Page:Iron shroud, or, Italian revenge (1).pdf/16

 space between them. Vivenzio shuddered as he gazed, and as his steps traversed the narrowed area. But his feelings no longer vented themselves in frantiefrantic [sic] wailings. With folded arms, and elenehedclenched [sic] teeth, with eyes that were blood-shot from much watching, and fixed with a vaeantvacant [sic] glare upon thothe [sic] ground, with a hard quick breathing, and a hurried walk, he strode baekwardsbackwards [sic] and forwards in silent musing for several hours. What mind shall eoneeiveconceive [sic], What tongue utter, or what pen deseribedescribe [sic] the dark and terrible character of his thoughts! Like the fate that moulded them, they had no similitude in the wide range of this world’s agony for man. Suddenly he stopped, and his eyes were riveted upon that part of the wall which was over his bed of straw. Words are inscribed here! A human language, traeedtraced [sic] by a human hand! He rushes towards them: but his blood freezes as he reads:

"I, Ludovica Sforza, tempted by the gold of the prineeprince [sic] of Tolfi, spent three years in eontrivingcontriving [sic] and exeeutingexecuting [sic] this aceursedaccursed [sic] triumph of my art. When it was completed, the perfidious Tolfi, more devil than man, who conduetedconducted [sic] me hither one morning, to be witness as he said, of its perfection, doomed me to be the first victim of my own pernieiouspernicious [sic] skill; lest as he declared, I should divulge the seeretsecret [sic], or repeat the effort of my ingenuity. May God pardon him, as I hope he will me, that ministered to his unhallowed purpose! Miserable wretehwretch [sic], whoe’er thou art, that readest thescthese [sic] lines, fall on thy knees, and invoke as I have done, His sustaining mercy, who alone can nervonerve [sic] thee to meet thothe [sic] vengeaneevengeance [sic] of Tolfi, armed with his tremendous engine, which in a few hours must crush you, as it will the needy wretehwretch [sic] that made it."

A deep groan burst from Vivenzio. He stood