“No, I have not time.”

“You must take the time.  You shall not leave here until you have heard my adventures of last night.”

“It is always the same story over again.  If I believed you, I would suppose that the cemeteries were too small to contain the bodies of all whom you have slain.  Open the door, Julio, and let me go, I beg you.”

The other took his hand, and dragging him by force into the house, said:  “I am here alone all day, with no one to whom I can speak one word; it is enough to paralyze my tongue.  You shall listen to my adventures whether you wish it or not.  Judge, Bernardo, by the recital of my great deeds what an honor it is to you to be the comrade of so intrepid a man.  Be not ill-humored; you know it is useless to resist me.  Don’t laugh; were I to try it, I could toss you about like a ball; but you are my friend, and besides, you are too weak to contend with me.  Therefore, fear nothing.”

They reached the house and entered a kind of parlor, where Julio threw upon the table the spring he held in his hand, and seating himself, he said to his companion: 

“Take a chair, Bernardo.  You are about to hear some strange adventures.  Do you know the ruffian Bufferio?  He is a jolly fellow, who cares as little for the life of a man as for that of a fly.  There is not a man in the parish of Saint Andrew who does not tremble at the sight of him.  In a by-street there is a tavern in a large cellar, where one can hear the rattling of dice all night long, and they play for piles of gold—­where it comes from, the devil only knows.  Late yesterday evening I was passing through this street, when the noise of the dice fell upon my ear.  You must know, Bernardo, that this sound is as enchanting music attracting me; it overpowers my will.  I descended into the tavern and called for a glass of beer.  I seated myself among the players, and challenged any of them to play against me.  I won and lost; but at last good luck was on my side, and my pockets were so full that they could hardly bear the weight of the florins.  To console the losers, I ordered the hostess to bring a pint of wine to each of them; but in spite of my generosity the villains looked at me angrily, and seemed to excite each other to take revenge upon me.  They strove to pick a quarrel.  They were like a band of thieves and assassins; but the rascals saw with whom they had to deal.  My defiant look, my bold words, my intrepid countenance, kept them at a respectful distance from me.  Suddenly the dreaded Bufferio entered the cellar.  He had no sooner learned from his comrades how fortune had favored me than he challenged me to play with him.  It was just what I wanted.  I don’t know how it happened, but I lost every game.  Each time we doubled the stakes; a cold sweat bathed my brow as I saw florin after florin quietly put in the pocket of my adversary, until I had only one farthing left.  This time fortune favored me; but Bufferio