ndon him in such a dilemma, but to show some sense
of gratitude for past services and to leave the princess. "Ah! thou
traitorous villain!" cried Roderigo, "hast thou, indeed, ventured to
meddle in this business? Dost thou boast thyself a rich man at my
expense? I will now convince the world and thee of the extent of my
power, both to give and to take away. I shall have the pleasure of
seeing thee hanged before thou leavest this place." Poor Matteo
finding there was no remedy, said nothing more, but, like a wise man,
set his head to work in order to discover some other means of
expelling the spirit; for which purpose he said to the king, "Sire, it
is as I feared: there are certain spirits of so malignant a character
that there is no keeping any terms with them, and this is one of them.
However, I will make a last attempt, and I trust that it will succeed
according to our wishes. If not, I am in your majesty's power, and I
hope you will take compassion on my innocence. In the first place, I
have to entreat that your majesty will order a large stage to be
erected in the centre of the great square, such as will admit the
nobility and clergy of the whole city. The stage ought to be adorned
with all kinds of silks and with cloth of gold, and with an altar
raised in the middle. Tomorrow morning I would have your majesty, with
your full train of lords and ecclesiastics in attendance, seated in
order and in magnificent array, as spectators of the scene at the said
place. There, after having celebrated solemn mass, the possessed
princess must appear; but I have in particular to entreat that on one
side of the square may be stationed a band of men with drums,
trumpets, horns, tambours, bagpipes, cymbals, and kettle-drums, and
all other kinds of instruments that make the most infernal noise. Now,
when I take my hat off, let the whole band strike up, and approach
with the most horrid uproar towards the stage. This, along with a few
other secret remedies which I shall apply, will surely compel the
spirit to depart."

These preparations were accordingly made by the royal command; and
when the day, being Sunday morning, arrived, the stage was seen
crowded with people of rank and the square with the people. Mass was
celebrated, and the possessed princess conducted between two bishops,
with a train of nobles, to the spot. Now, when Roderigo beheld so vast
a concourse of people, together with all this awful preparation, he
was almost st