"His dress is entirely brown, and his cap is ornamented with a white
plume; in the darkness you will be able to perceive only the white plume:
that will be a certain sign."
Bufferio shook his head doubtfully.
"Have you nothing else to observe?" he asked.
"I will merely inform you that I will accompany the young gentleman, and
when he falls, I will take from his person a writing, which, if it were
discovered, might involve me in great danger. You will recognize me by
this Spanish cape, and I will cry out very loud, that you and your men may
know that I am not an enemy."
"Now where are the gold crowns?"
"Do you accept the commission, Bufferio?"
"I will fulfil it as though I were laboring for myself."
Julio took from his pocket some gold crowns, then continued to draw them
out one by one, until he held twelve in his hand. He endeavored to conceal
from the ruffian that he possessed more than the sum agreed upon; but
Bufferio must have suspected his intention, for he smiled, and said in a
decided manner: "You have more gold crowns. I knew it from the first; people do not
generally enter into such affairs with only the sum absolutely required.
You need not deceive me. Give me the stipulated amount; I ask no more."
As soon as the other had handed him the money, Bufferio approached the
lamp, examined and weighed each piece of gold, and then said: "It is good coin. Have no anxiety, Julio, I will go for my comrades. There
is but little time left--only a good half hour."
Julio took leave of the ruffian, and was about to quit the room, but he
stopped and said: "Signor Bufferio, you will not tell your companions who
requested this service of you?"
"I tell nothing to my companions. The proverb says, If you wish to lose
your liberty, trust your secrets to others."
"You perfectly understand what you have to do?"
"Yes, yes. At eleven o'clock, behind the well in Hoboken. Street, a young
gentleman with a white plume in his hat. Be quiet, I myself will deal the
blow, and I will not miss the mark."
"Adieu, Bufferio."
"Adieu, Julio."
The ruffian accompanied the servant to the lower story, opened the door of
the street, and closed it behind him.
When Julio found himself in the open air, he walked a short distance, then
stopped, drew a long breath as if a heavy weight had fallen from his
shoulders, and said, joyously: "Heavens! what an escape! I doubt if I am really alive. The difficult
affair is at last concluded. The signor says that I am a coward. I would
like to see him in that room with that infernal woman and the terrible
Bufferio. Now I must go to Geronimo. My greatest difficulty is yet to
come. If I get through it successfully, I may well say that I was born
under a lucky star. But I cannot tarry, I have still a long distance to
walk."