Having reached his bed-room, Turchi drew a second chair to the table, and said: 

“Sit down, Julio; here is a bottle already opened.  If I did not fear its effects, we would empty it in honor of your departure.”

Julio sat down, and held the bottle before the lamp.

“Bah!” he exclaimed, “it only contains about four glasses.  You need not trouble yourself about that quantity.”

Signor Turchi took two large glasses from the cupboard, placed them on the table, and filled their to the brim.

“A pleasant journey to you, Julio,” he said, “and may you arrive safely at your destination.”

They both emptied their glasses at one draught, but the servant pushed his glass to his master, saying: 

“Oh, the divine liquor! it is a cooling balm to my burning throat.  One more glass, signor, I beg you.”

Simon filled the glasses again, and said: 

“Yes, but on condition that you wait awhile before drinking it.”

Hoping that his obedience might procure him a third glass, Julio resisted the temptation to gratify himself at once.

In the meantime, Turchi contemplated his servant with a peculiar expression.  There was a malicious sparkle in his eye, and a smile of triumph on his lips.  He evidently had some purpose in thus watching Julio; but what could be his secret design?

At last he pretended that he was about to take the wine, but by a quick movement he upset it.

With an exclamation of impatience he raised the glass, and said: 

“It is a sin to spill such wine.  Now I have no more in which to drink your health.  Get another bottle, Julio, from the cupboard; it is perhaps the last time that we shall drink together.  On the third shelf, the bottle with the long neck.”

Julio arose with difficulty from his chair, and staggered to the cupboard.

Simon Turchi thrust his hand in his doublet, and drew out a very small phial.  He hastily poured nearly the whole contents into Julio’s glass, and immediately concealed the phial; and although he trembled in every limb, he said, calmly: 

“A little higher, Julio—­to the left; that is the right bottle.”

The servant brought the bottle to his master, who uncorked it; but as he was about to pour out the wine, he said: 

“Empty your glass, Julio; this is a different wine, and the mixture would spoil both.”

Julio drank the wine, but no sooner had he swallowed it than he exclaimed: 

“What was in my glass?  It had a strange, bitter taste.  Did you put poison in it?”

“What a silly idea!” said Turchi, turning pale.

“You are capable of such a deed, signor.”

“The lees gave the bad taste, Julio.  Take another glass, and it will pass away.”

Emptying his glass again, Julio said: 

“You are right; it is gone.  I never tasted anything in my life more disagreeable.”