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.

“Ah, if what you say be true!  Tell me this means of safety!”

“There lives in the parish of Saint Andrew a man of giant stature and strength; he is named Bufferio; he will do anything for money; whether it be to beat, wound, or kill a man, it is all the same to him.  He fulfils his mission to the satisfaction of his employers, and he never betrays a secret.  He has five or six intrepid companions engaged in the same trade as himself; they may be relied upon.  Give me money to pay this ruffian, and you need have no anxiety; Bufferio will think that I am acting from personal vengeance; besides, he does not know me.  Thus neither of us will be suspected nor accused should the affair prove unsuccessful.”