ollections. It was Valetty, one of the
few friends I had made during my studies at Paris. He said that he had
casually come to Florence, where his father, a distinguished man,
resided; he had heard of my story, and come to see me once more, to
inquire with his own lips, how I could have been guilty of such an
awful crime. I told him the whole history: he seemed lost in wonder,
and conjured me to tell him, my only friend, all the truth, and not to
depart with a lie upon my tongue. I swore to him with the most solemn
oath, that I had spoken the truth; and that no other guilt could be
attached to me, than that, having been blinded by the glance of the
gold, I had not seen the improbability of the Stranger's story. "Then
did you not know Bianca?" asked he. I assured him that I had never
seen her. Valetty thereupon told me that there was a deep mystery in
the matter; that the Governor in great haste had urged my
condemnation, and that a report was current among the people, that I
had known Bianca for a long time, and had murdered her out of revenge
for her intended marriage with another. I informed him that all this
was probably true of the Red-mantle, but that I could not prove his
participation in the deed. Valetty embraced me, weeping, and promised
me to do all that he could; to save my life, if nothing more. I had
not much hope; nevertheless, I knew that my friend was a wise man, and
well acquainted with the laws, and that he would do all in his power
to preserve me.

Two long days was I in suspense; at length Valetty appeared. "I bring
consolation, though even that is attended with sorrow. You shall live
and be free, but with the loss of a hand!"

Overjoyed, I thanked my friend for my life. He told me that the
Governor had been inexorable, and would not once look into the matter:
that at length, however, rather than appear unjust, he had agreed, if
a similar case could be found in the annals of Florentine history,
that my penalty should be regulated by the punishment that was then
inflicted. He and his father had searched, day and night, in the old
books, and had at length found a case similar in every respect to
mine; the sentence there ran thus:--

"He shall have his left hand cut off; his goods shall be confiscated,
and he himself banished forever!"

Such now was my sentence, also, and I was to prepare for the painful
hour that awaited me. I will not bring before your eyes the frightful
moment, in which, at the