d in his hand his naked sword,
with the flat edge of which he had struck me.

I asked him somewhat angrily, but without threat or gesticulation, in
the best Italian I knew, why he had struck me, using nearly these words,
"_Perche m'aveti dato questo?_'" While I was speaking to the officer
I was suddenly interrupted by another person, dressed in the Austrian
uniform, who placed himself between the officer and me, at the same time
giving me a blow in the face which drew blood. The blow made me start
and fall back; before I could recover myself I received another cut, on
the head, from the first officer, which stunned me; it passed through my
hat, making a wound nearly three inches and a half in length, and down
to the bone, causing the blood to flow violently.

A short time after I begged my brother to follow the officer, that he
might recognise him; and I was taken to the hospital of Santa Maria
Nuova, where I was obliged to remain three weeks before I could return
home. As it has been said that I used threatening language to the
officer after the first blow, I solemnly assure you that it is utterly
false and without foundation, which the following reasons will prove:--

1st. It is impossible to believe that I could for a single instant
have contemplated an act so full of folly and madness, as alone, and,
unarmed, to threaten a man with his sword in hand, at the head of a
large body of men by whom he was supported.

2nd. If I had contemplated the folly of opposing an officer under such
circumstances, I should have done so by a sudden and instantaneous
blow, and not by taking a position, and thus inviting the irresistible
assailment of so many armed men.

3rd. Another proof that I was not in a menacing attitude, and was not
prepared for any personal attack, is the fact of the second assailant
giving me, without opposition or hindrance, a violent blow on the face.

4th. If I had been in a menacing attitude, or prepared for defence, with
my arm raised, instead of receiving the blow on my head he would have
struck my raised arm.

5th. The wound, which I to this moment bear, was not given, holding
the sword short, near the point, as all the military officers who have
examined it can testify; which proves that I was at a considerable space
from him, only reached by a sword or other weapon: thus he was beyond
any threatening attitude of mine, as I was without sword or arms.

Thus I have proved the absurdity of the asser