“His business is settled,” replied Bruno; “but there is another legion of devils coming upon us.”
“And what do you mean next to do?” asked the merchant.
“Kill as many as I can in the first instance,” said Bruno.
“And then?” inquired the merchant.
“Fire the fortress,” said Bruno, coolly, “and then—blow myself up along with the rest.”
The women hearing this began to scream most lustily.
“Ali,” said Pascal, “take these ladies into the vaults, and give them all they ask for except a candle, for fear they should set fire to the powder before the proper time.”
The poor terrified creatures fell on their knees.
“Come, make haste!” cried Bruno, stamping his feet; “do as I order you.”
And he uttered these words with such a look and accent, that the two girls rose and followed Ali without daring to utter another word of complaint.