take him to
_Castello Capuano_. It came at last, and Monte-Leone was glad of it, for
it seemed to bring him nearer to liberty. It was about midnight when the
Governor came to the Count's cell, accompanied by the worthy jailer and
several officers.

"Excellency," said he to Monte-Leone, "I have an order from the Duke of
Palma, minister of police, to take you to _Castello Capuano_, to be
tried."

"I am ready to obey the orders of the Duke," said Monte-Leone, "late as
the hour and bad as the weather are. But, Signor, the Duke treats me
like those curious monsters, who travel by night to avoid the anxious
eyes of the public, and to enhance the profits received from their
exhibition."

"Signor, the Duke of Palma," said the Governor, piqued by this irony in
relation to his patron, "has a more exalted object than exciting or
allaying the curiosity of the people of Naples. He wishes to prevent any
demonstration of your numerous partisans in your favor. Such conduct
would certainly injure your cause."

The sarcasm of the Count had made the Governor say too much. He had
revealed to Monte-Leone the interest he had excited, and the efforts
which might be made to save him. To a man like Monte-Leone nothing was
lost, and like a skilful geometer, he knew how to take advantage of the
errors of his adversary.

"Let us go, Signor," said Monte-Leone to the Governor. "I am impatient
to make an acquaintance with the new castle which the king honors me
with. Let me change once or twice again, and I will be able to publish a
statistical account of all the dungeons in the kingdom, for the
information of his majesty's beloved subjects."

An hour after this scene the Count was in a room of _Castello Capuano_,
appropriated to the reception of great and distinguished criminals to be
tried by the high court.

On the next day, a man of cold and ascetic air waited on Monte-Leone.
This person was Felippo San Angelo, the ogre of whom Pietro had spoken,
the terror of all criminals, the Grand Judge of Naples. If the _morale_
of the Judge had been calumniated by Pietro, his physique bore a strong
analogy to that of certain beasts of prey to which carnivorous appetite
is attributed. His nose was hooked like an eagle's, his brow was
prominent, oblong and bald, his lips were thin and fixed as if he had
never smiled, his body was long and attenuated, and he never met the
glance of those with whom he spoke.

"Signor," said the Grand Judge, "I am com