Women, in trying circumstances, often give proof of marvellous energy and force of character. Mastering for the moment her grief,--dismissing every painful thought,--the young girl sought only to cheer the last hours of the condemned.
"Take off these heavy fetters which crush him," said she to the jailer; "put him in some other less frightful cell, I implore you!"
"I have no desire to be hung in his place," growled the man.
"Oh!" said she, pleadingly, "it can be no crime to soothe the last moments of a dying man!" and she emptied the contents of her purse into the jailer's hand.
The effect of the gold was magical; he smiled, bowed, and muttered some excuse for his churlishness.
"Noble lady--you are too kind--yes, you are right, it would be inhuman to torture the poor wretch unnecessarily. I will conduct him to the upper tower, and, as he cannot wear his chains on his last journey, I may as well rid him of them now."
And, taking a key from the bunch at his girdle, Guido's manacles fell upon the ground.
"Captain Hesso would be incensed, were he to see this, but it matters little; he won't come back again today, and to-morrow all will be over."
These last cruel words wellnigh broke the young girl's heart. The jester observed her changing face, and his own ready sympathies were awakened.
"Yes," said he, "to-morrow all will, probably, be over; but, one word from me to the noble Duke, would falsify your prediction. I cut the rope once, and I would do it again if the fancy took me."