‘Until you hear from the Chief, nothing is to be done?’ Laura said passionately.  ’Are we to remain in suspense?  Impossible!  I cannot bear it.  We have plenty of arms in the city.  Oh, that we had cannon!  I worship cannon!  They are the Gods of battle!  But if we surprise the citadel;—­one true shock of alarm makes a mob of an army.  I have heard my husband say so.  Let there be no delay.  That is my word.’

‘But, signora, do you see that all concert about the signal is lost?’

‘My friend, I see something’; Laura nodded a significant half-meaning at him.  ’And perhaps it will be as well.  Go at once.  See that another signal is decided upon.  Oh! because we are ready—­ready.  Inaction now is uttermost anguish—­kills the heart.  What number of the white butchers have we in the city to-night?’

’They are marching in at every gate.  I saw a regiment of Hungarians coming up the Borgo della Stella.  Two fresh squadrons of Uhlans in the Corso Francesco.  In the Piazza d’Armi artillery is encamped.’

‘The better for Brescia, for Bergamo, for Padua, for Venice!’ exclaimed Laura.  ’There is a limit to their power.  We Milanese can match them.  For days and days I have had a dream lying in my bosom that Milan was soon to breathe.  Go, my brother; go to Barto Rizzo; gather him and Count Medole, Agostino, and Colonel Corte—­to whom I kiss my fingers—­gather them together, and squeeze their brains for the one spark of divine fire in this darkness which must exist where there are so many thorough men bent upon a sacred enterprise.  And, Carlo,’—­Laura checked her nervous voice, ‘don’t think I am declaiming to you from one of my “Midnight Lamps."’ (She spoke of the title of her pamphlets to the Italian people.) ’You feel among us women very much as Agostino and Colonel Corte feel when the boy Carlo airs his impetuosities in their presence.  Yes, my fervour makes a philosopher of you.  That is human nature.  Pity me, pardon me, and do my bidding.’

The comparison of Ammiani’s present sentiments to those of the elders of the conspiracy, when his mouth was open in their midst, was severe and masterful, for the young man rose instantly without a thought in his head.

He remarked:  ’I will tell them that the signorina does not give the signal.’

’Tell them that the name she has chosen shall be Vittoria still; but say, that she feels a shadow of suspicion to be an injunction upon her at such a crisis, and she will serve silently and humbly until she is rightly known, and her time comes.  She is willing to appear before them, and submit to interrogation.  She knows her innocence, and knowing that they work for the good of the country, she, if it is their will, is content to be blotted out of all participation:—­all!  She abjures all for the common welfare.  Say that.  And say, to-morrow night the rising must be.  Oh! to-morrow night!  It is my husband to me.’

Laura Piaveni crossed her arms upon her bosom.