XXXIV
關燈
小
中
大
ainstallthese?'
ItwasnouseIgaveway.Oh,God!thatIshouldstandbyandseethisawfulthingandbeutterlypowerless.IwonderedthepeoplecouldsufferthislastatrocityIthoughttheymustscreamandrushtosavethewretchedman.Buttheywatched—theywatchedeagerly....
Byhisfeettheydraggedhimtothehorse,andtheendoftheroperoundhisanklestheytiedtothehorse'stailandabouttherider'swaist.
'Ready?'criedthehangman.
'Yes!'answeredthesoldiers.
Theyallsprangbackthehangmandugthespursintohishorse.Thepeoplegaveahugeshout,andthefierybeastwentcareeringroundthesquareatfulltilt.Theawfulburdendraggingbehindterrifiedhim,andwithheadstrainedforwardandstartingeyeshegallopedmadly.Themoburgedhimonwithcries,andhisriderdugthespursindeeplythepavementwasscatteredwithblood.
Godknowshowlongthewretchedmanlived.Ihopehediedatonce.Atlastthebrute'sfuriouscareerwasstopped,theropeswerecut,thecorpsefellback,and,thepeopleagainmakingpassage,horseandriderdisappeared.Inthemiddleofthepiazza,inapoolofblood,layashapelessmass.Itwasorderedthatitshouldbelefttheretillnightfallasanexampletoevildoers.
Andreawantedtocomeaway,butIinsistedonstayingtoseewhathappenedmore.Butitwastheend,forCaterinaturnedtoSavelloandsaid,—
'IdonotforgetthatallpowercomesfromGod,Monsignor,andIwishsolemnlytorenderthankstotheDivineMajesty,whohassavedme,mychildrenandtheState.Therefore,Ishallorderagrandprocessionwhichshallmarchroundthetownandafterwardshearmassatthecathedral.'
'Itshows,madam,'repliedSavello,'thatyouareapiousandtrulyChristianwoman.'
