Ch. Do you begin to throw off the mask?—to jest with me, having got me effectually into your trap?
Ogni. Where is the trap, my friend? You hear what I engage to do, for my part: you, for yours, have only to fulfil your promise made just now within doors, of professing unlimited obedience to Rome's authority in my person. And I shall authorize no more than the simple re-establishment of the Provostship and the conferment of its privileges upon yourself: the only novel stipulation being a birth of the peculiar circumstances of the time.
Ch. And that stipulation?
Ogni. Just the obvious one—that in the event of the discovery of the actual assailant of the late Provost ...
Ch. Ha!
Ogni. Why, he shall suffer the proper penalty, of course; what did you expect?
Ch. Who heard of this?
Ogni. Rather, who needed to hear of this?
Ch. Can it be, the popular rumor never reached you ...
Ogni. Many more such rumors reach me, friend, than I choose to receive: those which wait longest have best chance. Has the present one sufficiently waited? Now is its time for entry with effect. See the good people crowding about yonder palace-steps—which we may not have to ascend, after all! My good friends! (nay, two or three of you will answer every purpose)—who was it fell upon and proved nearly the death of your late Provost? His successor desires to hear, that his day of inauguration may be graced by the act of prompt, bare justice we all anticipate. Who dealt the blow that night, does anybody know?