Suddenly he reascended the stairway to the place where the candle was burning and then climbed up into the third floor of the belfry.

After untying the ropes from the bell-clappers he again descended.

He was pale and his eyes glistened, but not with tears.
Meanwhile, the rain was gradually ceasing and the sky was clearing.

Basilio knotted the ropes together, tied one end to a rail of the balustrade, and without even remembering to put out the light let himself down into the darkness outside.

A few moments later voices were heard on one of the streets of the town, two shots resounded, but no one seemed to be alarmed and silence again reigned..