That, and a hint of evil practices and witch's spells dropped here and there, will give your townsfolk something to talk of and stare at and swallow--till our time come." "But if I bid them watch this house," Blondel muttered weakly--how fast, how fast the thing was passing out of his hands!--"attention will be called to you, and then, Messer Basterga----" "My work is done here," Basterga replied calmly.

"I have crossed that threshold for the last time.

When I leave you--and it is time we parted--I go out of the gates, not again to return until--until things have been brought to the point at which we would have them, Messer Blondel." "And that," the Syndic said with a shudder, "will be ?" "Towards the longest night.

Say, in a week or so from now.

The precise moment--that and other things, I will let you know by a safe mouth." "But the _remedium_?
That first!" the Syndic muttered, a scowl, for a second, darkening his face.
Basterga smiled.