He had been desired to rise early; and when he quitted his room, he found Mazzuolo and his wife already stirring.  They bade him go below and send up breakfast, and to be careful that it was brought by the people of the house.  This was done; and when the waiter and the host were present, Tina took the opportunity of knocking at Madame Louison’s door, and bidding her rise.  To the great amazement of the two Italians, she answered with alacrity that she was nearly dressed, and should be with them immediately.  They stared at each other; but presently she opened the door, and appeared as fresh as ever; observing, however, that she had been very cold, for that the fire had gone out before she went to bed.  This accounted for the whole thing, and Karl escaped all blame.

During the ensuing day nothing remarkable occurred:  fresh charcoal was provided; but at night it was found there were no stoves in the bed-chambers; and as the houses on the road they were travelling were poor and ill-furnished, all the good inns having been dismantled by the troops, the same thing happened at several successive stations.

This delay began to render the affair critical, for they were daily drawing near Augsburg, where M. Louison was to meet his wife; and Mazzuolo resolved to conclude the business by a coup de main.  He had learned from the postilion that the little post-house which was to form their next night’s lodging was admirably fitted for a deed of mischief.  It lay at the foot of a precipice, in a gorge of the mountains:  the district was lonely, and the people rude, not likely to be very much disturbed, even if they did suspect the lady had come unfairly to her end.  It was not, however, probable that the charcoal would be of any use on this occasion; the place was too poor to be well furnished with stoves; so Karl was instructed in what he would have to do.

‘When she is asleep,’ said Mazzuolo, ’you must give her a blow on the head that will be sufficient to stun her.  Then we will complete the job; and as we shall start early in the morning with Tina in female attire, they will never miss her.’  Karl, as usual, made no objection; and when they arrived at night at the inn, which fully answered the description given, and was as lonely as the worst assassins could desire, the two men sallied forth to seek a convenient place for disposing of the body.  Neither had they much difficulty in finding what they wanted:  there was not only a mountain torrent hard by, but there was also a deep mysterious hole in a neighbouring field, that looked very much as if the body of the young traveller would not be the first that had found a grave there.