d the Bravo calmly, 'and I insinuated nothing
that should shock your sensibilities, my good man. The profession has
two branches, to one of which we belong, while you have followed the
other. We take lives, you take purses, and you should not feel any more
hurt at my suggesting that you might take mine, than I should if you
suggested that I might cut your throat.'

'That is true, sir.'

Tommaso spoke almost humbly, for he felt that if it should occur to the
Bravi to exercise their 'branch of the profession' upon him, he should
have no more chance of life than a kitten amongst bloodhounds. He
was strong and active, no doubt, and could use most weapons fairly well,
but he had neither the endurance of his terrible masters, nor their
supreme skill in fencing; as for taking them unawares, they never rested
without bolting their doors, and when they walked abroad they never
heard footsteps behind them without looking round, nor passed the corner
of a narrow street without drawing towards the middle of the road far
enough to allow room for sword-play. A poor fellow like Tommaso, who had
spent his early years as valet to a churchman, would make but a poor
figure against such men in a fight; he was proud enough to be allowed to
help them, almost without a thought of profit, and their money would be
as safe in his hands as it would be in Chigi's bank.

[Illustration: '"The profession has two branches. We take lives, you
take purses"']

He was ready to obey them blindly, too, which was what they wanted, for
the plan they had at last decided upon was a complicated one, and would
certainly miscarry if anything went wrong during the night in which it
was to be carried out; on the other hand, they did not trust him enough
to tell him what they meant to do, though he had to trust to their
promises that Ortensia should be already a prisoner in the little house
in Via di Santa Sabina when he should bring Don Alberto to the door; and
he knew that, if they failed, his only chance of safety would lie in
instant flight, before young Altieri could have him laid by the heels in
prison. Neither the money nor the papal safe-conduct would be
forthcoming until the young noble had actually seen Ortensia in the
little house.

After the last words he had spoken, Tommaso quietly prepared to shave
Gambardella, while Trombin was finishing the second orange. He had
brought hot water with him in a bright copper can, and he now proceeded
to tie a lar