Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 046.djvu/244

 236 curses: she dragged her into the upper chamber, and bolted the door from within. Antonio was about to go up stairs to burst open the door, when several dark figures entered the cottage, and were not a little astonished to find their leader dead upon the floor. "I now am your captain!" cried a stout figure, all over ornaments, savagely drawing his sword as he said it. "Yes, provided Crescentia be given up to me"—replied a younger robber fiercely. In a moment their swords were crossed, and they fell murderously to work. The lamp was upset, and they fought in the darkness, from corner to corner, amid yells and curses. "Are ye mad?" cried another voice, striking in during the fray—"Ye will allow the stranger to escape. Cut him down first, and settle your own disputes afterwards." But the combatants, blind with rage, heard not what was said. The first streaks of dawn were now beginning to dapple the horizon. At this moment Antonio felt a hand aiming at his throat: he struck the murderer from him: "I am slain!" cried the latter, falling to the earth. —"Fool why don't ye guard the door, and prevent his escape!" Meanwhile Antonio had got to the open door—he bolted through the garden, and over the hedge, with the robbers at his heels. He was only a few paces ahead of them, and they did their best to overtake him. Followed by their yells and threats, he reached a spot in the wood from which several pathways diverged, and was uncertain which to take. He looked behind him, and seeing that his pursuers were separated, he attacked the nearest of them, and. disabled him from following farther. But, at the same instant, be heard renewed shouts, and looking into the wood, he saw new assailants coming upon him from a side-path, and likely to cut off his retreat. In this perplexity, he luckily fell in with his horse, grazing in a small open space, and seemingly quite refreshed. He lost not a moment in springing upon its back; and no sooner had he seized the bridle, than the animal as if aware of his master's danger, carried him along a beaten track, with the speed of the wind, out of the wood. By degrees, the cries of his pursuers became fainter and fainter: he reached the open country; and by the time he had recovered from his frightful adventure, the city spires appeared shining before him in the light of the morning sun.

The strange appearance he presented, without his hat, and with his dress otherwise disordered, excited great curiosity among the crowds of country people whom he fell in with on their way to the market, and the citizens looked upon him with astonishment as he dismounted before the great palace of Podesta.

That same night there were strange doings at Padua, which, as yet, men little wot of. No sooner had darkness enveloped the city in its heavy folds, than Pietro d'Abano set about arranging all the utensils and instruments of his art, for the performance of a mysterious and wonderful operation. He was clothed in a long robe inwrought with hieroglyphics; already had he described the magic circle on the floor of his apartment, and made all the other preparations requisite for ensuring the mighty result which he desired. He had diligently scrutinized the position of the stars, and now was waiting patiently for the propitious moment which was to crown all his expectations.

His attendant. the hateful Berecynth, was likewise clothed in magical attire, and moved about fetching and arranging all things according to his master's commands. Painted coverlets were spread upon the walls, and along the floor of the chamber; the great magic mirror was set upright; and now the moment drew on which the enchanter deemed most favourable for his schemes.

"Have you placed the crystal. within the circle?" cried Pietro. "I have," answered the caricature of humanity, bustling about unweariedly among the phials, glasses, human skeletons, and other extraordinary furniture which littered that strange apartment. The incense-vessel was now produced—a flame was kindled on the altar—and the magician drew forth cautiously, and with almost trembling hand, from an innermost