But it
needed not the warning cry with which he turned, to afford them the
explanation of his odd behaviour. In the moment's tense silence that had
followed his sudden opening of the door they had caught from without the
distant fall of marching feet.
CHAPTER II
ON A MOUNTAIN PATH
"Armed men, my lords!" had been Fanfulla's cry. "We are betrayed!"
They looked at one another with stern eyes, and with that grimness that
takes the place which fear would hold in meaner souls.
Then Aquila rose slowly to his feet, and with him rose the others,
looking to their weapons. He softly breathed a name--"Masuccio Torri."
"Aye," cried Lodi bitterly, "would that we had heeded your warning!
Masuccio it will be, and at his heels his fifty mercenaries."
"Not less, I'll swear, by the sound of them," said Ferrabraccio. "And we
but six, without our harness."
"Seven," the Count laconically amended, resuming his hat and loosening
his sword in its scabbard.
"Not so, my lord," exclaimed Lodi, laying a hand upon the Count's arm.
"You must not stay with us. You are our only hope--the only hope of
Babbiano. If we are indeed betrayed--though by what infernal means I
know not--and they have knowledge that six traitors met here to-night to
conspire against the throne of Gian Maria, at least, I'll swear, it is
not known that you were to have met us. His Highness may conjecture, but
he cannot know for sure, and if you but escape, all may yet he well--
saving with us, who matter not.
Pages:
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35