either well furnished nor clean: a table, three rickety
chairs, an oaken bench, a few earthenware vessels near the fireplace, and
a bed, constituted all the furniture. It was not, however, these common
objects which fixed the gaze of the visitor. What he could not see without
shuddering, was the number of strange arms suspended all around the walls
of the room. In the midst of rusty swords, sharp daggers and knives of
every size and shape, he saw short clubs with iron heads, steel chains
like the bit of a horse, ropes with running knots, and various other
articles whose use was inexplicable to him, although he was convinced that
these singular instruments were intended for no good purpose.

On the table, beside the lamp, was a large knife, and near it a piece of
linen and some sand for scouring, showing that the woman had been occupied
in cleaning these arms when the knock at the door interrupted her.

All these instruments of murder filled with terror the heart of the man
who was contemplating them. He turned his eyes away from them, trembling
as he reflected upon the horror of his position. However, a few moments
only were left him, for the door of the house soon opened and he heard
steps on the staircase.

The woman entered and said:

"Bufferio will soon be here. When he has the dice in his hand, it is
difficult to tear him away. Nevertheless, he will come. I think, signor,
that he has drank deeply. Look well to yourself, and if you value your
life, do not irritate him, for he would make as little scruple of
maltreating you as he would of crushing a worm. Apart from that, he is the
best man in the world."

She seated herself at the table, took up the knife and linen, and
continued her occupation, whilst observing the stranger with a suspicious
eye.

He had pulled the hood of the cloak over his face and seated himself in
silence, fixing his eye vaguely upon space, like a man wearied by long
waiting. He was deeply agitated, and from time to time his whole frame
shook. Every time that he glanced towards the table he met the penetrating
look of the frightful Megaera, who, while continuing to clean the blade of
the large knife, considered him from head to foot, and seemed endeavoring
to discover who he was and with what intention he had come.

At last, no longer able to resist his feeling of anxiety, he rose and
said:

"Woman, show me the way out. I have not time to wait longer. I will return
to-morrow, during th