Page:The Makropoulos Secret (1925).pdf/155

THE MAKROPOULOS SECRET was killed. Ugo was his name. Heavens! What a good-looking man he was! Then at Nageli there was Andrew, and a good-for-nothing Bombita and Pepi Prus, who died of it. Pepi was the last one—and it remained with him. And now I don’t know any more. Ask Bombita. Bombita is alive, but I don’t know what his name is now.

[Rising and taking her by the shoulders]

Pardon me, but you are now two hundred and forty-nine years old, aren’t you?

No, three hundred and thirty-nine.

You are intoxicated. From the year fifteen eighty-five to the present day is two hundred and forty-nine years, isn’t it?

My God! Don’t try to confuse me! Three hundred and thirty-nine.

Why did you forge the handwriting of Ellian MacGregor?

Why? I, myself, am Ellian MacGregor!

Do not lie! You are Emilia Marty.