“The history of your last literary quarrel!” Dinah observed.

“For pity’s sake, come back to the Duke of Bracciano,” cried Monsieur de Clagny.

To the despair of all the company, Lousteau went on with the made-up sheet.

  224 OLYMPIA

I then wished to make sure of my misfortune that I might be avenged under the protection of Providence and the Law.  The Duchess guessed my intentions.  We were at war in our purposes before we fought with poison in our hands.  We tried to tempt each other to such confidence as we could not feel, I to induce her to drink a potion, she to get posses- sion of me.  She was a woman, and she won the day; for women have a snare more than we men.  I fell into it—­I was happy; but I awoke next day in this iron cage.  All through the day I bellowed with rage in the

          OR ROMAN REVENGE 225

darkness of this cellar, over which is the Duchess’ bedroom.  At night an ingenious counterpoise acting as a lift raised me through the floor, and I saw the Duchess in her lover’s arms.  She threw me a piece of bread, my daily pittance.

“Thus have I lived for thirty months!  From this marble prison my cries can reach no ear.  There is no chance for me.  I will hope no more.  Indeed, the Duchess’ room is at the furthest end of the palace, and when I am carried up there none can hear my voice.  Each time I see my wife she shows me the

  226 OLYMPIA

poison I had prepared for her and her lover.  I crave it for myself, but she will not let me die; she gives me bread, and I eat it.

  “I have done well to eat and live;
  I had not reckoned on robbers!”

  “Yes, Eccellenza, when those fools
  the honest men are asleep, we are
  wide awake.”

“Oh, Rinaldo, all I possess shall be yours; we will share my treasure like brothers; I would give you everything—­even to my Duchy——­”

“Eccellenza, procure from the Pope an absolution in articulo mor- tis.  It would be of more use to me in my walk of life.”

          OR ROMAN REVENGE 227

“What you will.  Only file through the bars of my cage and lend me your dagger.  We have but little time, quick, quick!  Oh, if my teeth were but files!—­I have tried to eat through this iron.”

  “Eccellenza,” said Rinaldo, “I
  have already filed through one bar.”

  “You are a god!”

“Your wife was at the fete given by the Princess Villaviciosa.  She brought home her little Frenchman; she is drunk with love.—­You have plenty of time.”

  “Have you done?”

  “Yes.”

  228 OLYMPIA

  “Your dagger?” said the Duke
  eagerly to the brigand.

  “Here it is.”

  “Good.  I hear the clatter of the
  spring.”