Part 12 (1/2)

Everybody listened in dead silence.

OR ROMAN REVENGE 219

A deep groan answered Rinaldo's cry, but in his alarm he took it for an echo, so weak and hollow was the sound. It could not proceed from any human breast.

”Santa Maria!” said the voice.

”If I stir from this spot I shall never find it again,” thought Ri- naldo, when he had recovered his usual presence of mind. ”If I knock, I shall be discovered. What am I to do?”

”Who is here?” asked the voice.

”Hallo!” cried the brigand; ”do the toads here talk?”

”I am the Duke of Bracciano.

Whoever you may be, if you are not a follower of the d.u.c.h.ess', in the name of all the saints, come towards me.”

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”I should have to know where to find you, Monsieur le Duc,” said Ri- naldo, with the insolence of a man who knows himself to be necessary.

”I can see you, my friend, for my eyes are accustomed to the darkness.

Listen: walk straight forward-- good; now turn to the left--come on--this way. There, we are close to each other.”

Rinaldo putting out his hands as a precaution, touched some iron bars.

”I am being deceived,” cried the bandit.

”No, you are touching my cage.

OR ROMAN REVENGE 221

Sit down on a broken shaft of por- phyry that is there.”

”How can the Duke of Bracciano be in a cage?” asked the brigand.

”My friend, I have been here for thirty months, standing up, unable to sit down----But you, who are you?”

”I am Rinaldo, prince of the Cam- pagna, the chief of four-and-twenty brave men whom the law describes as miscreants, whom all the ladies admire, and whom judges hang in obedience to an old habit.”

”G.o.d be praised! I am saved.

An honest man would have been afraid, whereas I am sure of coming to an understanding with you,”

cried the Duke. ”Oh, my worthy

222 OLYMPIA

deliverer, you must be armed to the teeth.”

”_E verissimo_” (most true).