The Amulet

It was about five o'clock in the afternoon. Julio was seated in one of the

rooms of his master's dwelling, his arms crossed upon his breast. Absorbed

in deep thought, he had his eyes fixed on an arm-chair which stood near

the only window in the room, and from time to time he shook his head with

an expression of anxious doubt.

The footsteps of a man in the room above interrupted his reflections; an

ironical smile passed over his features as he muttered: "He calls me a coward, the dastard that he is! For one hour he has been

running about from room to room as though pursued by invisible spectres.

How cunningly he has devised the whole affair in his own interest. Julio

is to kill poor Geronimo! Julio is to bury the body in the cellar! Julio

is to do all by himself! When we deal with false people, we must be on our

guard. His intention is clear enough to me; he wishes to secure means, in

case of necessity, of accusing me alone of the crime. He may threaten and

rage as much as he pleases; he shall deal the mortal blow him self, or

Geronimo shall leave this place unharmed."

Julio remained silent for a few moments, passed his hand across his brow,

and said, looking at the chair: "Think that in one hour that infernal seat will hold a corpse! The corpse

of the most noble, affable gentleman I have ever known. May his good angel

prevent him from visiting this cut-throat place! Signor Turchi will kill

him; but I must aid him.[18] What will be the end of this bloody tragedy?

The scaffold for the master, and the gallows for the servant. This is the

consequence of my disorderly life. Had I not gone, in a moment of

intoxication, and without knowing it, to the place where Judge Voltaï was

assassinated, I would not have been obliged to fly from my country, and

Signor Turchi would not have it in his power to force me to become his

accomplice in a frightful crime. The old cure of Porto-Fino said truly,

that 'Sin is a labyrinth; if once we enter, we loose the thread which

enables us to return to virtue.' Ah! would I were with my mother in Italy.

Useless wish. It is too late; I am banished from my country, and a price

set on my head."

He reflected for a few moments, then, with a gesture of impatience, he

resumed: "Come, come; of what good are all such thoughts? I am in his power, and I

must yield to necessity; but once let the blow be struck, once let him

commit a crime of which I can produce the proofs, then I will be master,

and in my turn I will cry in his ears: 'Simon Turchi, fear the bailiff and

the executioner!' At the present moment I am powerless; if I took any

means to prevent the attempt, he might destroy all evidence of his

criminal design, and deliver me up to the authorities of Lucca. I would be

taken into Italy and broken on the wheel, in the very place where my poor

old mother lives. I have always been a cause of sorrow to her; at least I

will spare her this last disgrace. But the signor is coming down. He will

reiterate his entreaties to me to strike the fatal blow; but I will not

have the blood of this innocent gentleman on me."