The note was in Massetti's handwriting. Espérance silently passed it to him. The Viscount read it with eyes bulging from their sockets, his fingers trembling so he could scarcely hold the paper.
"The evidence is conclusive!" said Espérance, icily, as Massetti finished reading. "It is a confession! You abducted Annunziata Solara!"
"What can I say to justify myself?" cried Giovanni, bitterly. "Oh! that accursed oath!"
"And you have sworn me to silence, also, wretched man!" said Espérance. "Why was I so weak!"
He looked scornfully at the Viscount, who stood with bowed head. Then he added: "I understand you now! You did not wish me to betray you, to set the hounds of Justice on your track, to cause you to be punished, branded and disgraced! You were shrewd and imposed upon me. But my oath is sacred--I will keep it! Let us return to Rome at once as we originally proposed. There I will challenge you in due form for an alleged insult, and we will settle this matter at the pistol's mouth!"
In a few moments more they were on their road to the Eternal City, leaving behind them the cabin into which they had brought ruin and death!