XXVII

ndtwomenapproachedtheboys.ThensuddenlytheyseemedtounderstandwithashriektheyrantoChecco,and,fallingathisfeet,claspedhisknees.Ottavianocouldholdoutnolongerheburstintotears,andhisbrother,attheelder'sweakness,redoubledhisowncries. 'Oh,Checco,don'tletthemtouchus!' Checcotooknonoticeofthemhelookedstraightinfrontofhim.AndevenwhentheCounthadjustfallenunderhisdaggerhehadnotbeensoghastlypale....Thechildrenweresobbingdesperatelyathisknees.ThemenhesitatedbuttherewasnopityinthemanofGodherepeatedhissignmoredecisivelythanbefore,andthemenadvanced.ThechildrenclungtoChecco'slegs,crying,— 'Checco,don'tletthemtouchus!' Hemadenosign.Heheldhiseyesstraightinfrontofhim,asifhesawnothing,heardnothing.Buthisface!NeverhaveIseensuchagony.... Thechildrenweretornfromhim,theirhandsboundbehindtheirbacks.Howcouldthey!Myheartwasburstingwithinme,butIdaredsaynothing.Theywereledtothescaffold.Asobbingcrycamefromthepeopleandwailedthroughtheheavyair. TheCountessstoodstill,lookingatherchildren.Shemadenottheslightestmotionshemighthavebeenofstone. Thechildrencriedout,— 'Checco!Checco!' Itwasheartbreaking. 'Goon!'saidSavello. AgroanburstfromChecco,andheswayedtoandfro,asifheweregoingtofall. 'Goon!'saidSavello. ButCheccocouldnotbearit. 'Oh,God!Stop!—stop!' 'Whatdoyoumean?'saidSavello,angrily.'Goon!' 'Icannot!Untiethem!' 'Youfool!Ithreatenedtohangthem,andIwill.Goon!' 'Youshallnot!Untiethem,Itellyou!' 'Iammasterhere.Goon!' Checcostrodetowardshimwithclenchedfists. 'ByGod,MasterPriest,youshallgothewayyoucame,ifyouthwartme.Untiethem!' InamomentMatteoandIhadpushedasidethemenwhoheldthem,andcuttheircords.Checcostaggeredtowardsthechildren,andtheywithaboundthrewthemselvesintohisarms.Heclaspedthemtohimpassionately,andcoveredthemwithkisses.Ashoutofjoybrokefromthepeople,andmanyburstintotears. Suddenlywesawacommotiononthecastlewalls.TheCountesshadfallenback,andmenwerepressingroundher. Shehadfainted.