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  CHAPTER III.

  THE PALACE OF SIMON TURCHI, AND WHAT OCCURRED THERE.

  Not far from the bridge De la Vigne, Simon Turchi had a magnificentdwelling, where the offices of the commercial house of Buonvisi weresituated; but he possessed also, at the extremity of the city,pleasure-grounds, where in fine weather he was accustomed to invite hisfriends and acquaintances to festivals, banquets, and concerts. Hisdomains were near the church of Saint George, surrounded by groundsbelonging to the hospital.

  Exteriorly it appeared to be only a wall of enclosure, shaded by loftytrees, and without openings. Against the horizon were seen two glitteringweathercocks surmounting two small towers arising in the midst of foliage.Within there was, however, a vast garden diversified with winding paths,flowery parterres, hillocks, and grottos. Here and there, scattered amongthe thickets of verdure, appeared marble statues representing principallythe gods of pagan mythology. In the centre of the garden was a pond, inwhich seemed to float a crowd of monstrous animals, such as dragons,basilisks, lizards, and salamanders. It was a fountain; and when therobinets were opened these monsters spouted the water in every directionfrom their eyes and mouths.

  But at the bottom of the garden and at some distance from the wall ofenclosure was an antique pavilion of gray-stone, the walls of which werenearly covered with ivy, and which, in spite of their dark hue, presenteda very picturesque appearance.

  With the exception of the small and narrow windows, which were protectedby iron bars, and the staircase of slate which gave admittance, this heavybuilding presented nothing remarkable, unless it were two round turrets,which rose above the surrounding roofs and even above the gigantic treesin its vicinity.

  The garden had been evidently long neglected, for all the walks werecovered with weeds, and in the flower-beds were the half decayed propswhich had supported the plants of the previous autumn. The statues werespotted by the dust and rain; a fine moss covered the monsters of thefountains, and the little water remaining in the pond was stagnant.

  These evidences of the absence of man, the sombre hue of the edifice, theshrubs growing untrimmed, but, above all, the complete silence, gave amournful air of abandonment to the place, and in this solitude the soulwas necessarily filled with painful reflections.

  It was already late in the afternoon; the sun was about to sink below thehorizon, its slanting rays illumined only the weathercocks on the top ofthe towers. Within the thickets and at the entrance of the grottos, nightalready reigned. Not the slightest sound was heard in this place. Thenoise of the people at work in the city resounded in the air, the chimingof the church-bells was wafted from the distance over this solitarydwelling; but as no sound arose from the habitation itself, the distanthum from an active multitude rendered the silence of the spot all the morestriking.

  Only at intervals a dull sound like the grating noise of a file seemed toissue from the old edifice; but it was so indistinct and so ofteninterrupted that it was not sufficient to destroy the solitude and silenceof the place.

  Suddenly two heavy strokes, as if from a hammer, resounded through thegarden. Some one had knocked at the exterior door for admittance.

  A few moments afterwards a man appeared on the staircase of the pavilion,and descended into the garden.

  He was tall and slender; his hair and beard were red, and a red moustachecovered his upper lip. His cheeks, though sunken and emaciated, were veryred. His eyes were wild in their expression. His arms and legs were ofextraordinary length; his movements were heavy and slow, as though hislimbs had been dislocated and his muscles without strength.

  His dress denoted him to be a menial: he wore a vest of black leather, ared doublet and breeches of the same color, without embroidery orornament.

  At this moment his sleeves were rolled up, and his thin arms were bare tothe elbows. In his hand he held a file, and apparently he had beeninterrupted in some urgent work by the knock at the door. Having reachedthe outer door, he drew a key from his doublet, and asked in Italian:

  "Who knocks?"

  "Open the door, Julio; it is your companion Bernardo," was the reply inthe same tongue.

  "Of course, on the way you stopped at the _Camel_, and drank some pots ofHamburg beer? Did you bring me as much as a pint?" asked the man with thered beard. "Nothing? have you nothing? I have worked until I am exhausted;I am dying of hunger, and no one thinks of me. Let me see the spring."

  Saying these words, he took from his companion's hands a bent steel springand examined it attentively, closing and opening it as if to judge of itsform and power of resistance.

  Bernardo was a deformed man of low stature; the projection on his backmight be styled a hump--it was so prominent. His physiognomy denotedpusillanimity; but there was, at the same time, a malicious sparkle in hiseye, and it was with a mocking smile that he contemplated the man with thered beard.

  The latter said to him in a commanding tone: "The spring appears to begood. Go bring me a pint of Rhenish wine from the Saint George."

  "You know well that our master has forbidden it. Let me go; the signorordered me to return immediately to the factory."

  "Get me the wine, or I will break this spring in a thousand pieces overyour hump."

  "Always threatening!" muttered Bernardo. "You know I am not wanting ingood-will. I will go for the wine; give me the money."

  "Money? I have not a farthing in my pocket. Lend me the price of thispint."

  "My purse is empty, Julio; but yours? Our master gave you ever so manyshillings yesterday. You told me so yourself."

  "Bah! the dice made way with the whole of it."

  "Hardened gambler!" said Bernardo, with a sigh. "You would risk your soulat the gaming-table if any one held out to you a gold coin."

  "Very likely!" replied Julio, in an indifferent tone; "my soul is hardlyworth more."

  "What impious words! We are alone now, but there is One above who hearswhat we say. He will punish you, Julio."

  The red-haired man shrugged his shoulders.

  "Continue your dissolute habits," resumed Bernardo; "lose your money ingambling, drown your senses in intoxication: at the end of this path thereis a gallows, and behind it the devil, to whom all such souls are welcome.Adieu! reflect upon my words, and remember that the justice of God willone day demand an account of your life. Adieu!"

  Julio sprang towards the small door, locked it, and put the key in hispocket.

  "Cease this trifling," said the other, evidently ill at ease.

  "Open the door, Julio, or I will complain of you to our master."

  "What do I care for our master?" said the man, laughing.

  "You say, Bernardo, that I shall end my days on the gallows. No, no; theproverb says, that he who draws the sword shall perish by the sword. Ihave pierced so many with my dagger, that my turn must come to fall by thedagger. Last night, Bernardo, I had rare sport. I knocked down eight,wounded one in the arm, and as to three or four others whom I leftextended on the ground, my dagger knows better than I what mischief wasdone them. Come in with me, and I will tell you all about it."

  "No, I have not time."

  "You must take the time. You shall not leave here until you have heard myadventures of last night."

  "It is always the same story over again. If I believed you, I wouldsuppose that the cemeteries were too small to contain the bodies of allwhom you have slain. Open the door, Julio, and let me go, I beg you."

  The other took his hand, and dragging him by force into the house, said:"I am here alone all day, with no one to whom I can speak one word; it isenough to paralyze my tongue. You shall listen to my adventures whetheryou wish it or not. Judge, Bernardo, by the recital of my great deeds whatan honor it is to you to be the comrade of so intrepid a man. Be notill-humored; you know it is useless to resist me. Don't laugh; were I totry it, I could toss you about like a ball; but you are my friend, andbesides, you are too weak to contend with me. Therefore, fear nothing."

  They reached the house and entered a kind of parl
or, where Julio threwupon the table the spring he held in his hand, and seating himself, hesaid to his companion:

  "Take a chair, Bernardo. You are about to hear some strange adventures. Doyou know the ruffian Bufferio? He is a jolly fellow, who cares as littlefor the life of a man as for that of a fly. There is not a man in theparish of Saint Andrew who does not tremble at the sight of him. In aby-street there is a tavern in a large cellar, where one can hear therattling of dice all night long, and they play for piles of gold--where itcomes from, the devil only knows. Late yesterday evening I was passingthrough this street, when the noise of the dice fell upon my ear. You mustknow, Bernardo, that this sound is as enchanting music attracting me; itoverpowers my will. I descended into the tavern and called for a glass ofbeer. I seated myself among the players, and challenged any of them toplay against me. I won and lost; but at last good luck was on my side, andmy pockets were so full that they could hardly bear the weight of theflorins. To console the losers, I ordered the hostess to bring a pint ofwine to each of them; but in spite of my generosity the villains looked atme angrily, and seemed to excite each other to take revenge upon me. Theystrove to pick a quarrel. They were like a band of thieves and assassins;but the rascals saw with whom they had to deal. My defiant look, my boldwords, my intrepid countenance, kept them at a respectful distance fromme. Suddenly the dreaded Bufferio entered the cellar. He had no soonerlearned from his comrades how fortune had favored me than he challenged meto play with him. It was just what I wanted. I don't know how it happened,but I lost every game. Each time we doubled the stakes; a cold sweatbathed my brow as I saw florin after florin quietly put in the pocket ofmy adversary, until I had only one farthing left. This time fortunefavored me; but Bufferio insisted that the dice had not been fairlythrown, and he swept the table of all the money staked. I sprang to myfeet and called him a cheat. He instantly dealt me a heavy blow. Furiousand thirsting for vengeance, I drew my dagger. Immediately twenty daggersglittered above my head. Perhaps, Bernardo, you think that I trembled? Youdo not know me; when I am thus in the midst of danger, an entire armycould not terrify me; for in whatever other qualities I may be deficient,I do not lack courage and intrepidity. When I saw the villains about torush upon me, I darted forward like a lion, and I cut about on every sideso furiously with my dagger, that all, even to the gigantic Bufferio, fledfrom the cellar. I pursued them into the street; there the combatrecommenced; but my adversaries fared badly. In a few moments Bufferio laydead upon the ground between two of his comrades; the others, being badlywounded, had taken flight. I stood alone upon the field of battle, atriumphant conqueror! I remained in the same spot for a quarter of anhour, to see if any other enemies would present themselves, but thewretches had had enough for one night."

  Bernardo listened to this recital with an incredulous smile. When it wasconcluded, he silently shook his head.

  "Well! what have you to say of this adventure?" asked Julio. "Might it notbe narrated in the chronicles as an heroic adventure?"

  "Certainly; in your place many others would have died of fright. But thismorning I saw this Bufferio, whom you declare to be dead, walking alive inthe public square."

  "Impossible; you are mistaken."

  "Perhaps so; but I know the ruffian well, for I have twice seen him in thepillory."

  "If he is not dead, he will certainly not be able to make his appearancein the streets for six months to come."

  "Of course, you took your money from Bufferio?"

  "How could I?"

  "Since he lay lifeless at your feet, why did you not recover the money hehad stolen from you?"

  The red-haired man was at a loss for an answer; but after awhile hestammered out: "You are right. In the hurry of the struggle I did notthink of it, and then I had not the time: the watchmen ran on hearing thenoise of the affray, and you may imagine that I did not care to fall intothe hands of the bailiff."

  "I do not understand you; it seems to me you mentioned having remained aquarter of an hour upon the spot," said Bernardo, with a slight smile. "Isuppose, Julio, there was much blood shed."

  "It flowed in torrents."

  Bernardo eyed his companion from head to foot in great surprise.

  "I would like to ask you something, but you might not understand the joke,and you would be angry with me," he said.

  "Say candidly what you think," replied his companion.

  "I am extremely surprised, Julio, that there is not the smallest drop ofblood, not the least spot, upon your clothes. With your permission, I willsay you dreamed all that?"

  Julio sprang from his seat, gnashed his teeth, and looked at hiscompanion as if ready to devour him.

  "What! you dare to laugh at me? Are you then tired of life? Fool! were Ionly to lay my hand upon you, you would be crushed to atoms."

  Bernardo arose also, and said, in a tone half ironical and halfsupplicating: "Pardon me, Julio; I believe all you told me, and I neverdoubted your marvellous courage. If sometimes I laugh at serious things,do not be offended; this kind of joking is usual with men."

  "If you were not so feeble and powerless a being, I would have alreadylaid you at my feet," said Julio; "as it is, I long to plunge my dagger inyour breast."

  "Leave it in its scabbard, Julio, and I will go to buy you a _stoop_[14]of Hamburg beer."

  "Ah, hypocrite!" exclaimed Julio, "then you have money. I will renew myfriendship for you, if you will do me a favor. I am in absolute want ofmoney; lend me a few shillings, and the first one who insults you, Ipromise you, shall be a dead man."

  "But, Julio, were I to give them to you, you would gamble with them atonce."

  "No, you are wrong this time; I would pay for some things our masterordered me to buy yesterday."

  Bernardo drew a small purse from his doublet, and handed to his companionits scanty contents.

  "Here is all I possess," he said. "I fear they will go like the others."

  Julio thrust the shillings into his pocket, and muttered:

  "I do not deny that I may go this evening to the parish of Saint Andrew,to see if any one would dare play against me."

  "Julio, Julio, I pity you!" said Bernardo, sadly. "I do not wish tolecture you; but you have an unfortunate and aged mother who requires youraid. You are always talking of sending her assistance, and for six monthspast every farthing has been lost at play. Perhaps in the meantime yourmother has suffered for want of food."

  This reproach seemed to affect Julio deeply. He looked down abashed, andthen said, dejectedly: "Bernardo, never speak to me again of my mother.You touch the only sensitive spot in my heart. And yet you are right; I ama monster! Oh! this miserable play! I will do better in future. Go awaynow, and let me continue my work."

  "What are you making?" asked Bernardo. "This is the third spring you haveordered, and each time from a different locksmith."

  "It is a secret known only to my master and myself."

  "A secret?" said Bernardo. "Springs, a secret! What can it mean?"

  "Come with me, and I will show you. The signor may be angry if he chooses,I don't care. But, Bernardo, you must be as silent as one deaf and dumb."

  He conducted his companion to a room, and throwing open the door showedhim a large arm-chair, which in form was like the other chairs around,excepting that from each arm extended two bent springs.

  "This is what I have worked at, without stopping, for four days. I wishthe bewitched chair to the devil! I have already exhausted myself; but thenew spring is good, and in a few minutes I will have finished."

  Bernardo examined attentively the unfinished chair, and looked frightened.

  "Heavens!" he exclaimed, "a chair for a trap! Do you entrap men here?"

  Julio nodded his head affirmatively.

  Pale from anxiety, Bernardo muttered: "May God preserve me! What crime isin contemplation? Does our master know anything of this terrible piece offurniture?"

  "Was it not from him that you received the order to bring me the springs?"

  The humpba
cked man made the sign of the cross, and muttered a fewindistinct words.

  Suddenly Julio laughed immoderately, and slapping him on the shoulderexclaimed: "Foolish boy! he already sees a victim in this chair, and theblood flowing as freely as in some old woman's story. Be at ease,Bernardo; this is done only to satisfy a caprice of our master. He intendsto clean the garden and repair the fountain. He will place this arm-chairin an arbor near the fountain; the guest who seats himself in it will becaught, and the salamanders may throw the water upon him as long as theyplease. It is a mania of our master."

  "What a coward I am!" said Bernardo, laughing at his own fears. "Open thedoor now, Julio; I should have been at the factory long ago."

  They both left the house talking together, and they turned their stepstowards the exterior door.

  The red-haired man soon returned alone. He removed the spring from theparlor-table, and took it with him to the room where he had terrified hiscompanion by the revelation of his master's secret. He seated himself onthe ground near the chair, and taking some tools he began to arrange thespring, and to try if it would produce the effect intended. Whilst thusoccupied he laughed aloud, and said:

  "The stupid humpback! One could make him believe that cats laid eggs! Hebelieved all I told him of Bufferio and his comrades as though they weregospel truths. The coward! To empty his pocket of its last farthing, it isonly necessary to frighten him! I have two shillings. Night is coming on,and it is growing dark. Presently I will go to the tavern of the 'SilverDice.' I will play at first with a few farthings, then for white pieces,at last for florins and even crowns! This time I will stop playing as soonas my pocket is full of money. Then at least I will send something to mypoor mother. In what condition is she now? Perhaps she no longer lives onearth; that would be better for her. Poor and blind, and her onlydependence a son who must conceal his true name in order to escape thegallows; a gambler, drunkard--in a word, a real jail-bird! Yes, if fortunefavors me, I will send her something. The signor promised me to have itconveyed to Lucca. Ah! the spring is fixed. Let me see if the machine doesits duty."

  He rose, placed his hand on the arm of the chair as if about to take hisseat in it; suddenly he sprang aside, exclaiming: "Fool that you are, youwere about to do a fine thing! I would have been caught by my own trap;and if the signor had forgotten to come this evening, I would haveremained clasped in that traitorous chair. But don't I hear some onecoming? A key grating in the lock of the garden gate? Yes, it is theSignor Turchi."

  Seating himself on the ground before the arm-chair, with his back turnedto the door, Julio began to work with apparent eagerness; and in order toassume a greater air of indifference, he sang snatches of a well-knownsong.

  The door opened, and Signor Turchi stood upon the threshold. He remainedfor an instant motionless, contemplating in silence his servant, whocontinued his song as though unconscious of the presence of his master.

  Simon slowly approached him and laid his hand upon his shoulder; butbefore he could say a word, Julio drew his dagger from its scabbard, andspringing to his feet, made a motion as if to stab his master.

  "_O cielo, e voi signor?_ Is it you, signor?" cried Julio. "You slipthrough the garden like a thief. It is almost dark; an accident might havehappened."

  "Stop your foolish jesting, Julio. A man does not kill another withoutfinding out with whom he is dealing."

  "Do you think so, signor? Why, if five or six men were to take me bysurprise, not one would be left alive."

  "You speak as if the life of a man were of no more value than that of abird."

  "Less, signor; it is not worth a farthing."

  "We will have proof of this," said Simon, in a peculiar tone, as he turnedtowards the door. "For years I have heard you boasting; this evening Iwill discover what you are--a brave man or a coward."

  Julio drew himself to his full height, put his arms akimbo, and was aboutto speak, but his master prevented him.

  "No useless words!" said Simon, imperiously, "Light the lamp, and come tomy bed-room."

  He left the room without making any inquiry in regard to the chair, andascended a winding staircase. Opening the door of a large room, he threwhimself upon a chair, and rubbed his brow with his hands like a mantormented by painful thoughts.

  After awhile his hands fell upon his knees, and his eyes wandering infeverish agitation through the dim twilight, he muttered:

  "At last it is decided! the murder of a friend! He my friend? He is mymortal enemy! Has he not deprived me of Mary's love? Has he not destroyedall my hopes? Has he not devoted me to eternal infamy? His uncle hasconsented; he will become his partner, the proprietor of an immensefortune, the husband of Mary--of Mary, who was destined by her father tobe my wife! He will be powerful, rich, and happy; he will be surrounded byevery luxury; he will astonish the world by the magnificence of his styleof living, and from the pinnacle of his grandeur he will cast an eye oflawful pride upon Turchi dishonored and ruined! Miserable dog that I am!Deodati will discover that I owe him ten thousand crowns. He will appealto the courts of justice, and I will be condemned as a rogue; they willdiscover that I have spent more than I possessed. Outraged, despised,mocked, shall I fall forever into the abyss of misery and infamy? No, no;let him die! His death alone can save me. If he perishes as I haveplanned, I no longer owe him the ten thousand crowns; Mary becomes mywife, and I am master of her dowry. In that case I am still the powerful,honored chief of the house of Buonvisi! But time presses; to-morrow it maybe too late! I hear Julio coming. Upon him rests all my hope."

  The servant entered and placed a lighted candle upon the table.

  "Now, signor," he said, "to what trial do you wish to subject my courage?However difficult it may be, it will not be beyond my strength."

  "Close the blinds; lower the windows," said Turchi; "sit down and listenattentively to my words. I am about to talk to you of an importantaffair."

  The red-haired man regarded his master with a malicious and increduloussmile, but he took the seat indicated to him without a word of comment.

  "Julio," said Simon, "I am dejected and undecided. There is a man whopretends to be my friend, but who has secretly been my bitter enemy. Hehas always artfully calumniated and deceived me, and injured me in myfortune and honor; he has pushed his machinations to such a degree that Iwill soon be condemned to eternal infamy and misery, unless, by a boldstroke of vengeance, I break through the snares he has laid for mydestruction. Be calm, Julio; it does you honor to be inflamed with angeragainst the enemies of your master; but listen. I discovered, three daysago, that it was this treacherous friend who paid the assassins to inflictthe wound of which I still bear the scar on my face. Thus, he first shedmy blood and attempted my life; now he plans my ruin and dishonor. Julio,what would you do in my place?"

  "What would I do? Ask my dagger, signor; if it could speak, it would tellyou of wonderful exploits."

  "Then you would not hesitate to undertake a difficult task?"

  "Hesitate! you insult me, signor. I would not hesitate were twenty swordsbrandished over my head."

  "Understand, Julio, that had I doubted your intrepidity, I would not havespoken to you of such grave affairs. I give you the highest proof ofconfidence by intrusting my vengeance to your hands. I will tell you whois my enemy, and where you can strike him secretly. Kill him, and youshall be liberally recompensed."

  This mission appeared unpalatable to Julio.

  "Yes," he stammered; "but that is not my way of acting. I will pick aquarrel with your enemy, and if he dares to raise a finger against me, heis a dead man."

  "Impossible; he is of noble birth."

  "And if I insulted him, his valets would fall upon me and beat me."

  "That is true. There is but one way, Julio; I will tell you where you canstab him at night without the least danger."

  "I? shall I treacherously kill your enemy? This gentleman has neverinjured me. Since how long has it been the custom for valets to avenge thegrievances of their masters? It is you
r own affair, signor."

  "You value the life of a man as little as a farthing, you said," repliedSimon Turchi, with bitter irony; "and now you allege the most puerilereasons as excuses. You are a coward, Julio."

  "I am not; but I do not choose to lie in wait and stab a man in the dark."

  "That is a feint, a subterfuge, to conceal your cowardice."

  "Since it is so simple and easy, why do you not deal the blow yourself,signor?"

  The scar on Simon Turchi's face became of a livid white; his whole frametrembled with rage; but by a strong effort he controlled his emotion, andafter a few moments he said, with a contemptuous smile upon his lips:

  "Four years ago I took you into my service through pity; I have paid youwell, excused all your faults, your intoxication, your passion forgambling; I have not dismissed you, although you have deserved it ahundred times; and now, when for the first time you can be useful to me,you have not the courage. I wished to try you. What I said was only ajest. To-morrow, Julio, you will leave my service. You are a liar and acoward."

  "Do not condemn me so severely, signor," said the servant, in asupplicating tone of voice. "I am willing to risk my life a thousand timesfor you; but to lie in wait for an unknown man and kill himdeliberately--this is an infamous crime of which I am not capable."

  "Hypocrite!" exclaimed Simon Turchi; "you speak as though I were ignorantof your past history. If a price is set upon your head in the city ofLucca, if at this moment you are under sentence of death, is it notbecause you assassinated or helped to assassinate the Judge Voltai?"

  These words struck Julio with terror. He replied, humbly:

  "Signor, I have already told you that in this affair I was moreunfortunate than guilty. I was upon the spot where the murder wascommitted, and I was arrested with those who gave the fatal blow. Believeme, I knew nothing of their designs. I do not deny that in a contest orquarrel I spare no one; but up to this moment my dagger has never shedblood without provocation."

  Simon fixed his eyes upon his servant, and said in a menacing tone:"Suppose, in order to avenge myself for thy base ingratitude, I shouldmake known to the superintendent of Lucca who is the man I have in myservice? Suppose I were to tell him that the real name of Julio Julii isPietro Mostajo? Who would be bound hand and foot and sent in the hold of aship of war to expiate his crimes upon a scaffold in Italy?"

  Julio turned pale and trembled. He moved restlessly upon his chair, andcomplained in a low voice of the false accusations and injustice of men;but his master eyed all his movements in a scornful manner, until at lastthe servant, disconcerted, exclaimed impulsively:

  "Tell me what to do; I am ready!"

  "Will you accomplish my orders with unwavering will and withouthesitation?"

  "I must do so, since you compel me to it! But fear nothing; my decision ismade."

  "And suppose that Geronimo Deodati were my enemy?"

  "Geronimo Deodati!" exclaimed Julio, in indescribable terror. "Geronimo,your intimate friend? That noble and generous cavalier who loves you as abrother? He is as gentle as a girl!"

  "He is a false friend, a traitor."

  "Geronimo gave you the wound on your face?[15] He would betray you andseek your ruin? That is false, false! It is impossible!"

  "He is my mortal enemy. You shall kill him, I say!" exclaimed SimonTurchi, in a menacing voice.

  "Must I kill the Signor Geronimo? Ah! to what horrible crime would youurge me?" said Julio, in a plaintive tone.

  Simon seized his servant by the arm, shook him violently, and whisperedhoarsely in his ear: "Pietro Mostajo, remember the superintendent ofLucca!"

  Julio, as if stupefied, said not a word.

  Simon arose and walked towards the door, saying: "It is well; I will goand deliver you up to justice."

  The terrified servant sprang after him, retained him, and said,supplicatingly: "I submit myself to your will, and accept the fate Icannot escape. I have never before committed a murder; you take his bloodupon yourself, do you not, signor? Tell me when I must accomplish thishorrible crime."

  "This very day, Julio."

  "To-day?--so soon?"

  "To-morrow would be too late."

  "Well, command; the sooner the better."

  "To-day is the eve of May. Geronimo intends to serenade Miss Van de Werve.Only two lute-players will attend him. He invited me to accompany him. Iwill go to bed at the factory under pretence of indisposition; all theservants will know that I have not left my dwelling. Do you put on the oldSpanish cape which has been laid aside for five years; no one will thenrecognize you. You must be in Hoboken Street, near the Dominican Convent,before eleven o'clock. There is at that spot a well which Geronimo mustpass both in going and returning. Hide behind the well until Geronimoapproaches, then rush upon him and deal him a fatal blow; strike severaltimes. The lute-players are cowards, and they will run away. Take from thedead body of Geronimo a pocket-book which you will find in a pocket on theleft side of his doublet; there is in this pocket-book a writing which hetook from me by a cheat. Leave the spot after having accomplished this,and return by the darkest streets; you will not be discovered. Above all,do not forget the pocket-book."

  Julio's countenance expressed stupefaction and terror. During thedevelopment of the frightful plot he kept his eyes fixed on his master'slips, and he continued to stare at him without moving.

  "Well," asked his master, "is not the project cunningly devised?"

  "It is astonishing, astonishing!" stammered the servant, lowering hiseyes.

  "You are ready, I suppose, to strike the blow? But why do you hesitate?Are you afraid?"

  "No, no; but let me reflect a moment," said Julio.

  After a few minutes of silence, he looked at his master, and said:

  "With your permission, signor, I will say that the plan, as you havearranged it, appears to me to be fraught with danger to yourself. Supposethat Geronimo should perceive me too soon and defend himself; that bychance the lute-players should be men of courage; that I should be woundedor made prisoner: any of these events might occur. I would certainly bebroken on the wheel or burned alive. That, however, would be of littleconsequence, if by my death I could be useful to you. But I am yourservant, and known as such by all your acquaintances; and as I could haveno motive of hatred or vengeance against a cavalier who has never spokenan unkind word to me, you would be at once suspected of having ordered themurder."

  "And you, I suppose, would betray me?" said Turchi, with bitter irony.

  "Betray you, signor? that would not save myself; but under torture mytongue might against my will pronounce your name."

  Simon strode up and down the room, muttering between his teeth withsuppressed rage. His servant glanced at him stealthily, with an almostimperceptible smile of joy and triumph.

  At last Simon stood still in the middle of the room; the scar on his cheekwas of a fiery red, and his eyes rolled around restlessly.

  "Shall I then be forever ruined? Nothing is left me in the world butmisery and infamy! Julio, is the arm-chair progressing?"[16]

  "The arm-chair! Then the arm-chair was destined as a snare for Geronimo?"said the servant, stupefied. "What do you mean?"

  "No, no, the chair would come too late!" said Simon Turchi, in an agitatedvoice. "Talk no more about it; this evening you must lie in wait forGeronimo and kill him. It is decided; it must be done!"

  "I know a means to accomplish your purpose without danger either to you orme, signor," said the servant.

  "Ah, if what you say be true! Tell me this means of safety!"

  "There lives in the parish of Saint Andrew a man of giant stature andstrength; he is named Bufferio; he will do anything for money; whether itbe to beat, wound, or kill a man, it is all the same to him. He fulfilshis mission to the satisfaction of his employers, and he never betrays asecret. He has five or six intrepid companions engaged in the same tradeas himself; they may be relied upon. Give me money to pay this ruffian,and you need have no anxiety; Bufferio will think that
I am acting frompersonal vengeance; besides, he does not know me. Thus neither of us willbe suspected nor accused should the affair prove unsuccessful."

  Simon seemed surprised by Julio's words, and he remained a few moments indeep thought. By degrees a smile parted his lips; it was evident that theproposed plan met his approval. He opened his purse and put four goldpieces in Julio's hand.

  "Is that sufficient?" he asked.

  "You jest, signor," replied the servant. "Four gold pieces for the life ofa nobleman!"

  Simon handed him four more.

  "Will that do?" he said.

  "It is not enough yet."

  "How much will be required?"

  "I do not know. Perhaps twenty crowns."

  "Twenty? I have only fifteen about me, with some small change."

  "Give me all, signor. If I had not enough I should be obliged to returnwithout concluding the affair."

  Simon heaved a deep sigh and emptied the contents of his purse intoJulio's hand.

  "You will bring me back what is left, will you not?"

  "Certainly; but I do not think much will remain."

  "Come, Julio, I am in a hurry to return to the factory. Fulfil yourmission skilfully, and I will recompense you largely. But a thoughtstrikes me. The pocket-book must not fall into the hands of Bufferio."

  "I had forgotten that," said Julio, embarrassed.

  "Ah! I have it!" said Simon Turchi, after a moment's reflection, "A littlebefore ten o'clock you must go to the house of Geronimo and tell him I amill with fever, and that I have sent you in my place to accompany himarmed. Follow him closely, and when he falls, take the pocket-book fromhim. Tell Bufferio that it is an unimportant document."

  Julio made a movement of displeasure on receiving this new order. He hadrejoiced in the idea of not being obliged to witness this wicked attack,and now he was commanded to take part in it. For fear of being subjectedto something worse, he did not venture to make any remark.

  "Go now," said Simon Turchi, "and get the old Spanish cape. It may serveto disguise you from Bufferio. Gird on a sword also, that Geronimo maythink you are armed for the purpose of defending him in case of attack."

  The servant took the lamp from the table and prepared to obey the order.

  "What are you doing?" said his master. "Are you going to leave me in thedark? Are you afraid to go without a light?"

  "I might knock my head against the beams, for I have forgotten where thecape was put."

  "You had it in your hands only three days ago. You are afraid in the dark,Julio. Take the lamp."

  The servant soon returned. He had the Spanish cape around his shoulders.It was a wide cloak, in which the whole body might be wrapped; and whenthe hood was drawn down it entirely concealed the face.

  The master and servant descended the staircase in silence and approachedthe little garden-gate. There Julio put the lamp upon the ground andextinguished it.

  The lock grated as the key turned; the door was opened and closed, andSimon Turchi and his servant disappeared in the dark and solitary street.