When Julio on entering saw his master standing with folded arms and
menacing countenance, a slight and ironical smile flitted across his face.
"Wretch!" exclaimed Simon, "did I not order you to await me here after
Change? Look well to yourself, or I will avenge myself by your blood. You
laugh! beware, or I will crush you like a worm!"
"Come, come, signor, why give way to such useless anger? It is not long
since Change. It is not my fault that you have been obliged to wait."
"Have you not been going from tavern to tavern, gambling, as you have been
doing the last five days?"
"Yes, truly. I was intolerably thirsty; but if I was not here in time, you
must blame the clock of Notre Dame; it could not have struck right, I am
sure. So be calm, signor: you know that your anger makes no impression on
me. Make haste and tell me what you want me to do. We lose precious time
in this nonsensical sort of talk. I left some friends to come and receive
your orders, and I must add that I intend returning to them as soon as I
have fulfilled your commands. You need not shake your fist at me, nor get
into a passion; it will do no good."
The disrespectful language of his servant wounded and provoked Turchi; but
perhaps seeing how useless it was to give expression to his feelings, he
suddenly changed his manner. Tears filled his eyes; grief was depicted
upon his countenance, and seating himself, he sighed and said: "Forgive me, Julio, for my harsh words; they were spoken in impatience. It
is too early yet for you to do what I wish, and I was wrong to complain of
your long absence."
The servant, surprised at his master's humble language, regarded him
distrustfully.
"Is there any danger?" he demanded.
Turchi took his hand, and said, piteously: "Alas! Julio, my friend, to-morrow, in all probability, we will be cast,
manacled, into a dungeon, there to await an infamous death."
"Is it not your own fear, signor, which inspires such a thought?" asked
Julio, trembling.
"No; I have heard a terrible piece of news. Geronimo was seen in the
Quarter of the Jews, and he was met going towards the Hospital Grounds.
The bailiff has determined to search to-morrow morning all the cellars in
that vicinity, and even to dig the ground on the spot where my garden
lies. The police agents are to proceed at daybreak to the Hospital
meadows, and as they cannot fail to remark that the earth has been newly
turned up, they will certainly discover what they seek. You pushed
Geronimo into the arm-chair; you buried his body; consequently you will
accompany me to the scaffold, unless, in your capacity of servant, they
may choose to hang you or break you on the wheel. O Julio! does not this
information awaken you to a sense of our perilous condition?"