But the dog would not disclose his secret nor the names of the conspirators until his task should be accomplished and he had taken them at the treason he knew they had gathered to ripen.

But," he continued, an olive poised 'twixt thumb and forefinger, "it seems they were not to be captured as easily as he thought.

He told me the traitors numbered six, and that they were to meet a seventh there.

The men who returned from the venture tell me too, and without shame, that there were but some six or seven that beset them.

Yet they gave the Swiss trouble enough, and killed some nine of them besides a half-score of more or less grievously wounded, whilst they but slew two of their assailants and captured another two.
Those were the four heads you saw at the Porta San Bacolo." "And Masuccio ?" inquired Francesco.