Close to the pulleys appertaining to the torture of the cord stood two leather-clad ruffians--Ramiro's executioners.
At the head of the board, which was still strewn with fragments of food-for they had but dined--sat Ramiro del' Orca.

With him were half a dozen of his officers, whose villainous appearance pronounced them worthy of their brutal leader.

The air was heavy with the pungent odour of viands.

I looked round for Mariani, and I took some comfort from the fact that he was absent.

Might heaven please that he was even then on his way to Faenza.
Ramiro watched my advance with a smile in which mockery was blent with satisfaction, for all that of the resumption of my proper raiment he seemed to take no heed.