He was a man of choleric aspect, and that he served under Ramiro del' Orca was as much a danger to the Governor as to himself.

He had not the air of one whom it was wise to threaten in however veiled a manner.
"Shall I fetch you this fellow's hat ere I sleep ?" he inquired, with contemptuous insolence.
Not a word did Ramiro answer him, but his glance fastened upon Lampugnani with an expression before which that impudent ruffian lowered his own bold eyes.

Thus for a moment; then with an awkward laugh to cover the intimidation that he felt, Lampugnani walked heavily from the room and banged the door after him.
There was about it all a strangeness that set my wits to work in a mighty busy fashion.

That work suffered interruption by the harsh voice of Ramiro.
"Are you resolved, Boccadoro ?" he growled at me.

"Have you decided for the motley or the cord ?" Instantly I fell into the part I was to play.
"Did I choose the latter," said I, with an assumption of sudden airiness and such a grimace as was part and parcel of my old-time trade, "then were I truly worthy of the former, for I should have proved myself, indeed, a fool.