decided! the murder of a friend! He my friend? He is my
mortal enemy! Has he not deprived me of Mary's love? Has he not destroyed
all my hopes? Has he not devoted me to eternal infamy? His uncle has
consented; he will become his partner, the proprietor of an immense
fortune, the husband of Mary--of Mary, who was destined by her father to
be my wife! He will be powerful, rich, and happy; he will be surrounded by
every luxury; he will astonish the world by the magnificence of his style
of living, and from the pinnacle of his grandeur he will cast an eye of
lawful pride upon Turchi dishonored and ruined! Miserable dog that I am!
Deodati will discover that I owe him ten thousand crowns. He will appeal
to the courts of justice, and I will be condemned as a rogue; they will
discover that I have spent more than I possessed. Outraged, despised,
mocked, shall I fall forever into the abyss of misery and infamy? No, no;
let him die! His death alone can save me. If he perishes as I have
planned, I no longer owe him the ten thousand crowns; Mary becomes my
wife, and I am master of her dowry. In that case I am still the powerful,
honored chief of the house of Buonvisi! But time presses; to-morrow it may
be too late! I hear Julio coming. Upon him rests all my hope."

The servant entered and placed a lighted candle upon the table.

"Now, signor," he said, "to what trial do you wish to subject my courage?
However difficult it may be, it will not be beyond my strength."

"Close the blinds; lower the windows," said Turchi; "sit down and listen
attentively to my words. I am about to talk to you of an important
affair."

The red-haired man regarded his master with a malicious and incredulous
smile, but he took the seat indicated to him without a word of comment.

"Julio," said Simon, "I am dejected and undecided. There is a man who
pretends to be my friend, but who has secretly been my bitter enemy. He
has always artfully calumniated and deceived me, and injured me in my
fortune and honor; he has pushed his machinations to such a degree that I
will soon be condemned to eternal infamy and misery, unless, by a bold
stroke of vengeance, I break through the snares he has laid for my
destruction. Be calm, Julio; it does you honor to be inflamed with anger
against the enemies of your master; but listen. I discovered, three days
ago, that it was this treacherous friend who paid the assassins to inflict
the wound of which I still bear the scar o