XIX

orward,andexaminedthemenlyingontheground. 'Theyarealldead,'hesaid. 'Takethemaway,'saidErcole.'Letthembeputinachurchtillmorning.' 'Stop!'criedChecco.'Bringalight,andletusseeifwecanrecognisethem.' 'Notnow,itislate.To-morrowyoucandowhatyoulike.' 'To-morrowitwillbelater,Ercole,'answeredChecco.'Bringalight.' Torcheswerebrought,andthrustintothefaceofeachdeadman.Everyoneeagerlyscrutinisedthefeatures,drawnupintheirlastagony. 'Idon'tknowhim.' Thentoanother. 'No.' Andtheothertwoalsowereunknown.Checcoexaminedthefaceofthelast,andshookhishead.Butamanbrokeoutexcitedly,— 'Ah!Iknowhim.' Acryfromusall. 'Whoisit?' 'Iknowhim.Itisasoldier,oneoftheCount'sguard.' 'Ah!'saidMatteoandChecco,lookingatoneanother.'OneoftheCount'sguard!' 'Thatisalie,'saidErcole.'Iknowthemall,andIhaveneverseenthatfacebefore.Itisafootpad,Itellyou.' 'Itisnot.Iknowhimwell.Heisamemberoftheguard.' 'Itisalie,Itellyou.' 'Ercoleisdoubtlessright,'saidChecco.'Theyarecommonthieves.Letthembetakenaway.Theyhavepaidaheavypricefortheirattempt.Good-night,myfriends.Good-night,Ercole,andthanks.' Theguardtookholdofthedeadmenbytheheadandbythefeet,andoneafteranother,insinglefile,theyborethemoffdownthedarkstreet.Wethreemovedon,thecrowdgraduallymeltedaway,andeverythingagainbecamedarkandsilent. Wewalkedhomesidebysidewithoutspeaking.WecametothePalazzoOrsi,entered,walkedupstairs,oneaftertheother,intoChecco'sstudy,lightswerebrought,thedoorclosedcarefully,andCheccoturnedroundtous. 'Well?' NeitherInorMatteospoke.Checcoclenchedhisfist,andhiseyesflashedashehissedout,— 'Thecur!' WeallknewtheattemptwastheCount's.... 'ByGod!Iamgladyouaresafe,'said