insisted that the dice had not been fairly thrown, and he swept the table of all the money staked.  I sprang to my feet and called him a cheat.  He instantly dealt me a heavy blow.  Furious and thirsting for vengeance, I drew my dagger.  Immediately twenty daggers glittered above my head.  Perhaps, Bernardo, you think that I trembled?  You do not know me; when I am thus in the midst of danger, an entire army could not terrify me; for in whatever other qualities I may be deficient, I do not lack courage and intrepidity.  When I saw the villains about to rush upon me, I darted forward like a lion, and I cut about on every side so furiously with my dagger, that all, even to the gigantic Bufferio, fled from the cellar.  I pursued them into the street; there the combat recommenced; but my adversaries fared badly.  In a few moments Bufferio lay dead upon the ground between two of his comrades; the others, being badly wounded, had taken flight.  I stood alone upon the field of battle, a triumphant conqueror!  I remained in the same spot for a quarter of an hour, to see if any other enemies would present themselves, but the wretches had had enough for one night.”

Bernardo listened to this recital with an incredulous smile.  When it was concluded, he silently shook his head.

“Well! what have you to say of this adventure?” asked Julio.  “Might it not be narrated in the chronicles as an heroic adventure?”

“Certainly; in your place many others would have died of fright.  But this morning I saw this Bufferio, whom you declare to be dead, walking alive in the public square.”

“Impossible; you are mistaken.”

“Perhaps so; but I know the ruffian well, for I have twice seen him in the pillory.”

“If he is not dead, he will certainly not be able to make his appearance in the streets for six months to come.”

“Of course, you took your money from Bufferio?”

“How could I?”

“Since he lay lifeless at your feet, why did you not recover the money he had stolen from you?”

The red-haired man was at a loss for an answer; but after awhile he stammered out:  “You are right.  In the hurry of the struggle I did not think of it, and then I had not the time:  the watchmen ran on hearing the noise of the affray, and you may imagine that I did not care to fall into the hands of the bailiff.”

“I do not understand you; it seems to me you mentioned having remained a quarter of an hour upon the spot,” said Bernardo, with a slight smile.  “I suppose, Julio, there was much blood shed.”

“It flowed in torrents.”

Bernardo eyed his companion from head to foot in great surprise.

“I would like to ask you something, but you might not understand the joke, and you would be angry with me,” he said.

“Say candidly what you think,” replied his companion.

“I am extremely surprised, Julio, that there is not the smallest drop of blood, not the least spot, upon your clothes.  With your permission, I will say you dreamed all that?”