XXXIV
關燈
小
中
大
kedabarefootedmonk,bearingacrucifix....Hewasfollowedbyanothertroopofsoldiers,andafterthemcameanotherbare-headedfigure,hishandsalsotiedbehindhisbackbuthekepthisheadbentoverhischestandhiseyesfixedontheground,shrinkingattheyellsofderision.PoorPietro!He,too,wasaccompaniedbythesolemnmonkstheprocessionwasfinishedbythedrummers,beatingtheirdrumsincessantly,maddeningly.
Theyadvancedtotheplatform,andthere,thesoldiersfallingback,theprisonerswereleftstandingbeforetheirjudges.
'MarcoScorsacanaandPietroAlbanese,'saidtheCountess,inaclear,calmvoice,'youhavebeenfoundguiltyofmurderandtreasonandasitwasyouwhocastthebodyofmydearhusbandoutofthePalacewindowontothehardstonesofthepiazza,soyouaresentencedtobehangedfromthatsamewindow,andyourbodiescastdownontothehardstonesofthepiazza.'
Amurmurofapprovalcamefromthepopulace.Pietrowinced,butMarcoturnedtohimandsaidsomethingwhichIcouldnothearbutIsawtheglanceofdeepaffection,andtheansweringsmileofPietroasheseemedtotakecourage.
TheCountessturnedtoSavello.
'Doyounotagreethatthejudgmentisjust?'
'Mostjust!'hewhispered.
'Theprotonotarysays,"Mostjust!"'shecalledaloud,sothatallshouldhear.Themanwinced.
Marcolookedathimscornfully,andsaid,'Iwouldtentimesratherbeinmyplacethaninyours.'
TheCountesssmiledatthepriestandsaid,'Yousee,IcarryoutthewillofGodindoinguntoothersastheythemselveshavedone.'
Shemadeasign,andthetwomenwereledtothePalaceandupthestairs.ThewindowoftheHallofNymphswasthrownopen,andabeamthrustout,towhichwasattachedarope.P
