He was about to knock, but, to his great terror, the door was opened at once, as though some one were waiting for him.
"Is it you, Julio ?" asked a man, in the darkness.
The servant recognized his master's voice, and entered the door.
"Well," said he, in a stifled tone, "is he dead ?" "Who ?" "Who! Geronimo ?" "On the contrary, Bufferio is dead.

Geronimo ran him through the body." "Then you have not the pocket-book ?" "Certainly not." "And the gold crowns ?" "I gave them to Bufferio." "Pietro Mostajo, you have betrayed me!" hissed the infuriated signor in the ear of his servant, shaking him convulsively by the arm.

"Tell me quickly what has happened! Tremble, stupid coward! the Superintendent of Lucca shall know who you are!" "_Ebbene che sia!_" answered Julio.

"Then the Signor Geronimo shall also know who hired Bufferio to assassinate him." A hoarse cry like a stifled groan resounded through the vestibule.

The door was closed..