send my rapier
through your doublet in a twinkling."

"Nay; I do not mean to anger thee, Stephano," cried the valet. "But let
us speak lower: chafe not, I pray thee!"

"Well--well!" said the other, gloomily; "go on, in the name of your
patron saint! Only keep a guard upon your tongue, for it wags somewhat
too freely; and remember that a man who has been for fifteen years the
captain of as gallant a band as ever levied contributions on the lieges
of the republic, is not to have '_coward_' thrown in his teeth."

"Let it pass, good Stephano!" urged the valet. "I tell thee that a
closet whereof I have spoken, can contain naught save a
treasure--perhaps in gold--perhaps in massive plate."

"We can dispose of either to our advantage," observed the bandit, with a
coarse chuckle.

"Will you undertake the business?" demanded Antonio.

"I will," was the resolute answer; "and as much to convince you that
Stephano is not a coward, as for any other reason. But when is it to be
done? and why did you make an appointment to meet me here, of all places
in Florence?"

"It can be done when you choose," replied Antonio; "and as for the other
questions, I desired you to meet me here, because I knew that you would
not refuse a fine chance; and, suspecting this much it was necessary to
show you the geography of the place."

"Good!" observed the robber-chief. "To-morrow night I have a little
affair in hand for a reverend and holy father, who is sure to be chosen
superior of his order if his rival in the candidature be removed; and in
four-and-twenty hours the said rival must be food for the fishes of the
Arno."

"Then the night after that?" suggested Antonio.

"Pre-engaged again," returned the bandit-captain coolly. "A wealthy
countess has been compelled to pledge her diamonds to a Jew; on Sunday
next she must appear with her husband at the palace of the Medici; and
on Saturday night, therefore, the diamonds must be recovered from the
Jew."

"Then the husband knows not that they are so pledged?" said Antonio.

"Scarcely," answered the brigand. "They were deposited with the Jew for
a loan which the countess raised to accommodate her lover. Now do you
understand?"

"Perfectly. What say you to next Monday night?"

"I am at your service," responded Stephano. "Monday will suit me
admirably, and midnight shall be the hour. And now instruct me in the
nature of the locality."

"Come with me, and I will show you by which way you an