nly broke off in their
bargaining.

Fifteen armed men rode slowly into the marketplace. They had great
difficulty to get past the throng of people at all, and, but for the
spies at the corners of the square, all the seven conspirators could
have slipped quietly away while the attention of the crowd was fixed
upon the soldiers. Michele moved a little closer to the Gadfly.

"Couldn't we get away now?"

"No; we're surrounded with spies, and one of them has recognized me. He
has just sent a man to tell the captain where I am. Our only chance is
to lame their horses."

"Which is the spy?"

"The first man I fire at. Are you all ready? They have made a lane to
us; they are going to come with a rush."

"Out of the way there!" shouted the captain. "In the name of His
Holiness!"

The crowd had drawn back, startled and wondering; and the soldiers made
a quick dash towards the little group standing by the palace steps. The
Gadfly drew a pistol from his blouse and fired, not at the advancing
troops, but at the spy, who was approaching the horses, and who fell
back with a broken collar-bone. Immediately after the report, six more
shots were fired in quick succession, as the conspirators moved steadily
closer to the tethered horses.

One of the cavalry horses stumbled and plunged; another fell to
the ground with a fearful cry. Then, through the shrieking of the
panic-stricken people, came the loud, imperious voice of the officer in
command, who had risen in the stirrups and was holding a sword above his
head.

"This way, men!"

He swayed in the saddle and sank back; the Gadfly had fired again
with his deadly aim. A little stream of blood was trickling down the
captain's uniform; but he steadied himself with a violent effort, and,
clutching at his horse's mane, cried out fiercely:

"Kill that lame devil if you can't take him alive! It's Rivarez!"

"Another pistol, quick!" the Gadfly called to his men; "and go!"

He flung down his cap. It was only just in time, for the swords of the
now infuriated soldiers were flashing close in front of him.

"Put down your weapons, all of you!"

Cardinal Montanelli had stepped suddenly between the combatants; and one
of the soldiers cried out in a voice sharp with terror:

"Your Eminence! My God, you'll be murdered!"

Montanelli only moved a step nearer, and faced the Gadfly's pistol.

Five of the conspirators were already on horseback and dashing up the
hilly street. Marcone s