saying that you seem to me precisely in the mood to commit some
wild or extravagant act."
"Perhaps I am; but one thing I have resolved on, and that is, to
stop at nothing to restore a poor devil to liberty, who has got
into this scrape solely from having served me. I should hate and
despise myself as a coward did I desert the brave fellow in his
present extremity."
"And what do you mean to do?"
"To surround the scaffold with twenty of my best men, who, at a
signal from me, will rush forward directly Peppino is brought for
execution, and, by the assistance of their stilettos, drive back
the guard, and carry off the prisoner."
"That seems to me as hazardous as uncertain, and convinces me
that my scheme is far better than yours."
"And what is your excellency's project?"
"Just this. I will so advantageously bestow 2,000 piastres, that
the person receiving them shall obtain a respite till next year for
Peppino; and during that year, another skilfully placed 1,000
piastres will afford him the means of escaping from his
prison."
"And do you feel sure of succeeding?"
"Pardieu!" exclaimed the man in the cloak, suddenly expressing
himself in French.
"What did your excellency say?" inquired the other.
"I said, my good fellow, that I would do more single-handed by
the means of gold than you and all your troop could effect with
stilettos, pistols, carbines, and blunderbusses included. Leave me,
then, to act, and have no fears for the result."
"At least, there can be no harm in myself and party being in
readiness, in case your excellency should fail."
"None whatever. Take what precautions you please, if it is any
satisfaction to you to do so; but rely upon my obtaining the
reprieve I seek."
"Remember, the execution is fixed for the day after tomorrow,
and that you have but one day to work in."
"And what of that? Is not a day divided into twenty-four hours,
each hour into sixty minutes, and every minute sub-divided into
sixty seconds? Now in 86,400 seconds very many things can be
done."sixty seconds? Now in 86,400 seconds very many things can be
done."
"And how shall I know whether your excellency has succeeded or
not."
"Oh, that is very easily arranged. I have engaged the three
lower windows at the Cafe Rospoli; should I have obtained the
requisite pardon for Peppino, the two outside windows will be hung
with yellow damasks, and the centre with white, having a large
cross in red marked on it."
"And whom will you employ to carry the reprieve to the officer
directing the execution?"
"Send one of your men, disguised as a penitent friar, and I will
give it to him. His dress will procure him the means of approaching
the scaffold itself, and he will deliver the official order to the
officer, who, in his turn, will hand it to the executioner; in the
meantime, it will be as well to acquaint Peppino with what we have
determined on, if it be only to prevent his dying of fear or losing
his senses, because in either case a very useless expense will have
been incurred."
"Your excellency," said the man, "you are fully persuaded of my
entire devotion to you, are you not?"
"Nay, I flatter myself that there can be no doubt of it,"
replied the cavalier in the cloak.
"Well, then, only fulfil your promise of rescuing Peppino, and
henceforward you shall receive not only devotion, but the most
absolute obedience from myself and those under me that one human
being can render to another."
"Have a care how far you pledge yourself, my good friend, for I
may remind you of your promise at some, perhaps, not very distant
period, when I, in my turn, may require your aid and
influence."
"Let that day come sooner or later, your excellency will find me
what I have found you in this my heavy trouble; and if from the
other end of the world you but write me word to do such or such a
thing, you may regard it as done, for done it shall be, on the word
and faith of" —
"Hush!" interrupted the stranger; "I hear a noise."
"'Tis some travellers, who are visiting the Colosseum by
torchlight.""'Tis some travellers, who are visiting the Colosseum by
torchlight."
"'Twere better we should not be seen together; those guides are
nothing but spies, and might possibly recognize you; and, however I
may be honored by your friendship, my worthy friend, if once the
extent of our intimacy were known, I am sadly afraid both my
reputation and credit would suffer thereby."
"Well, then, if you obtain the reprieve?"
"The middle window at the Cafe Rospoli will be hung with white
damask, bearing a red cross."
"And if you fail?"
"Then all three windows will have yellow draperies."
"And then?"
"And then, my good fellow, use your daggers in any way you
please, and I further promise you to be there as a spectator of
your prowess."
"We understand each other perfectly, then. Adieu, your
excellency; depend upon me as firmly as I do upon you."
Saying these words, the Transteverin disappeared down the
staircase, while his companion, muffling his features more closely
than before in the folds of his mantle, passed almost close to
Franz, and descended to the arena by an outward flight of steps.
The next minute Franz heard himself called by Albert, who made the
lofty building re-echo with the sound of his friend's name. Franz,
however, did not obey the summons till he had satisfied himself
that the two men whose conversation he had overheard were at a
sufficient distance to prevent his encountering them in his
descent. In ten minutes after the strangers had departed, Franz was
on the road to the Piazza de Spagni, listening with studied
indifference to the learned dissertation delivered by Albert, after
the manner of Pliny and Calpurnius, touching the iron-pointed nets
used to prevent the ferocious beasts from springing on the
spectators. Franz let him proceed without interruption, and, in
fact, did not hear what was said; he longed to be alone, and free
to ponder over all that had occurred. One of the two men, whose
mysterious meeting in the Colosseum he had so unintentionally