Take the rest, disarm them all, let the men cut some stout switches and give every man twenty blows well laid on the back, and then let them go.

Before you do so, send a dozen of them to clear the staircase and to draw some buckets of water from the well and sluice the steps down.

Paolo, do you run down and find a vessel of some sort and a goblet or horn, and bring up some wine from one of those barrels.

The ladies sorely need something after what they have gone through, and I myself shall be all the better for it, for the loss of blood has given me a raging thirst." Paolo had no difficulty in carrying out the order.

The rioters had brought out several pails for holding the wine, a score of silver cups and other vessels lay where they had been dropped when the soldiers appeared, and the officer had placed two men on guard over them.