And she waited for his arrival in the castle of Zaizi, near Aix, where, after concluding his more pressing business, the stern patriot came to fetch her.
Silently the two travelled back together to the deserted home at Marseilles; the heart of one full of bitter pain and shame and anger, the other of a sad realization of her treachery.
What was the tempest raging in the mind of Sampiero, we know not; but it is impossible to believe that one of his nature contemplated murder beforehand.
As he crossed the threshold of the house, where he had left Vannina a beloved and trusted wife, now empty and tenantless owing to her desertion of her country's cause and her want of faith in him, the realization of the disgrace she had brought upon herself and him, and the disloyalty she might even have instilled into the hearts of their children, suddenly roused the demon of passion in his breast, and possessed by madness, he turned upon her and plunged his dagger in her heart.
It was fifteen years now since the rugged Corsican had married his beautiful bride, and his love for her had never cooled. The very fierceness of his affection, however, only added a sting to the frenzy of his outraged feelings; and if Sampiero ever repented him of his cruel deed, none knew of that remorse, further than believing they could read its signs on the sterner, sadder features of the old man's face.
In 1564 Sampiero landed in Corsica with a little band of about fifty men, French and Corsicans.
He had been courteously treated by one and all of the courts he had visited, but he had failed to obtain any help for his country more substantial than promises.
In accordance with his chivalric spirit, he burnt, on landing, the vessel in which he had arrived, that the means of return might be closed to his followers and himself.
As he advanced into the country the people everywhere rose and joined him; and, defeating the Genoese before Corte, he took possession of that important citadel.
The victory of Vescovato soon followed; and the Genoese, trembling for their cause, sent Stephen Doria with a superior force to oppose the skilful patriot.