appeals to me. I am the more immediate arbiter of your fate. Tell me
the name of that man you met in the woods, and all may yet be well with
you."

Peppino knelt in silence, a cold sweat gathering on his pale brow, and a
horrid fear tightening at his heart and throat.

And yet greater than this horror they were preparing for him was the
horror of losing his immortal soul by a breach of the solemn oath he had
sworn. Gian Maria turned from him, at last, to his bravi, who now
entered silently and with the air of men who knew the work expected of
them. Martino mounted the bed, and swung for an instant from the
framework of the canopy.

"It will hold, Highness," he announced.

Gian Maria bade him, since that was so, remove the velvet hangings,
whilst he despatched one of the men to see that the ante-chamber door was
closed, so that no cry should penetrate to the apartments of the
Valdicampo household.

In a few seconds all was ready, and Peppino was rudely lifted from his
knees and from the prayers he had been pattering to the Virgin to lend
him strength in this hour of need.

"For the last time, sir fool," quoth the Duke, "will you tell us his
name?"

"Highness, I cannot," answered Peppe, for all that terror was freezing
his very blood.