XXVII
關燈
小
中
大
nnotanswerforyoursafety.'
Shelookedathimthenanideaseemedtooccurtoher.
'PerhapsifIwentinandspoketohimhewouldconsenttosurrender.'
'Wecannotallowyououtofourpower,'saidChecco.
'Youwouldhavemychildrenashostages.'
'Thatistrue,'musedSavello'Ithinkwecanlethergo.'
Checcodisapproved,butthepriestoverruledhim,andtheCastellanwassummonedagain,andorderedtoadmittheCountess.Savellowarnedher,—
'Rememberthatweholdyourchildren,andshallnothesitatetohangthembeforeyoureyesif—'
'IknowyourChristianspirit,Monsignor,'sheinterrupted.
Butwhenshewasinsidesheturnedtous,andfromtherampartsaddresseduswithmockinglaughter.Thefurywhichhadbeenboilingwithinherburstout.Shehurledatuswordsoffoulabuse,sothatonemighthavethoughtherafishwifeshethreateneduswithdeath,andeverykindoftorture,inrevengeforthemurderofherhusband....
Westoodlookingupatherwithopenmouths,dumbfounded.AcryofragebrokefromthepeopleMatteoutteredanoath.CheccolookedangrilyatSavello,butsaidnothing.Thepriestwasfurioushisbigredfacegrewpurple,andhiseyesglistenedlikeaserpent's.
'Bastard!'hehissed.'Bastard!'
Tremblingwithanger,heorderedthechildrentobesentfor,andhecriedouttotheCountess,—
'Donotthinkt
