all over the town? Are you not aware that the loveliest flower in
Florence, Bianca, the Governor's daughter, was murdered last night?
I saw her only yesterday driving through the streets in so cheerful a
manner with her intended one, for to-day the marriage was to have taken
place." I felt deeply wounded at each word of my neighbor. Many a time
my torment was renewed, for every one of my customers told me of the
affair, each one more ghastly than the other, and yet nobody could
relate anything more terrible than that which I had seen myself.

About mid-day a police-officer entered my shop and requested me to send
the people away. "Signor Zaleukos," he said, producing the things which
I had missed, "do these things belong to you?" I was thinking as to
whether I should not entirely repudiate them, but on seeing through
the door, which stood ajar, my landlord and several acquaintances,
I determined not to aggravate the affair by telling a lie, and
acknowledged myself as the owner of the things. The police-officer
asked me to follow him, and led me towards a large building which I soon
recognized as the prison. There he showed me into a room meanwhile.

My situation was terrible, as I thought of it in my solitude. The idea
of having committed a murder, unintentionally, constantly presented
itself to my mind. I also could not conceal from myself that the glitter
of the gold had captivated my feelings, otherwise I should not have
fallen blindly into the trap. Two hours after my arrest I was led out of
my cell. I descended several steps until at last I reached a great hall.
Around a long table draped in black were seated twelve men, mostly old
men. There were benches along the sides of the hall, filled with the
most distinguished of Florence. The galleries, which were above, were
thickly crowded with spectators. When I had stepped towards the table
covered with black cloth, a man with a gloomy and sad countenance rose;
it was the Governor. He said to the assembly that he as the father in
this affair could not sentence, and that he resigned his place on this
occasion to the eldest of the Senators. The eldest of the Senators was
an old man at least ninety years of age. He stood in a bent attitude,
and his temples were covered with thin white hair, but his eyes were
as yet very fiery, and his voice powerful and weighty. He commenced by
asking me whether I confessed to the murder. I requested him to allow
me to speak, and related