Volume I Part 34 (1/2)
But fortune h certain peculiar events Benedetto turned his attention to Bartolomeo and caused a strict watch to be kept upon hi of the 15th of March he saw hiht was already far advanced when he reached the damp subterranean cell of Bartolomeo and rattled the rusty hooks that held the bolts Thefallen into a pleasant revery in which he beheld visions of his future greatness as a martyr to duty's cause, raised his eyes and shrank back as he saw the three men, one of whon
”Get up, you old fool,” cried the one who carried the cane, addressing the prisoner, ”follow us!”
Bartolo his disordered uniform, stepped between the two soldiers, who bore torches, and who rudely pushed him down a dark stair
He was no coward, but yet he felt as though he would rather ascend to where he could at least enjoy the sunshi+ne than go further dohere it became darker and colder They walked a considerable distance along dark passages, and halted in front of a rickety iron door A huge key was thrust into the keyhole and slowly the bolts sprang back
Accoloo on the walls, blocks, tourniquets, thumbscrews, and other implements of torture lay upon the floor, while the corners contained a variety of others which the nize
”Sit down,” co to a block; as Bartolomeo hesitated, a well-directed blow caused him to accelerate histhe azed timidly upon his jailers, and h the remark was scarcely audible, a heavy blow froer, and for the next fifteen ain opened and Benedetto entered; at a sign the soldiers withdrew; to his dis before him
Benedetto wore the uniform of an Austrian officer, a kalpak was strapped over his forehead and his coat bedecked with costly gold lace Froer, whose handle was inlaid with jewels, which was partly concealed by the flowing mantle that covered his shoulders As soon as he entered he threw off the mantle and posed, as if to dazzle Bartoloan, without wasting any words, ”that you need expect no mercy from me”
The h the brusque e of the situation, Benedetto continued:
”You have betrayed me Don't deny it--I know all”
”I!” stao has exposed you”
This remark roused the nobler qualities of Bartolomeo He was astounded at the io
”Be silent!” he cried, angrily; ”and do not n the character of a pure woman--you red-headed scoundrel!”
Benedetto hts he reh
”Your immutable confidence in your wife is to be envied, but really it is out of place here Aurora Vertelli has confessed to me what you will doubtless deny I forced her to adrew pale, and beneath his clinched lips a terrible feeling raged
”Base coward! to wring a confession froh--cease your idle talk,” cried Benedetto, sta his foot nervously ”Tell s? Do not hesitate Aslitta is a prisoner like yourself, and I desire to know the truth”
”I do not know,” replied the major, with a sinister smile
”You don't say so I am sorry for you, for I believed that youra knowing glance at the implements of torture
Bartolomeo's heart beat fast He knew that Benedetto was capable of any crime Not a ly:
”So you will not speak!”