Julio's countenance expressed stupefaction and terror. During the
development of the frightful plot he kept his eyes fixed on his master's
lips, and he continued to stare at him without moving.
"Well," asked his master, "is not the project cunningly devised?"
"It is astonishing, astonishing!" stammered the servant, lowering his
eyes.
"You are ready, I suppose, to strike the blow? But why do you hesitate?
Are you afraid?"
"No, no; but let me reflect a moment," said Julio.
After a few minutes of silence, he looked at his master, and said: "With your permission, signor, I will say that the plan, as you have
arranged it, appears to me to be fraught with danger to yourself. Suppose
that Geronimo should perceive me too soon and defend himself; that by
chance the lute-players should be men of courage; that I should be wounded
or made prisoner: any of these events might occur. I would certainly be
broken on the wheel or burned alive. That, however, would be of little
consequence, if by my death I could be useful to you. But I am your
servant, and known as such by all your acquaintances; and as I could have
no motive of hatred or vengeance against a cavalier who has never spoken
an unkind word to me, you would be at once suspected of having ordered the
murder."
"And you, I suppose, would betray me?" said Turchi, with bitter irony.
"Betray you, signor? that would not save myself; but under torture my
tongue might against my will pronounce your name."
Simon strode up and down the room, muttering between his teeth with
suppressed rage. His servant glanced at him stealthily, with an almost
imperceptible smile of joy and triumph.
At last Simon stood still in the middle of the room; the scar on his cheek
was of a fiery red, and his eyes rolled around restlessly.
"Shall I then be forever ruined? Nothing is left me in the world but
misery and infamy! Julio, is the arm-chair progressing?"[16] "The arm-chair! Then the arm-chair was destined as a snare for Geronimo?"
said the servant, stupefied. "What do you mean?"
"No, no, the chair would come too late!" said Simon Turchi, in an agitated
voice. "Talk no more about it; this evening you must lie in wait for
Geronimo and kill him. It is decided; it must be done!"
"I know a means to accomplish your purpose without danger either to you or
me, signor," said the servant.