XXXIV
關燈
小
中
大
theItaliannoblemanthanthis.TheOrsoPalacehadstoodthreehundredyears,andthemostfamousarchitects,craftsmenandartistshadworkedonit.Andnowitwasgone.
Theoldmanwasbroughtbackintothepiazza,andoncemorethecruelwomanspoke.
'Youhavereceivedpunishmentforyourself,Orso,andnowyouaretoreceivepunishmentforyourson.Makeroom!'
Andthesoldiers,repeatingherwords,cried,—
'Makeroom!'
Thepeoplewerepushedandhustledbacktilltheywerecrammedagainstthehousewalls,leavinginthecentreanenormousemptyspace.Thenaflourishoftrumpets,andthepeoplemadeanopeningattheendofthesquaretoallowthepassageofahorseandman,thehorse—ahugeblackstallion—prancingandplunging,andoneachsideamanwasholdingthebridle.Onhisbacksatabigman,dressedallinflamingred,andaredhoodcoveredhisheadandface,leavingtwoaperturesfortheeyes.Ahorrifiedwhisperranroundthesquare.
'Thehangman!'
Inthecentreofthepiazzahestopped.CaterinaaddressedtheOrso.
'Haveyouanythingtosay,OrsoOrsi?'
Atlastheseemedtohear,helookedatherandthen,withallthestrengthhehad,hurledthewordather,—
'Bastard!'
Sheflushedangrilyandmadeasign.Twomenseizedtheoldmananddraggedhimoffthemuletheycaughtholdofhislegs,throwinghimtotheground,andwithathickropetiedhisanklestogether.
AtthisIunderstood.Iwasseizedwithsuddenhorror,andIcriedout.Obeyingasuddenimpulse,IstartedforwardIdon'tknowwhatIwasgoingtodoIfeltImustprotecthimordiewithhim.Istartedforward,butAndreathrewhisarmsroundmeandheldmeback.
'Letmego,'Isaid,struggling.
'Don'tbeafool!'hewhispered.'Whatcanyoudoag
