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Rh the cause of his Queen and of his mistress. Ay, by my own hand!' continued she, in a louder tone, half drawing a sabre that lay on the table, and returning the glittering blade to the scabbard with a force that made it ring again,—'by my own hand should the traitor perish, rather than his daring treachery should go unpunished! Now, will you back, and shrive the coward? or must he die with his guilt on his head? Yonder clock wants five minutes of the hour,—when that hour strikes, it will sound the knell of a traitor—as it strikes, he dies!'

"The Father left the room, and found the Count in a state of stupefaction. In vain he adjured him to turn his thoughts to prayer; in vain he offered to him the cross, and implored him to think on him who died to save; but the agony of his fear was too great for prayer. The clock struck, and Sentinelli drew his sword; the noise roused Monaldeschi, who, springing up, rushed to the window, and endeavoured to throw himself out,—it was fastened. Sentinelli followed, and tried to stab him. The first blow only resounded against the chain armour which he wore under his clothes; but at the second the blood rushed in torrents from his side; the third brought him to his knee, and then Sentinelli passed his sword