thought about it, read everything I could find, and came to my own conclusions. ”

"Who persuaded you to join this organization?"

"There is no one I want to be part of this organization. ”

"You're grinding time with me. The Colonel snapped, clearly losing his patience. "No one can join an organization on their own. To whom have you expressed your desire to join this organization?"

There was silence.

"Can you please answer this question from me?"

"If you ask such a question, I won't answer it. ”

Arthur said angrily, and he felt an inexplicable annoyance. By this time, he knew that many people had been arrested in Livorno and Pisa. Although he still did not know the extent of the disaster, he had heard a lot of rumors, and he was extremely worried about the safety of Jouma and his friends. He was troubled and annoyed by the officers' pretense of politeness, their sly, sinister questions and inconsistency answers, and their tedious tricks of prevarication and evasion. The sentry outside the door walked up and down with heavy steps, and the shrill footsteps made him unbearable.

"Oh, by the way, when was the last time you saw Giovanni Pola?" asked the Colonel, after arguing for a while. "Just before you left Pisa, right?"

"I didn't know anyone called that. ”

"What! Giovanni Pola? You must know him - a tall young man with a clean face all the time. Oh, he's your classmate. ”

"There are many students in the university that I don't know. ”

"Oh, but you must know Pola , you must know Pola ! See, it's his handwriting. You see, he knows you very well. ”

The colonel casually handed him a piece of paper with the words "Confession of Confession" on his head and the words "Giovanni Pola" signed on it. Arthur glanced over and saw his own name. He looked up in surprise. "Do you want me to read it?"

"Yes, you can read it, it's about you. ”

So he read it, and the officers sat there silently, observing his facial expressions. This document includes confessions on a long list of issues. Bora has apparently also been arrested. The first part of the confession is the usual one, followed by a brief account of Pola's relationship with the organization, how forbidden reading was disseminated in Livorno, and the situation of the student assembly. It reads, "Among the members of our group was a young Englishman, Arthur Burton, who belonged to a wealthy shipping family."

Arthur's face welled up with blood. Bora had betrayed him! Paula, the man who had stepped up to the solemn duty of a promoter - Bora, the one who had changed the faith of Jonmar - and he still loved her!

"I hope this little document has brought you back to your memory?" asked the Colonel politely.

Arthur shook his head. "I don't know anyone with that name. He repeated, his voice monotonous but resolute. "It must have been a mistake. ”

"Mistaken? Oh, nonsense! Come on, Mr. Burton, chivalry and don Quixote chivalry are very good virtues in themselves, but it is useless to overdo them. You young people always make this mistake in the first place. Come on, think about it! What good is it to be wronged and to ruin the future of your life by sticking to small things for the sake of a person who betrayed you? Look at yourself, he has offered you but has not given you any special attention. ”

There was a faint mockery in the Colonel's voice. Arthur was taken aback and looked up. A light flashed through his heart.

"Lie!" he shouted. "It's a fake! I can tell in your face that you cowards - you must be trying to frame some criminal, or you are trying to lure me in. You've faked this, you're lying, you bastard-"

"Shut up!" roared the Colonel, standing up at once. "Captain Tomassi," he continued, facing a man beside him, "call the guards and take this young man into the punishment chamber and hold him for a few days." I think he needs to be taught a lesson so he can come to his senses. ”

The Punishment Chamber is a cavern underground, which is dark, damp, and dirty. It did not make Arthur "sane", but on the contrary, it completely angered him. His extravagant home had developed a habit of personal hygiene, but here the filthy walls were crawling with poisonous insects, the floors were littered with garbage and filth, and the sickening stench of moss, sewage, and rotten wood was emanatory. The initial effect of everything here on him was enough to satisfy the offended officer. Arthur was pushed inside, and the cell door was then shut. He stretched out his hands and cautiously took three steps forward. His hand touched the slippery wall, and a wave of nausea made him shiver. He found a less dirty spot in the darkness and sat down.