ster only been apparently dead? The latter
seemed to me the more probable, but I dare not tell the brother of the
dead that a less speedy cut would perhaps have aroused her without
killing her. I was going, therefore, to sever the head entirely, when
the dying lady once more groaned, stretched herself in painful
convulsions, and then expired. Overcome by terror, I rushed shuddering
from the apartment. It was dark in the corridor without, the lamp was
extinguished, no trace of my companion was to be discovered, and I was
obliged to grope my way along the wall at hazard in order to reach the
winding staircase. I found it at length, and hurried down
precipitately. There was no one visible below, the door was ajar, and
when I reached the street I breathed more freely, having felt oppressed
with horror in the house. Spurred on by terror, I hastened towards my
lodging and buried myself in the pillows of my couch, to forget the
atrocious deed I had perpetrated. But sleep fled from me, and the
morning first summoned me to composure. It seemed to me probable that
the man who had seduced me to the fearful act, as it now appeared to
me, would not inform against me. I determined to go into my shop to
business and assume, if possible, a cheerful air. But alas! a new
circumstance which I observed only now, increased my anxiety; I missed
my cap and belt, as well as the knives, and was uncertain whether I had
left them in the apartment of the murdered lady, or had lost them in my
flight. The former, unfortunately, seemed more probable, and the
knives would therefore betray me as the murderer.

I opened my shop at the usual time, and my neighbour came in, as he
usually did in the morning, being fond of a chat. "Well, neighbour,"
said he, "what do you think of this horrible occurrence which took
place last night?" I pretended not to know any thing about it. "What!
do you pretend not to know what is known all over the town? Not to
know that the fairest flower in Florence, Bianca, the daughter of the
governor, was murdered last night?" Ah me! I saw her even yesterday go
in her carriage with her bridegroom, for it was only yesterday she was
married. Every word spoken by my neighbour was a dagger in my heart.
How often were these my tortures renewed, for each of my customers
repeated the story, one painting it more frightfully than the other,
though none could speak all the horrors I had myself witnessed. About
noon an off