Page:Idalia, by 'Ouida' volume 2.djvu/139

128 do not shirk the word—two of its greatest victims, an old man and a young, father and son. The elder is as noble a patriot and scholar as Boethius, with no other crime than his;—he wishes the freedom of his Italy. King Francis plays the part of Theodoric. Once arrested, the fate of Boethius will be his. Less severity, perhaps, but the galleys, at best, awaits his only son, fresh from the campaigns of Sicily. By intelligence I have of the government's intentions, I know they will not be safe here three hours longer. I left my own yacht at Trieste; besides, it could not approach Naples without being searched, or probably brought-to by a broadside. Yours is here; will you save these men, take them secretly on board, and land them on the coast of Southern France? I give you my word that they have no other sin than one that is the darkest, perhaps, in the world's sight—to love truth and liberty too dangerously well;—how much they have suffered for these you will know when I tell you that they are Paolo and Cesario Fiesole." An eager light flashed into his eyes, a noble indignation flushed his face; he knew the names well—the names of men who, for the choicest virtues of the patriot's and thinker's and soldier's characters, had endured the worst persecutions of the