killher.
'Lockthatdoor,'IsaidtoFabio,pointingtotheonefromwhichwehadcome.Then,lookingather,Iscreamed,—
'Harlot!'
IcalledtoFabio,andwelefttheroom.Ilockedthedoor,andsheremainedshutinwithherlover....
Icalledmyservantsandbadethemfollowme,andwentout.Iwalkedproudly,surroundedbymyretainers,andIcametothehouseofBartolomeoMoratini.Hehadjustfinisheddinner,andwassittingwithhissons.Theyroseastheysawme.
'Ah,Filippo,youhavereturned.'Then,seeingmypaleface,theycried,'Butwhatisit?Whathashappened?'
AndBartolomeobrokein.
'Whatisthatonyourhand,Filippo?'
Istretcheditout,sothathemightsee.
'That—thatisthebloodofyourdaughter'slover.'
'Oh!'
'Ifoundthemtogether,andIkilledtheadulterer.'
Bartolomeokeptsilenceamoment,thenhesaid,—
'Youhavedonewell,Filippo.'Heturnedtohissons.'Scipione,givememysword.'
Hegirdediton,andthenhespoketome.
'Sir,'hesaid,'IbegyoutowaitheretillIcome.'
Ibowed.
'Sir,Iamyourservant.'
'Scipione,Alessandro,followme!'
Andaccompaniedbyhissons,helefttheroom,andIremainedalone.
Theservantspeepedinatthedoor,lookingatmeasifIweresomestrangebeast,andfledwhenIturnedround.Iwalkedupanddown,upanddownIlookedoutofwindow.Inthestreetthepeopleweregoingtoandfro,singing,andtalkingasifnothinghadhappened.Theydidnotknowthatdeathwasflyingthroughtheairtheydidnotknowthatthehappinessoflivingmenhadgoneforever.
AtlastIheardthestepsagain,andBartolomeoMoratinienteredtheroom,followedbyhissonsandallthreewereverygrave.
'Sir,'hesaid,'thestainonyourhonourandminehasbeeneffaced.'
Ibowedmoredeeplythanbefore.
'Sir,Iamyourveryhumbleservant.'
'IthankyouthatyouallowedmetodomydutyasafatherandIregretthatamemberofmyfamilyshouldhaveshownherselfunworthyofmynameandyours.Iwilldetainyounolonger.'
Ibowedagain,andleftthem.