CHAPTER VI.
SIMON TURCHI WREAKS HIS VENGEANCE ON GERONIMO.
It was about five o'clock in the afternoon. Julio was seated in one of therooms of his master's dwelling, his arms crossed upon his breast. Absorbedin deep thought, he had his eyes fixed on an arm-chair which stood nearthe only window in the room, and from time to time he shook his head withan expression of anxious doubt.
The footsteps of a man in the room above interrupted his reflections; anironical smile passed over his features as he muttered:
"He calls me a coward, the dastard that he is! For one hour he has beenrunning about from room to room as though pursued by invisible spectres.How cunningly he has devised the whole affair in his own interest. Juliois to kill poor Geronimo! Julio is to bury the body in the cellar! Juliois to do all by himself! When we deal with false people, we must be on ourguard. His intention is clear enough to me; he wishes to secure means, incase of necessity, of accusing me alone of the crime. He may threaten andrage as much as he pleases; he shall deal the mortal blow him self, orGeronimo shall leave this place unharmed."
Julio remained silent for a few moments, passed his hand across his brow,and said, looking at the chair:
"Think that in one hour that infernal seat will hold a corpse! The corpseof the most noble, affable gentleman I have ever known. May his good angelprevent him from visiting this cut-throat place! Signor Turchi will killhim; but I must aid him.[18] What will be the end of this bloody tragedy?The scaffold for the master, and the gallows for the servant. This is theconsequence of my disorderly life. Had I not gone, in a moment ofintoxication, and without knowing it, to the place where Judge Voltai wasassassinated, I would not have been obliged to fly from my country, andSignor Turchi would not have it in his power to force me to become hisaccomplice in a frightful crime. The old cure of Porto-Fino said truly,that 'Sin is a labyrinth; if once we enter, we loose the thread whichenables us to return to virtue.' Ah! would I were with my mother in Italy.Useless wish. It is too late; I am banished from my country, and a priceset on my head."
He reflected for a few moments, then, with a gesture of impatience, heresumed:
"Come, come; of what good are all such thoughts? I am in his power, and Imust yield to necessity; but once let the blow be struck, once let himcommit a crime of which I can produce the proofs, then I will be master,and in my turn I will cry in his ears: 'Simon Turchi, fear the bailiff andthe executioner!' At the present moment I am powerless; if I took anymeans to prevent the attempt, he might destroy all evidence of hiscriminal design, and deliver me up to the authorities of Lucca. I would betaken into Italy and broken on the wheel, in the very place where my poorold mother lives. I have always been a cause of sorrow to her; at least Iwill spare her this last disgrace. But the signor is coming down. He willreiterate his entreaties to me to strike the fatal blow; but I will nothave the blood of this innocent gentleman on me."
Simon Turchi was approaching. His face was very pale, but the scar whichfurrowed his cheek was of a more ashy hue. He did not tremble, but hewalked precipitately, and he clasped his hands convulsively, like a manwhose impatience can brook no delay.
He noticed that his servant was in deep thought, his head bowed upon hischest, and it was only on his near approach that Julio suddenly rousedfrom his preoccupation. He entered the room and said:
"Julio, the hour is nigh. Of what are you thinking? Are you afraid?"
"Afraid?" replied Julio, with a light laugh; "why should _I_ be afraid?"
"True, true," murmured Simon, "since I alone shall shed his blood."
"But," continued Julio, "if I have no cause for personal fear, would notlove for my master fill me with painful thoughts? Signor, you are playingfor dangerous stakes."
"Who will know what has taken place here?"
"Who? Is there not an eye above which sees all? And whilst here, in thedeepest secrecy, you immolate a human being to your thirst for vengeance,will not God hear the cry of agony of the Signor Geronimo?"
Julio saw, with a secret joy, that his words made his master tremble,although he tried to dissemble his feelings under an assumedinsensibility.
"What a good joke!" replied Simon; "Pietro Mostajo talking of God! Myprecautions are too well taken; when the cellar will be the depository ofthe secret, there will be none to tell it."
"Do you think so, signor? When has such a murder ever remained concealed?It is not surprising that I bowed my head in thought. In imagination I sawsuch terrible things that I dare not tell them to you. Tears still fill myeyes at the thought."
"What did you see?" asked Turchi, with increasing anxiety.
"What did I see? The bailiff and his attendants. They bound a man's hand'sbehind his back; they dragged him through the streets like an odiouscriminal; the people cast filth and dirt upon the prisoner, and cried out,'Murderer!' What did I see? A scaffold, and on this scaffold anexecutioner and one condemned to death; then a sword glittered in thesunlight, it fell, a stream of blood flowed, and a head rolled in thedust."
The servant stopped intentionally; but his master convulsively caught hisarm, and said in a hoarse voice:
"What then? What then?"
"And then the crowd applauded and poured out maledictions upon the name."
"Whose name?"
"Yours, signor?"
Simon Turchi was so overpowered by the picture thus presented of hisprobable end, that he uttered a cry of terror and sprang back, trembling.He cast down his eyes for a moment in silence.
Julio contemplated the signor, thus overpowered by emotion, with aderisive smile. He had not called up this vivid scene solely as a means toinduce his master to renounce his perilous enterprise; his motive was alsoto terrify him and to revenge himself for the violence he had been forcedto endure from him.
The impression made upon Simon Turchi by this highly-wrought predictiondid not last long. He raised his head, and said, in a contemptuous manner:
"Base hypocrite; it is your own fear which excites your imagination to seesuch things. The most courageous man would become cowardly with thecowardly. It is unfortunate for me that I need you, otherwise I would soonrid myself of your presence. But I, at least, will not recoil from theundertaking. Speak; tell me how far I may depend upon you. The clock willsoon strike, and there is no time for hesitation."
"We will see which of us will the more coolly perform his part of thetask. You are mistaken, signor; fear does not disturb me. Sympathy for yousuggested the train of thought, and I considered it my duty to placebefore your eyes once more the abyss into which you might fall."
"Be silent; it is too late," exclaimed Simon Turchi, beside himself withrage. "Fool, do you desire my ruin--my eternal dishonor? Shall I let myenemy live? Shall I let him--him the husband of Mary Van de Werve--lookdown upon me from the height of his grandeur and felicity? No, no. Imyself will be, must be, happy, rich, prosperous; and even should allescape my grasp; should the scaffold be my lot, the rage of vengeancewhich lacerates my heart must be satisfied.... Nothing, nothing, canrestrain me; and, Julio, were you an obstacle in my path, I would passover your dead body to strike a fatal blow at him who has poisoned mylife. Do not attempt to thwart me, or I will crush you where you stand."
At these words Simon Turchi placed his hand on the hilt of his sword; hisface was scarlet, his lips trembled, and his eyes flashed.
This threat did not disturb Julio, probably because he thought his mastercould not execute it. An ironical smile played upon his lips; he steppedback one or two paces, drew his knife, and said, mockingly:
"It would be strange, signor, if Geronimo should find us engaged in acombat. It might save his life."
"What! would you dare?"
"Why not? Do you think Julio would permit himself to be led like a sheepto the slaughter?"
"Listen! Ho comes!" exclaimed Simon Turchi, starting with terror.
The repeated strokes of the knocker resounded through the court-yard wherethe little door gave entrance into the garden.
"Julio, I ask you again," said Turchi, anxiously, "what reliance I mayplace upon you?"
"I will do what I have promised--neither more nor less."
"Then go open the door. Be guarded in your words, and show no disquietude.Bring him to this room; tell him that I am engaged with the foreignmerchant; if he does not sit down at once, watch a favorable moment tolead him to the arm-chair. Then call me and I will do the rest."
"You, then, are determined to make me entice the Signor Geronimo to sitdown in the arm-chair?"
Turchi replied in a threatening voice and with flashing eyes:
"Pietro Mostajo, remember the Superintendent of Lucca."
Julio left the building, went to the garden-gate and opened it.
"Benvenuto, Signor Geronimo," he said, "what good luck brings you here ona visit to my master? It is a long time since we have seen you."
"It is indeed a long time," replied the young noble with a genial smile,as he walked towards the house. "But the place looks so wild and uncaredfor. Did not the Signor Turchi speak of having the garden put in order?"
"Yes; but for some time my master has been very melancholy, and nothingseems to give him pleasure."
"I know it, Julio; but things will be better for him now."
"Would that your words were true, signor!"
"What a heavy sigh, Julio. You excite my fears. Is your master ill?"
The servant felt the importance of self-control, if he would not arousethe gentleman's suspicions. He therefore said, in a careless manner:
"Nothing is the matter, signor. My master is very well, and to-day is in agood humor. Ever since I saw Bufferio's sword lifted against you, I havesuffered from an occasional sudden palpitation of the heart. I find reliefonly in a deep sigh."
As they thus talked together, he conducted Geronimo to the room containingthe large arm-chair.
"Signor Geronimo," he said, "my master is up-stairs. I will inform him ofyour arrival. Please be seated."
Julio left the room; but instead of ascending the staircase, he hidhimself behind a door and listened attentively to hear the clasping of thesprings of the chair.
After having waited in vain, for a long time, he returned to the room, andsaid to the gentleman:
"Signor, my master begs you to excuse him for a while. He is engagedtransacting some business with the merchant of whom he spoke to youyesterday. They are preparing a writing for you. Have the kindness to waita few moments."
He now thought that Geronimo would, of his own accord, take the arm-chair,and with a beating heart he observed his movements. But he wasdisappointed, for the young cavalier stood at the window, gazingthoughtfully into the garden.
Although Julio knew with what mistrust and impatience his master wascounting each passing moment, he said to Geronimo, with assumedindifference:
"It is at least half a mile from the Dominican Convent to this place, andyou must be fatigued after your walk. Will you not rest in this arm-chair,signor?"
"No, I thank you. I am not in the least fatigued. I love to look at thosebeautiful trees clothed in their fresh May verdure."
An involuntary movement of impatience escaped the servant.
"You need not remain here on my account, Julio," said Geronimo. "Go toyour work; I will stay alone."
"I have no urgent occupation, signor. If I still remain, contrary to yourwish, it is to ask you a question; and yet I fear that you will bedispleased at my boldness."
"Not at all, Julio. Can I render you any service? It will give me pleasureto show my gratitude for the courage with which you defended me when I wasattacked by the ruffians."
"I had no reference to that. I heard you were about to marry the beautifulMiss Van de Werve. The news rejoiced me; but may your humble servant makefree to ask you if it be true?"
The name of his betrothed flushed his cheek with joy, and he answered,with a smile:
"Yes, Julio, it is true."
"How blessed you are, signor!"
"Yes, Julio, God has bestowed upon me the greatest earthly blessing, forwhich I shall eternally thank him. On the solemn day of our nuptials youwill have cause to rejoice."
"I, signor?"
"Yes, you, Julio. Miss Van de Werve wishes to recompense you herself forthe assistance you gave me against Bufferio and his comrades. The day ofmy marriage you will receive a new cloak, a new doublet, new small-clothesof fine cloth and silk, such as a servant has never worn."
Julio, touched by this proof of kindness, stammered his thanksindistinctly. He heard the young man speaking to him and telling him howrichly he deserved such a present, but he paid no attention to the words;he was endeavoring to bring himself to the degree of audacity requisite tofulfil his master's orders. Geronimo stood immediately in front of thearm-chair.
With bitter repugnance, but incited by the fear that no more favorableopportunity would present itself, he approached Geronimo as though toexpress his thanks anew. With one bound he sprang upon him, placed a handon either shoulder, and pushed him forcibly into the chair.[19]
The seat of the deceptive piece of furniture sank down; from the armsstarted two powerful springs, which caught the young man around the waist,and held him so tightly against the back of the chair that it wasimpossible for him to move.
"Julio, Julio, what horrible jest is this?" he exclaimed. "Is it a trap?Do you act by your master's orders?"
But the servant, without saying a word in reply, left the room, closingthe door behind him.
"Tell me, Julio," asked Turchi, descending the staircase to meet hisservant, "is he caught?"
"The chair has done its work," replied Julio; "go do yours. Lose no time;he might give an alarm which would betray us. The fear of death givessuperhuman strength to a man's lungs. Signor, it seems to me that my headis not safe on my shoulders. How does yours feel?"
But Simon Turchi heeded not this jest. He muttered a few indistinct words,drew his sword, and rushed down the steps to wreak his vengeance on theunfortunate Geronimo.
The servant remained where his master left him, listened to his footstepsuntil he heard the door of the fatal room open and then close again.
At first no sound reached his ear, but soon he heard Geronimo calling forhelp, and his master mocking and menacing him; at least he judged this bythe tones of their voices, for he was too far off to distinguish thewords. Urged by feeling rather than curiosity, he descended the staircase,and listened at the door of the room in which so horrible a crime wasabout to be committed.
He heard Geronimo say, in an earnest, pleading tone:
"Dear Simon, your mind is deranged. You, my friend, kill me! It isimpossible. Put down that dagger; at least let me not die withoutconfession. If it be the ten thousand crowns exasperating you, I make youa present of them; tear up in my presence the acknowledgment of the debt,and I will never speak to you of it again."
"Mary, Mary Van de Werve!" howled Simon Turchi, with biting sarcasm.
"I will renounce her hand and leave for Italy, and never again will I seea country so fatal to me, to her, to all that I love."
"It is too late--too late. You must die!"
"No, no, Simon; in pity to yourself do not imbue your hands in my innocentblood. God sees us; your conscience will torture you; never again willthere be peace for you on earth, and your poor soul will be miserable forall eternity. No, Simon, do not kill me."
Then came a frightful cry, as though he were crushed, and Julio heard asound which seemed like that of a dagger against metal.
This blow, however--if it were a blow--was not mortal, for Geronimo raisedhis voice with the strength of despair, and cried out:
"Help! help! Simon, let me live! Mercy! mercy!"
Then a mournful groan escaped his lips, while, as his voice died away, hprayed:
"My God, my God, forgive him! I am dying."
On hearing the conclusion of this horrible tragedy, Julio retired to thefoot of the staircase. He had hardly reached it, when the door of the roomopened, and his master appe
ared.
Disfigured as Simon Turchi's countenance had been by the thirst forrevenge, crime made it still more frightful. The signor could hardly havebeen recognized. His hair stood upright; his eyes rolled in their sockets;a hard, hoarse sound escaped his lips; blood dripped from his hands.
He ran by his servant without speaking to him, ascended the staircase, andhaving reached his room he threw himself panting upon a chair.
Julio, who had followed him, placed himself before him, and asked:
"Well, signor, is the deed accomplished?"
"It is; let me take breath," said Turchi, breathing heavily.
After waiting a few moments, Julio resumed:
"Did he offer any resistance, that you are so fatigued, signor?"
"Resistance? No; but when I attempted the first time to pierce him to theheart, the blade of my dagger struck against metal, and grated harshly. Hewears a breastplate, Julio. Could he have suspected my intentions?"
Turchi's dagger had evidently struck the amulet which the young man alwayswore around his neck.
"Possibly," replied Julio, "Geronimo may wear some guard on his breast; itis the place against which a poignard is always aimed, and no one issecure in the darkness of night from the assault of an enemy or anassassin; but what is there in this circumstance to move you so deeply?"
"So much blood spouted from the wound. The sight of the blood, togetherwith Geronimo's piteous cries, struck me with anguish and horror. Itottered so that I feared I would fall before completing the work; buthappily I gained the strength to finish what I had commenced. I piercedhis throat with my poignard, and hushed his voice forever."
"And is he really dead?"
"Not a drop of blood is left in his veins."
Simon Turchi had recovered from his excessive emotion. He arose and said:
"I must wash the blood from my hands, and efface the least spot thatmight betray me. Then I must go on Change and transact some business withpeople who will remember to have seen me there at that time. Later, I willcall on Mr. Van de Werve. I must be seen in different places and speakwith many people. Go down, Julio, and drag the corpse to the cellar. Thenclear away every sign of blood. I need not tell you that your life, aswell as mine, depends upon the care with which you perform this task."
"I know it, signor. The blow has been struck, and I am not a man toneglect the precautions necessary to escape the gallows, if I can."
"I have accomplished my task, Julio; go do yours."
"Drag the corpse, by myself, into the cellar? No, no, signor; you musthelp me."
"I have not the time, Julio. I must go immediately to the city."
"It is of no consequence to me. I will not remain alone in this cut-throatplace."
"And what if I ordered you to do so?" exclaimed Turchi, trembling withanger.
"You would do so in vain, signor. You will work with me until all isdone."
"Pietro Mostajo, do you dare to defy me, and that too at the very momentwhen the blood is boiling in my veins? Do as I command, or before nightthe authorities of Lucca shall know who you are."
"Ah!" said Julio, with a scornful laugh, "Pietro Mostajo and theauthorities of Lucca have lost their power over me. As long as I had noproofs of crime against you, I had cause to fear you; but would you darenow to reveal my real name, now that by one word I can deliver you intothe hands of the executioner? Hereafter, signor, you will speak to meneither so harshly nor so haughtily. In this affair there is neithermaster nor servant. We are two men, guilty of the same crime. Draw yourdagger, if you choose. Vain threat! Can you do without me?"
Simon Turchi grit his teeth in impotent rage; but soon recovering himself,he took his servant's hand, and said beseechingly:
"You are right, Julio; we are rather two friends than master and servant.Let me then, as friend and companion, implore a favor at your hands. Youmust see that it is important for me to go without delay to the factory tochange my dress. For the safety of both of us I ought to leave immediatelyfor the city, in order to prevent suspicion. Geronimo is not heavy; youcan, without difficulty, drag him down stairs."
The servant shook his head, but was evidently hesitating.
"Come, Julio; I beg, I entreat you to do what the safety of both of usrequires. You still hesitate, Julio? I will reward you generously. Thisvery evening I will give you two crowns if you tell me you have donefaithfully and carefully what I have requested."
"Will you be here, signor, when I return from the cellar?"
"I don't know, Julio; as soon as I have washed off the blood, I shallleave. Make haste, and possibly you may find me here. In all events I willwait for you this evening at the factory, and besides the two crowns, Iwill give you a whole bottle of Malmsey."
"Agreed," said Julio; "I will do my best to please you."
He descended the staircase, and when he reached the room where thehorrible murder had been committed, he stood for a moment with his armsfolded. He turned pale and shook his head compassionately.
The poor Geronimo was extended in the chair, with his eyes closed. Hishead had fallen on the arm of the chair; his two hands were joined, as ifin prayer for his cruel murderer. His garments were saturated with blood,and his feet rested in a pool of blood. There was a large wound in hisneck and another in his breast; his face was not in the least stained, andalthough it was covered by the pallor of death, his countenance wore asweet, tranquil expression, as though he had gently fallen asleep.
"Poor Signor Geronimo!" said Julio, sighing heavily. "Beauty! generosity!wealth! all fallen under the blade of a wretch! What is man's life? He,however, will in heaven, with God, be indemnified for his horrible death.And we? But the present is not the time for reflections and lamentations;my pity will not restore this corpse to life. I must now close my eyes tothe future, and fulfil my horrible task."
He knelt behind the chair, passed his arm under it, and turned a screw.The springs opened and loosed their hold upon the inanimate body.
Julio held it by the arms and dragged it through the hall until he reacheda staircase conducting to a cellar. There he left the corpse, entered anadjoining room, and returned with a lamp. Holding the light in his hand,he descended until he reached a subterranean passage. Very deep under theground, and at the end of this passage, was a kind of vaulted cellarclosed by a heavy door. Julio opened the door, and by the light of thelamp examined a grave which had been dug in one corner of the cellar, andon the sides of which lay the earth which had been excavated.[20]
After a rapid survey, he placed the lamp outside the door against the wallof the passage, and returned for the dead body.
When he had carried his burden as far as the subterranean passage, hepanted for breath and seemed overcome by fatigue. He, however, exerted allhis strength in order to finish as soon as possible his painful task, anddragged the corpse into the cellar. There he let it fall upon the side ofthe grave already prepared for its reception. After resting a few moments,he was about to cast it into the grave and cover it with earth, but hedesisted, saying:
"Bah! the poor young man will not run away. Perhaps Signor Turchi has notyet left. At any rate, I will first wash away the blood stains, and then Iwill return to bury the body."
He took the lamp and left the cellar, without closing the door.
On reaching the room he found that his master had gone.
The solitude disquieted him, particularly as it was now nearly dark, andhe could hardly hope to finish before night cleaning the blood-stainedfloors and staircase.
He appeared, however, to submit to necessity, and prepared for his work bygetting water and brushes.
The evening was far advanced, and still Julio was occupied in scouring.How it happened he could not understand, but new spots of blood werecontinually appearing, even in places that he had washed several times.This was particularly the case in the room where the murder had beencommitted. Do what he would, he could not efface the marks of blood. Thesweat poured down his cheeks and he vented his rage in angry words a
gainsthis master.
It may have been fatigue, or perhaps the deepening shades of nightrendered his nervous system sensitive to the slightest impression; for atthe least sound of the wind through the leaves of the trees, at the leastgrating of the weathercock as it turned on its pivot, he stopped his workand looked anxiously around him.
He succeeded, however, in stifling these emotions, and continued his laboron the fatal spot where the chair had stood.
Finally he arose, took the lamp, examined attentively the whole floor, andsaid, with a kind of satisfaction:
"At last I have finished! He who could discover a spot there could seethrough a stone. My arms are almost broken; I can scarcely straightenmyself. Now for my last task! a grave is soon filled; in a half hour Ishall be far from this accursed place."
Saying these words, he left the room, and taking the lamp descended againthe staircase leading to the cellar.
When he had reached the middle of the subterranean passage, he suddenlystopped, turned pale from terror, and looked tremblingly around him. Hethought he heard something, an unusual, mysterious sound, faint butdistinct.
Having listened for some time, he concluded that his imagination haddeceived him. Summoning up all his resolution, he walked on towards thecellar, and through the open, door he saw the corpse of Geronimo lying ashe had left it.
As he was approaching the cellar, full of anxiety and slackening his pace,suddenly a human voice fell upon his ear. There was articulate sound, nospoken word, but only a hollow groan.
Julio, in an agony of terror, dropped the lamp. The oil extinguished theflame, and thus left in total darkness he fled from the cellar as rapidlyas he could by groping along the wall. His heart beat violently, and hislimbs tottered under him.
He recovered himself a little only after attaining a distant apartment andlighting a lamp. Here he remained a long time seated and buried inthought; various expressions of fear, anger, and even raillery flittedacross his face.
At last he arose, drew a knife from its scabbard, and trying itssharpness, murmured:
"I cannot bury him alive! Therefore I am forced to deal the death-blow!No, no, I will not; I have even braved the vengeance of my perfidiousmaster in order not to imbue my hands in his blood, and I will not now beguilty of it. But what can I do? I have no other alternative. I musteither bury him alive or kill him! And I cannot stay here all night."
He took up the lamp and slowly and silently he cautiously descended thestairs leading to the cellar; after some hesitation he entered; Geronimo'sbody still lay in the position he left it.
Julio had taken this time a much larger lamp, and it lighted the wholecellar; he heard no sound from the breast of the unfortunate victim,although he saw plainly that life was not extinct, for there was a slightheaving of the breast.
After listening a moment, Julio muttered, with a kind of joy:
"No additional cruelty is necessary. He is in his death-agony, and he willsoon die. I will shut the door and finish my work to-morrow. But my masterwill ask if all is done? He need know nothing of this circumstance. But Ilong to get away; and may the vengeance of God fall upon this spotto-night, and blot out all memento of it!"
Shortly after he left the garden, and with rapid strides threaded theobscure streets to rejoin his master, and also to cast off hisblood-stained garments.
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