His eyes fixed themselves intently on mine; his hand grasped my arm; and he said to me in an eager whisper: "Tell me the truth at once.

Have you found him ?" It was too late to hesitate.

I answered in the affirmative.
"Buried or unburied ?" His voice rose abruptly as he put the question, and his unoccupied hand fastened on my other arm.
"Unburied." I had hardly uttered the word before the blood flew back into his cheeks; his eyes flashed again as they looked into mine, and he burst into a fit of triumphant laughter, which shocked and startled me inexpressibly.
"What did I tell you?
What do you say to the old prophecy now ?" he cried, dropping his hold on my arms, and pacing backward and forward in the room.

"Own you were wrong.

Own it, as all Naples shall own it, when once I have got him safe in his coffin!" His laughter grew more and mere violent.