rl who had been carried off by an Austrian officer, under the pretext
of her complicity in one of the antecedent conspiracies.

"He rendered payment for it," said Agostino.

"He perished; yes! as we shake dust to the winds; but she!--it's
terrible! You place women in the front ranks--girls! What can defenceless
creatures do? Would you let the van-regiment in battle be the one without
weapons? It's slaughter. She's like a lamb to them. You hold up your
jewel to the enemy, and cry, 'Come and take it.' Think of the insults!
think of the rough hands, and foul mouths! She will be seized on the
boards--"

"Not if you keep your tongue from wagging," interposed Ugo Corte, fevered
by this unseasonable exhibition of what was to him manifestly a lover's
frenzied selfishness. He moved off, indifferent to Carlo's retort. Marco
Sana and Giulio Bandinelli were already talking aside with the Chief.

"Signor Carlo, not a hand shall touch me," said the signorina. "And I am
not a lamb, though it is good of you to think me one. I passed through
the streets of Milan in the last rising. I was unharmed. You must have
some confidence in me."

"Signorina, there's the danger," rejoined Carlo. "You trust to your good
angels once, twice--the third time they fail you! What are you among a
host of armed savages? You would be tossed like weed on the sea. In pity,
do not look so scornfully! No, there is no unjust meaning in it; but you
despise me for seeing danger. Can nothing persuade you? And, besides," he
addressed the Chief, who alone betrayed no signs of weariness; "listen, I
beg of you. Milan wants no more than a signal. She does not require to be
excited. I came charged with several proposals for giving the alarm.
Attend, you others! The night of the Fifteenth comes; it is passing like
an ordinary night. At twelve a fire-balloon is seen in the sky. Listen,
in the name of saints and devils!"

But even the Chief was observed to show signs of amusement, and the
gravity of the rest forsook them altogether at the display of this
profound and original conspiratorial notion.

"Excellent! excellent! my Carlo," said old Agostino, cheerfully. "You
have thought. You must have thought, or whence such a conception? But,
you really mistake. It is not the garrison whom we desire to put on their
guard. By no means. We are not in the Imperial pay. Probably your balloon
is to burst in due time, and, wind permitting, disperse printed papers
all over the ci