n my face. Thus, he first shed
my blood and attempted my life; now he plans my ruin and dishonor. Julio,
what would you do in my place?"

"What would I do? Ask my dagger, signor; if it could speak, it would tell
you of wonderful exploits."

"Then you would not hesitate to undertake a difficult task?"

"Hesitate! you insult me, signor. I would not hesitate were twenty swords
brandished over my head."

"Understand, Julio, that had I doubted your intrepidity, I would not have
spoken to you of such grave affairs. I give you the highest proof of
confidence by intrusting my vengeance to your hands. I will tell you who
is my enemy, and where you can strike him secretly. Kill him, and you
shall be liberally recompensed."

This mission appeared unpalatable to Julio.

"Yes," he stammered; "but that is not my way of acting. I will pick a
quarrel with your enemy, and if he dares to raise a finger against me, he
is a dead man."

"Impossible; he is of noble birth."

"And if I insulted him, his valets would fall upon me and beat me."

"That is true. There is but one way, Julio; I will tell you where you can
stab him at night without the least danger."

"I? shall I treacherously kill your enemy? This gentleman has never
injured me. Since how long has it been the custom for valets to avenge the
grievances of their masters? It is your own affair, signor."

"You value the life of a man as little as a farthing, you said," replied
Simon Turchi, with bitter irony; "and now you allege the most puerile
reasons as excuses. You are a coward, Julio."

"I am not; but I do not choose to lie in wait and stab a man in the dark."

"That is a feint, a subterfuge, to conceal your cowardice."

"Since it is so simple and easy, why do you not deal the blow yourself,
signor?"

The scar on Simon Turchi's face became of a livid white; his whole frame
trembled with rage; but by a strong effort he controlled his emotion, and
after a few moments he said, with a contemptuous smile upon his lips:

"Four years ago I took you into my service through pity; I have paid you
well, excused all your faults, your intoxication, your passion for
gambling; I have not dismissed you, although you have deserved it a
hundred times; and now, when for the first time you can be useful to me,
you have not the courage. I wished to try you. What I said was only a
jest. To-morrow, Julio, you will leave my service. You are a liar and a
coward."

"Do not condemn me so