you, signor. To-morrow morning must you seek
Antonio. He knows not that you suspect his villainy and, as you will say
nothing relative to the failure in the arrival of your dispatches at
Constantinople, he will rest secure in the belief that you have not yet
discovered that deed of treachery. You must represent yourself as the
mortal enemy of the Count of Riverola, and so speak as to lead Antonio
to confess to you where he is and offer to become the instrument of your
vengeance. Then bribe Antonio heavily to deliver up Francisco into your
power to-morrow night at a particular hour, and at a place not far from
the spot where you know the secret entrance of the banditti's stronghold
to be."

"All this, lady," said Demetrius, "can be easily arranged. Antonio would
barter his soul for gold; much more readily, then, will he sell the
Count of Riverola to one who bids high for the possession of the noble
prisoner."

"But this is not all," resumed Nisida, "'tis merely the preface to my
plan. So soon as the shades of to-morrow's evening shall have involved
the earth in obscurity, a strong party of your soldiers, properly
disguised, but well armed, must repair in small sections, or even
singly, to that grove where you have already obtained a clew to the
entrance of the robbers' stronghold. Let them conceal themselves amongst
the trees in the immediate vicinity of the enormous chestnut that
overhangs the precipice. When the robbers emerge from their
lurking-place with Francisco, your soldiers will immediately seize upon
them. Should you then discover the secret of the entrance to the
stronghold, the object will be gained,--your men will penetrate into the
subterranean den,--and the massacre of the horde will prove an easy
matter. But should it occur that those banditti who may be employed in
leading forth my brother, do shut up the entrance of their den so
speedily that your dependents discover not its secrets, then must we
trust to bribery or threats to wrest that secret from the miscreants. At
all events Antonio will be present to accompany Francisco to the place
which you will appoint to meet them; and as the villain will fall into
your power, it will perhaps prove less difficult to induce him to betray
his comrades, than it might be to persuade any of the banditti
themselves."

"Lady, your plan has every element of success," observed Demetrius; "and
all shall be done as you suggest. Indeed, I will myself conduct the
expedi