andhowcanIresistyou,appealingonherbehalf!'
'Bebrave,Checco!'saidMatteo.
'Itisthehighestthingofallthatweaskyou,'addedBartolomeo.'Mancandonothinggreater.Weaskyoutosacrificeyourself,evenyoursoul,maybe,forthegoodofusall.'
Checcoburiedhisfaceinhishandsandgroaned,—
'Oh,God!Oh,God!'
Then,withagreatsigh,heroseandsaid,—
'Beitasyouwill....Forthegoodofmycountry!'
'Ah,thanks,thanks!'
Bartolomeotookhiminhisarmsandkissedhimonbothcheeks.ThensuddenlyCheccotorehimselfaway.
'Butlistentothis,allofyou.Ihaveconsented,andnowyoumustletmespeak.IswearthatinthisthingIhavenothoughtofmyself.IfIalonewereconcernedIwouldnotmoveIwouldwaitfortheassassin'sknifecalmly.Iwouldevensacrificemywifeandchildren,andGodknowshowdearlyIlovethem!Iwouldnotstirafingertosavemyself.AndIswear,byallthatismostholytome,thatIamactuatedbynobasemotive,noambition,nothoughtofself,nopettyrevenge.IwouldwillinglyforgiveGirolamoeverything.Believeme,myfriends,Iamhonest.IsweartoyouthatIamonlydoingthisforthewelfareofthemenIlove,forthesakeofyouall,and—forLiberty.'
Theywarmlypressedhishands.
'Weknowit,Checco,webelieveit.Youareagreatandagoodman.'
Alittlelaterwebegantodiscussthewaysandmeans.Everyonehadhisplan,andtoittheothershadthemostconclusiveobjections.Wealltalkedtogether,eachoneratherannoyedattheunwillingnessoftheotherstolistentohim,andthinkinghowcontemptibletheirideaswerebesidehisown.Checcosatsilent.AfterawhileCheccospoke,—
'Willyoulistentome?'
Weheldourtongues.
'Firstofall,'hesaid,'wemustfindoutwhoiswithusandwhoisagainstus.'
'Well,'interruptedScipione,'therearethetwosoldiers,JacopoRonchiandLodovicoPansecchitheyarefuriouswiththeCount,andsaidtomealongwhilesincethattheywouldwillinglykillhim.'
'Oursixselvesandthosetwomakeeight.'
'ThentherearePietroAlbanese,andPaglianino,andMarcoScorsacana.'
TheyweredevotedadherentsofthehouseofOrsi,andcouldbetrustedtofollowtheheadofthefamilytothebottomlesspit.
'Eleven,'countedBartolomeo.
'Andthen—