That is a long time to be separated from you, is it not?
To keep me company, I will take the half-empty bottle; that will not hinder me from doing my duty properly; on the contrary, it will give me courage and strength.

Now to work!" He re-corked the bottle, put it inside of his doublet, took the lamp, and slowly descended the staircase.
The passage leading to the cellar in which Julio had thrown Geronimo's body was rather long, and he had time to feel the effect of the wine, and it so raised his spirits that he commenced jesting about hid past anxiety, and on nearing the cellar he sang the first notes of a joyful song.
But the words expired upon his lips, he trembled in every limb, and turned ashy pale.
A voice answered him from the cellar.
Immovable from terror, Julio fixed his eyes upon the door, and strove to comprehend the words which fell indistinctly upon his ear.
"Heavens!" he exclaimed, "it is Geronimo; he lives!" Shuddering, he withdrew a short distance down the passage, and was for a time as motionless as a statue.

At last, with deep emotion, he said: "What can this mean?
The signor said at the first thrust his dagger met metal, but that the wound in his neck was deep.

Suppose it were merely a flesh-wound?
What shall I do?
Shall I let him live ?" He was painfully undecided.
"Impossible!" he said.

"It would be the death-warrant of both my master and myself.