Federigo clinging to his arm the whole way, and leaning heavily upon it.

When they had reached the middle of the dam, Salvé saw him make a sudden
movement, and almost at the same moment he received a thrust in the
region of the heart, of such force that he staggered two or three steps
backwards. At the same time he heard Federigo say, in a voice trembling
with vindictive passion--

"Take that for Paolina, you hound!"

The object of his cupidity, the belt of money, had saved Salvé, who now
felled him to the ground with a blow that sent him rolling over the
embankment into the sea.

"Help! help!" came up to him from the water.

"You shall have it," replied Salvé, derisively, "for our fine
friendship's sake. Throw up your knife, though, first;" and he made a
noose in his handkerchief then to reach down to him. "You and your owl
of a sister," he muttered as he did so, "have taught me a thing or two.
I should only have had exactly what I deserved if I had been both stuck
and plundered, after being fool enough to put faith for one moment in
you or any one else."

"Now, up with you!"

When he saw Federigo's form scrambling up over the edge, he said,
scornfully, "Now then, at last we part. Good-bye, my old and faithful
friend!"