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Updated: June 4, 2025
With folded arms, compressed lips, and remorseless, though ashy pale countenance, the old Lord of Arestino stands near the rack; and if his eyes can for a moment quit that feast which they devour so greedily, it is but to glance with demoniac triumph toward Manuel d'Orsini, whom an atrocious refinement of cruelty, suggested by the vengeful count himself, has made a spectator of that appalling scene!
"To this extent," returned the robber-chief; "that you accompany me to my stronghold, wherever it may be; that you join us in any project or plan that may be undertaken with a view to liberate the Countess of Arestino; and that you remain with us until such project or plan be attempted; then, whether it succeed or fail, you shall be at liberty to take your departure."
"No!" thundered the Count of Arestino; and he rang violently a silver bell which stood upon the table. "Holy Virgin, what will become of me? For what fate am I destined?" implored Giulia, frantically.
"I understand you, signor; we must confer alone," said the marquis. "We will go out together presently; but in the meantime, one word concerning the diamonds which the Countess of Arestino " "Employed me to procure for her," exclaimed Stephano, finishing the nobleman's sentence for him.
"The shameless woman," cried the Count of Arestino, his usually pale face becoming perfectly death-like through the violence of his inward emotions. "But how know you all this?" demanded his lordship, suddenly turning toward the dependent; "who is your informant and can he be relied on?
The night of which we are speaking was destined to be one pregnant with alarms for the Countess of Arestino and Signora Francatelli. Scarcely had they recovered from the effects of the appalling tragedy which had just been enacted, when their attention was drawn to a strange noise on one side of the cell.
'You, or rather your master, the Count of Arestino, pays for this business, and so I am bound to obey you. 'Listen, then, resumed Antonio, 'the young Count of Riverola, whom I have traced to the cottage this evening, will no doubt be coming away about the time we shall all meet down there; and therefore we shall have nothing to do but to carry him off to the cave. 'Why is the Count of Arestino so hostile to young Riverola? demanded the man who had answered to the name of Lomellino.
Nor had she time, even if she possessed the power, to continue her most painful explanation; for scarcely had she thus paused abruptly, when the door burst open, and the Count of Arestino stood in the presence of the guilty pair. In fury of heart and agony of mind, rushed the old lord into that apartment. Oh! how had he even been able to restrain himself so long, while listening at the door?
"I, Giulia, Countess of Arestino," began the brigand, dictating to her, "confess myself to owe Stephano Verrina a deep debt of gratitude for his kindness in recovering my diamonds from the possession of the Jew Isaachar, to whom they were pledged for a sum which I could not pay."
We said then, at the opening of this chapter, that six days had elapsed since Flora became an inmate of the convent, and four since circumstances had given her a companion in the person of Giulia of Arestino.
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