At last he appeared to yield to necessity, and said: "God grant that the frightful news may not afflict you as it did me!
Listen! you know that two days ago my servant Julio left my service
because I severely reproved his irregularities. This disquieted me,
because I had noticed that he was pursued by some secret remorse. Just
now, hardly a half hour ago, I left my residence, and was going towards
the Dominican church to pray for my poor friend. On the way I thought of
my servant Julio, and feared that in his despair he might have taken his
life. When I was near the bridge, I heard my own name timidly pronounced.
I turned and saw Julio. I commenced to reproach him with his absence, but
putting his finger on his lips, he whispered: "'Signor, I beg you to follow me; I have a secret to reveal to you.' "His manner and tone of voice were so peculiar that I accompanied him to a
retired spot. His revelation caused me such intense grief that I could
hardly stand, and I was obliged to support myself against the wall as I
received the confession of the penitent assassin."
A cry of horror escaped Deodati. Eager to hear the remainder, Mr. Van de
Werve gazed fixedly upon the narrator. The bailiff was more calm--he
listened attentively and nodded his head, as if he foresaw the conclusion
of Turchi's narrative.
"I hardly dare continue," he said. "My soul revolts--but I must disregard
my feelings," and in a more tranquil manner, he resumed: "Shuddering with horror, I heard Julio say: "'Master, I have committed a frightful murder. Remorse pursues me as a
malediction from God. I shall put an end to my guilty life. In an hour I
shall be in eternal torments, but I wish the body of my victim to be
buried in holy ground. Go to your pavilion. In the lowest cellar, at the
extremity of the subterranean passage, you will find the corpse of Signor
Geronimo buried.'"
Tears fell fast from the eyes of Signor Deodati, and sobs convulsed his
frame.
Turchi continued: "'Signor Geronimo!' I exclaimed, in terror. 'Have you killed my poor
friend?' "'Yes, I put to death Signor Geronimo. I needed money to spend at the
taverns, and you would not give it to me. I killed him in order to get the
money he might have about him. Adieu! This very day all will be over with
me.' Before I had sufficiently recovered from the shock to think of
seizing Julio, he had disappeared. Probably, to-day--"