The Amulet

st impalpable spot, might be seen m

-flickered a small lamp, lighted before an image of the Virgin; but these slight flames, far from diminishing

ed artisan who made as much noise as possible with his feet in order to frighten away the robbers; or it was the slow tread of a highwayman, who, listening attentively and peering through the darknes

, his head so covered by the hood that his eyes alone were visible. As in passing before an image of the Virgin a feeb

mmission of some crime, or, fearing danger, wa

eached a narrow winding alley, from beneath the ground of

hich admission was gained by a ladder, and listen

s pocket and chinked

"How merry they are! The dice are rolling upon

udden thought seemed to arrest him. He sprang back, trembling, and hastened from the

ntendent of Lucca! I am saved. Infernal temptation! I was about to stake my head. But, perhaps, I would not be unlucky. I might win a fortu

ded down the alley, but soon stopped n

ange, how I tremble! Perhaps it is a warning of some misfortune about to happen to me! Suppose they should take my money and murder

ought he walked towards the

nothing else. Of two e

lution, his hand trembled as he raised the kno

und, as though it were the d

noise within gave evidenc

was in the house, and that consequently he would be obliged to return,

fixed on the person who had knocked, and if he had been left apparently unnoticed, it was probably bec

last asked from b

kno

ion so close to his ear made him tremble violently. How

and the Flemish tongue.

an. Tell me if Bu

she replied, in

ecret affair with Bufferio, and

wish to deceive me. Go on your way and l

of silver from his pocket

Bufferio for an important affair. He may gain a few crown

their rusty staples,

said the woman,

ack as Erebus; where is the st

Give me your hand;

isitor, and whilst guiding h

bles, signor. A

faltering voice. "Afraid of wha

our hand was cold and trembling. He

steps, striking his head and elbows against invisible objects, and g

troduced her companion into a room lighted by the smoking flam

aged at play in the neighborhood. Should any one knock at the door during my absence,

locks which fell upon her cheeks, her large mouth and long teeth, made

eceding steps, until he heard the

ith mistrust and surprise the apartment

he gaze of the visitor. What he could not see without shuddering, was the number of strange arms suspended all around the walls of the room. In the midst of rusty swords, sharp daggers and knives of every size and shape, he saw short clu

f linen and some sand for scouring, showing that the woman had been occ

turned his eyes away from them, trembling as he reflected upon the horror of his position. However, a f

entered

I think, signor, that he has drank deeply. Look well to yourself, and if you value your life, do not irritate him, for he wou

fe and linen, and continued her occupation, whil

agitated, and from time to time his whole frame shook. Every time that he glanced towards the table he met the penetrating look of the frightful Meg?ra, who, while

o resist his feeling of a

e not time to wait longer. I will

histling in the st

placing the ke

e, fell back in his chair, with a suppressed sigh, and listen

looked distrustfully at the man w

d upon the hilt of a dagger which was held by his girdle. A broad-brimmed hat shaded his face; his whole dress was of dark-brown cloth, scarcely di

ointed to the door. She left the room grumbling

a chair, and said to the stran

? Why do you distur

barrassing to the strange

u should know my name before doing me a se

with his hand, as if he thought he recognized the voic

are waiting for me at the tavern of the

of importance,

t the bush in this manner? What embarrasses you? Do you think you are dealing with a

tranger's confidence, and he

ave an enemy who insults and outrages me

ish to be avenged by

golden crowns do you

e kind of service you desire. A few blows with a stick, a

must be mor

A nobleman or a common

nor, and the possessor

you, who make yourself

servant out

smiled inc

ly, "a poor servant out

e red hair; you often p

the bridge De la Vign

true? You were try

nd, trembling from head to foot, stared at the ruffian, who did no

ho you are. My trade is to keep the most important a

e Julio had recovered him

o matter. I desire to know, Signor Bufferio, what p

entleman your enemy? You are still endeavoring

ated me to my master, and who has striv

e possessed of such treasures? You request to have a mortal wound in

with assumed astonishment. "So la

it must be in advance,

immediately, b

bargain. Now tell me exactly what

master:

What am I to do, and

y night,

my game with the Portuguese sailor; and y

ans; he will turn the corner at Prince Street, and will proceed towards the church of St. James. He will thus be obliged to pass before the stone well at the head o

age it by myself; but since you desire it, I will take with me a coupl

ith a white plume; in the darkness you will be able to pe

ook his hea

ng else to obse

is person a writing, which, if it were discovered, might involve me in great danger. You will recognize me

are the g

t the commiss

as though I were l

twelve in his hand. He endeavored to conceal from the ruffian that he possessed more than the sum agr

nerally enter into such affairs with only the sum absolutely required.

y, Bufferio approached the lamp, examined an

, I will go for my comrades. There is bu

room, but he stopped and said: "Signor Bufferio, you will n

proverb says, If you wish to lose your

understand what

eet, a young gentleman with a white plume in his hat. Be quie

, Buff

u, Ju

o the lower story, opened the door of

t distance, then stopped, drew a long breath as if a heavy

ike 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

Dominican Convent stood; he passed the Abbey of Saint Michael a

himself that he had gained three gold crowns which his master would never see again, were he to live a hundred years. Once free from his

It was soon opened, and he was conducted into a room on the ground floor, where the

eliver with more pleasure were it less sad. My poor master is ill with fever, and is unable

is own happiness, his approaching marriage with Miss Van de Werve, had touched the heart of his

im suddenly, Julio?" he

quences; but he could not venture to expos

eemed in d

d me to accompany you to the serenade, and to protect you in case of danger. He knows ho

a devoted servant. The lute-players have not yet arrived. Go

ook asleep. He awoke him, gave him his mas

eeds in which he had been the actor, but the servant had scarcely seated himself before he fell again into a deep sleep. Julio empt

the ante-chamber he found Geronimo

d have to deal with an equal number of adversaries. Who could foresee the termination of the struggle? However, he felt reas

ached Prince Street, at the upper end of which was the stone well behin

id; he now commenced to fall back, and placed himself in the rear. His heart failed him; for,

about one hundred

w, tossing on a bed of suffering, while he was on his way to serenade his beloved Mary. He also, in his own mind, deplored the involved condition of Si

from him, three assassins, hired by Simon Turchi, were lying in wait to kill him. But

treet; Julio gazed fixedly into the darkne

n an agony of fear, and in order to make himself known to

usto! ajusto! Mur

pon his guard by this exclamation, Geronimo drew his sword, and placed his

, ran away, and Julio stood in the midd

of the street where Geronimo had made a stand to defend himself. The assassin, who was in advance of the two others, fell upon Geronimo and gave him a sword-thrust which he

n a plaintive voice, as though b

die! Buffer

d wounded one in the shoulder. Convinced that they had to deal with a powerful and

s. When Geronimo returned with the servant to the spot where he had left the dead body of the ruffian, he found three or four watchm

at had taken place, examined the body

io. God be praised! the man has at l

once, that he had wounded one in the face, and pierced the other with his sword. How the latter ha

, thanked him for his assistance, and acknowledged that he owed his li

d the well until the city autho

approached Geronim

accident might befall you. Do not refuse the offer. The villains who escaped m

and if I do not go, she will imagine that some accident has happened to me. It would be better for me to see Mr. Van de Werve, so as to remove any cause of anxiety. I accept your offer, watchm

and Julio soon reached t

d, and was immed

ude for his assistance, and promised to tell his master how coura

e was about to knock, but, to his great terror, the door w

o?" asked a man,

d his master's voice,

in a stifled to

ho

Gero

rio is dead. Geronimo r

ve not the p

ainly

e gold

them to

f his servant, shaking him convulsively by the arm. "Tell me quickly what has hap

n the Signor Geronimo shall also know

roan resounded through the ve