'Then thou beest the traitor,' cried the first.
'Thou liest, dost lie, and art lying!' cried the second.
'Take that!' exclaimed the first. A groan followed, and the wretch tumbled to the ground.
'You have killed him!' cried I, sickening with horror.
'I have only hamstrung him, my Lady,' said the fellow. 'He will be lame while ever he lives; but by St. Cripplegate, that won't be long; for our captain has given him four ducats to murder himself in a month.'
He then burst open the gate; a sudden current of wind met us, and we hurried forward with incredible speed, while moans and smothered shrieks were heard at either side.
'Gracious goodness, where are we?' cried I.
'In the cavern of death!' said my conductor; 'but never fear, Signora mia illustrissima, for the bravo Abellino is your povero devotissimo.'
On a sudden innumerable footsteps sounded behind us. We ran swifter.
'Fire!' cried a ferocious accent, almost at my ear; and there came a discharge of arms.