rs on the platform he
keeps an eye and ear open for all that passes here. Besides, he would
not be at all sorry to obtain my place for his first assistant--a
promising lad who becomes his son-in-law to-day."

"Ah!" said Monte-Leone, "the executioner's daughter is to be married."

"A love match. He wished to postpone the wedding until after _your
affaire_, as he calls it, for on such cases he always has large
perquisites, and would be able largely to increase the bride's portion.
The young girl, however, was in love, and was unwilling to wait for you.
The worthy father then determined to make her happy, and I have just
seen all the party set out for the church of Santa-Lucia. The
executioner, his wife, the bride, and the little executioners, all in
their best garb. The procession was so imposing, they might have been
taken for a family of turnkeys. Lest, however, the people should disturb
the ceremony by a volley of stones, they set out early, at five o'clock.
As, therefore, we have no inquisitive neighbors, I am come to have an
understanding with your excellency, in order that I may not be
compromised in the trial."

"So be it!" said the Count, "let us have an understanding. In the first
place, have they any suspicions?"

"Of whom?"

"Of you to be sure, for unless I have wings and flew out of the window
to _Torre-del-Greco_, no one but you can have opened the prison gate to
me."

"That is true, then," said Pietro, "you went to _Torre-del-Greco_ to
stab Stenio Salvatori. I really would not have believed it, for it seems
that twenty thousand piasters is too large a sum for the pleasure of a
poniard thrust--in the arm too! After all, though, we Neapolitans regard
nothing valuable compared with revenge!"

"It matters little to you whether it was for revenge or another purpose.
All I wish is, for you alone to know that I was away for twelve hours.
As neither you or I will mention it, I am at ease."

"You are right in the main, your Excellency. But we have placed our
heads in the balance, and I am determined yours shall not outweigh mine.
The hand of justice weighs heavily, especially on the poor. It would be
very bad if now, when I am prepared to live happily and pleasantly on
the proceeds of our little operation, I were called on to dangle at the
end of a rope, to the great delight of the dealers in ice-water and
macaroni, whom the people of Naples on that day would enrich. Few would
miss the entertainment which w