with all the force at his disposal. As the body slumped against him, he caught his attacker by the hair, and pounded the base of his skull as hard as he could with the pommel. Then he stepped back and drew his rapier, slipping the main gauche into its sheath, and felt for the oil lamp.
It wasn’t there. But he knew this place like the back of his hand. There were candles and a striker in the cupboard. . . .
A minute later he was looking at the carnage that had once been their apartment. His heart leapt like a fountain when he did not see what he had expected to see: Maria’s body.
Then he realized what he was seeing. Two dead Matteoni brothers, with a third one—the one who had attacked him, whom he suspected had come on the scene later—slumped against the wall, staring at him with fogged eyes and a swaying head.
Since the Matteoni still alive clearly wasn’t going to be moving soon—that was Giovanni, one of the Matteoni brothers’ cousins—Benito took the time to examine the two dead ones. Luce and . . . Stephano,
It wasn’t there. But he knew this place like the back of his hand. There were candles and a striker in the cupboard. . . .
A minute later he was looking at the carnage that had once been their apartment. His heart leapt like a fountain when he did not see what he had expected to see: Maria’s body.
Then he realized what he was seeing. Two dead Matteoni brothers, with a third one—the one who had attacked him, whom he suspected had come on the scene later—slumped against the wall, staring at him with fogged eyes and a swaying head.
Since the Matteoni still alive clearly wasn’t going to be moving soon—that was Giovanni, one of the Matteoni brothers’ cousins—Benito took the time to examine the two dead ones. Luce and . . . Stephano,