Volume I Part 37 (2/2)
”Men,” exclaimed Monte-Cristo, ”carry the Marquis Aslitta into the Vidiserti palace, and if you love your leader, who has staked his life for you, see to it that no soldier enters the building! Turn the palace into a bulwark against which the soldiers smash their skulls, and who knohether Italy and Aslitta ether, become resurrected?”
Luciola had heard the prophetic words; she rose up, and, approaching the bier, exclaimed enthusiastically:
”You hear his words; he always keeps what he pro live Italy and Liberty”
A shout of joy answered Luciola The next instant the street was blocked by turned wagons, logs and other obstacles, the pavement was torn up, and as the Croatians approached they found a raging multitude ready for defence At a first-storyof the Palace Vidiserti Luciola stood and encouraged the patriots She had seized a flag, and, unmindful of the bullets which whistled around her, waved the tricolor in the air
The spark had dropped into the powder barrel; from all sides the patriots rallied around the national standard, and, arowing in dio left her place at theand stood on a barricade, waving her flag and spurring on the combatants The Croatians retreated after about an hour Surrounded on all sides by the Italians, they sought safety in flight, and the patriots followed them with shouts of joy
Luciola now left the barricade, and, hastening into the palace, sank on her knees beside the bier, on which Aslitta still lay extended motionless She raised her clasped hands to Monte-Cristo, as busying hily exclaimed:
”Count, I have kept io to me”
The count did not reply; he held in his hand a s a dark-red liquid, and slowly he dropped single drops on Aslitta's compressed lips
At this instant Sante-Croce rushed into the aparts are bad, count Radetzky has retreated with his troops into the citadel and begins to bombard the city! You have promised to assist us with act and counsel, and, instead of redee the time in useless revivification experi”
Monte-Cristo's flashi+ng eyes fixed the tones he retorted:
”Marquis, I have as yet always kept my word”
”But when? Itin arms and ammunition, and the superiority of numbers will crush us if we are defenceless”
”Ali,” ordered the count
The Nubian appeared and glanced inquiringly at his master
”You have the key of the vault which contains the arms and ammunition?”
Ali nodded
”Go and show the Marquis of Sante-Croce the way to the vaults Arht Radetzky will give up the fight and to-morroill leave Milan Stop, one instant yet; I told the patriots that the Marquis Aslitta would lead them I have kept my word See for yourself Aslitta opens his eyes; he lives”
The dark eyelids really opened, and with a dreamy look Aslitta surveyed the people who surrounded hileefully
”Calenie,” said the Count ”Aslitta must be spared for the present any excitement! Leave him to me, he will soon recover”
”Oh, you have performed a miracle,” said Luciola, enthusiastically