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Quick！〃
I pushed her through the gap and helped her to replace the planks。 I
had retained her cloak in my hands； and with this wrapped round me I
crept into the darkest corner of her cell。 There I lay when the door was
opened and several men came in。 I had reckoned that they would bring
no lantern； for they had none with them before。
To their eyes I was only a dark blur in the corner。
〃Bring a light；〃 said one of them。
〃No； no； curse it！〃 cried a rough voice； which I knew to be that of the
ruffian； Matteo。 〃It is not a job that I like； and the more I saw it the less I
should like it。 I am sorry； signora； but the order of the tribunal has to be
obeyed。〃
My impulse was to spring to my feet and to rush through them all and
out by the open door。 But how would that help Lucia？ Suppose that I
got clear away； she would be in their hands until I could come back with
help； for single…handed I could not hope to clear a way for her。 All this
flashed through my mind in an instant； and I saw that the only course for
me was to lie still； take what came； and wait my chance。 The fellow's
coarse hand felt about among my curlsthose curls in which only a
woman's fingers had ever wandered。 The next instant he gripped my ear
and a pain shot through me as if I had been touched with a hot iron。 I bit
my lip to stifle a cry； and I felt the blood run warm down my neck and
back。
〃There； thank Heaven； that's over；〃 said the fellow； giving me a
friendly pat on the head。 〃You're a brave girl； signora； I'll say that for
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you； and I only wish you'd have better taste than to love a Frenchman。
You can blame him and not me for what I have done。〃
What could I do save to lie still and grind my teeth at my own
helplessness？ At the same time my pain and my rage were always
soothed by the reflection that I had suffered for the woman whom I loved。
It is the custom of men to say to ladies that they would willingly endure
any pain for their sake； but it was my privilege to show that I had said no
more than I meant。 I thought also how nobly I would seem to have acted
if ever the story came to be told； and how proud the regiment of Conflans
might well be of their colonel。 These thoughts helped me to suffer in
silence while the blood still trickled over my neck and dripped upon the
stone floor。 It was that sound which nearly led to my destruction。
〃She's bleeding fast；〃 said one of the valets。 〃You had best fetch a
surgeon or you will find her dead in the morning。〃
〃She lies very still and she has never opened her mouth；〃 said another。
〃The shock has killed her。〃
〃Nonsense； a young woman does not die so easily。〃 It was Matteo who
spoke。 〃Besides； I did but snip off enough to leave the tribunal's mark
upon her。 Rouse up； signora； rouse up！〃
He shook me by the shoulder； and my heart stood still for fear he
should feel the epaulet under the mantle。
〃How is it with you now？〃 he asked。
I made no answer。
〃Curse it； I wish I had to do with a man instead of a woman； and the
fairest woman in Venice；〃 said the gondolier。 〃Here； Nicholas； lend me
your handkerchief and bring a light。〃
It was all over。 The worst had happened。 Nothing could save me。
I still crouched in the corner； but I was tense in every muscle； like a wild
cat about to spring。
If I had to die I was determined that my end should be worthy of my
life。
One of them had gone for a lamp and Matteo was stooping over me
with a handkerchief。 In another instant my secret would be discovered。
But he suddenly drew himself straight and stood motionless。 At the same
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instant there came a confused murmuring sound through the little window
far above my head。 It was the rattle of oars and the buzz of many voices。
Then there was a crash upon the door upstairs； and a terrible voice roared：
〃Open！ Open in the name of the Emperor！〃
The Emperor！ It was like the mention of some saint which； by its
very sound； can frighten the demons。
Away they ran with cries of terrorMatteo； the valets； the steward； all
of the murderous gang。 Another shout and then the crash of a hatchet
and the splintering of planks。 There were the rattle of arms and the cries
of French soldiers in the hall。 Next instant feet came flying down the
stair and a man burst frantically into my cell。
〃Lucia！〃 he cried； 〃Lucia！〃 He stood in the dim light； panting and
unable to find his words。 Then he broke out again。 〃Have I not shown
you how I love you； Lucia？ What more could I do to prove it？ I have
betrayed my country； I have broken my vow； I have ruined my friends； and
I have given my life in order to save you。〃
It was young Lorenzo Loredan； the lover whom I had superseded。
My heart was heavy for him at the time； but after all it is every man for
himself in love； and if one fails in the game it is some consolation to lose
to one who can be a graceful and considerate winner。
I was about to point this out to him； but at the first word I uttered he
gave a shout of astonishment； and； rushing out； he seized the lamp which
hung in the corridor and flashed it in my face。
〃It is you； you villain！〃 he cried。 〃You French coxcomb。 You shall
pay me for the wrong which you have done me。〃
But the next instant he saw the pallor of my face and the blood which
was still pouring from my head。
〃What is this？〃 he asked。 〃How come you to have lost your ear？〃
I shook off my weakness； and pressing my handkerchief to my wound
I rose from my couch； the debonair colonel of Hussars。
〃My injury； sir； is nothing。 With your permission we will not allude
to a matter so trifling and so personal。〃
But Lucia had burst through from her cell and was pouring out the
whole story while she clasped Lorenzo's arm。
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〃This noble gentlemanhe has t