"Francesco Salvatori."
"You swear before God to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."
"I swear," said each of them.
"Do you persist in your accusation against Count Monte-Leone?"
"I do," said they.
"The Count," continued Francesco, "presided over the Venta at Pompeia, where he was seen by my brothers and myself. In our presence he administered the oath to two of the neophytes of the society. They promised to contribute by every means in their power to the dethronement of our well-beloved sovereign Fernando IV., and to destroy monarchy forever in our country. The associates of the Count," added Raphael and Francesco, "discovered us listening to them, and our energy and strength alone preserved us from their poniards."
"And my energy and strength," said Stenio, with an accent of rage, as he sprang unexpectedly from the bench on which he sat and pointed to Monte-Leone, "were able to contend with difficulty against the iron hand and poniard of this man." Then tearing up the cuff which hid his wound, he showed the judges a deep and blood-stained stab. A feeling of horror took possession of all the assembly. Every eye was fixed on Monte-Leone, who seemed unconscious of the sentiment he inspired.
"The Count avenged himself on one of us, because we did our duty in denouncing him," said Francesco Salvatori.
"He would have murdered us all had he been able," said Raphael.
"Stenio," resumed Francesco, "has atoned for all the family."