CHAPTER VI.
COUNT ANTONIO AND THE HERMIT OF THE VAULT.
Among the stories concerning the Count Antonio which were told to me inanswer to my questioning (whereof I have rejected many as being nobetter than idle tales), there was one that met me often and yet seemedstrange and impossible to believe; for it was said that he had duringthe time of his outlawry once spent several days in the vault of thePeschetti, and there suffered things that pass human understanding.
This vault lies near to the church of St. John the Theologian, in thesuburb of Baratesta, on the banks of the river; and the Peschetti had apalace hard by, and were a family of high nobility, and allied by bloodto the house of Monte Velluto. But I could find no warrant for thestory of Antonio's sojourn in the vault, and although many insisted thatthe tale was true, yet they could not tell how nor why the Count came tobe in the vault; until at length I chanced on an aged woman who hadheard the truth of the matter from her grandmother, and she made meacquainted with the story, pouring on me a flood of garrulous gossip,from which I have chosen as much as concerns the purpose. And here I setit down; for I believe it to be true, and I would omit nothing thattouches the Count, so I can be sure that what I write is based on truth.
When Count Antonio had dwelt in the hills for the space of three yearsand nine months, it chanced that Cesare, last of the Peschetti, died;and he made a will on his death-bed whereby he bequeathed to CountAntonio his lands and also a store of money, and many ornaments of gold,and jewels; for Antonio's mother had been of the house of the Peschetti,and Cesare loved Antonio, although he had not dared to give himcountenance for fear of the Duke's anger; yet, knowing himself to bedying, he bequeathed everything to him, for the Duke's wrath could nothurt a dead man. And so soon as he was dead, his steward Giuseppe sentsecretly and in haste to Antonio, saying, "My lord, you cannot take thelands or the house; but, if you will be wise, come quickly and take themoney and the jewels; for I hear that His Highness the Duke, declaringthat an outlaw has no right and can inherit nothing, will send and seizethe treasure." Now Antonio, though grieved at the death of Cesare, wasglad to hear of the treasure; for he was often hard put to it tomaintain his company and those who depended on him for bread. So hepondered anxiously how he might reach the palace of the Peschetti andlay hands on the treasure and return safely; for at this time DukeValentine had posted above a hundred of his Guard in the plain, and thistroop watched all the approaches to the hills so that the band could notride forth in a body unless it were prepared to do battle with theguards. Nor did Antonio desire to weaken the band, lest the guards,learning that the bravest were away, should venture an attack.Therefore he would not take Tommasino or Bena or any of the stoutestwith him; but he took four young men who had come to him from Firmola,having fallen into the Duke's displeasure through brawling with hisguards. These he mounted on good horses, and, having made a circuit toavoid the encampment in the plain, he came to Cesare's house on the daybefore that appointed for the funeral. Giuseppe came to meet him, andled him where the dead man lay, and, after the Count had gazed on hisface and kissed his forehead, they two went to the treasury, andGiuseppe delivered the treasure to Antonio; and Antonio made him apresent of value and confirmed him in his stewardship, although it wasnot likely that the Duke would suffer him to exercise any power,inasmuch as His Highness had declared his intention of forfeiting theestate into his own hand.
Now it chanced that one of the young men, being regaled with wine, drankvery freely, and began to talk loud and boastfully of his master'sachievements as the servants sat under the trees in front of the house;and there was with them a certain tailor, a lame man, who had furnishedmourning garments for the funeral. The tailor, learning that Antonio wascome, said nothing, and seemed not to hear nor understand the drunkenyouth's talk; but at an early moment he took his departure andstraightway hobbled as fast as his lame leg would let him to the Syndicof Baratesta, a very busy and ambitious fellow, who longed greatly towin the Duke's favour. And the tailor set the price of five pieces ofgold and the ordering of a new gown on the news he brought; and theSyndic having agreed, the tailor cried, "Antonio of Monte Velluto is atthe house of the Peschetti, and his band is not with him. If you hasten,you may catch him." At this the Syndic exulted very greatly; for theDuke's Commissaries would not arrive to assume possession of the housein his name till the morrow, by which time Antonio would be gone; andthe Syndic rubbed his hands, saying, "If I can take him my glory will begreat, and the gratitude of His Highness also." And he gathered togetherall his constables, and hard upon twenty discharged soldiers who dweltin the town, and the fifteen men of the Duke's who were stationed atBaratesta to gather His Highness's dues; and thus, with a force of aboutfifty men, he set out in great haste for the house of the Peschetti, andwas almost come there, before a little boy ran to Giuseppe crying thatthe Syndic and all the constables and many besides were coming to thehouse. And Giuseppe, who had but three men-servants of an age to fight,the other five being old (for Cesare had loved to keep those who servedhim well, even when their power grew less than their will), and moreoverperceived that Antonio's four were young and untried, wrung his handsand hastened to the Count with the news, saying, "Yet weak as we are, wecan die for you, my lord."
"Heaven forbid!" said Antonio, looking out of the window. "Are they alltownsmen that come with this Syndic?"
"Alas, no, my lord. There are certain of the Duke's men, and I see amongthe rest men who have spent their days under arms, either in HisHighness's service or in Free Companies."
"Then," said Antonio, smiling, "unless I am to share Cesare's funeral, Ihad best be gone. For I have seen too much fighting to be ashamed to runaway from it."
"But, my lord, they are at the gates."
"And is there no other gate?"
"None, my lord, save the little gate in the wall there; and see, theSyndic has posted ten men there."
"And he will search the house?"
"I fear that he will, my lord. For he must have tidings of your coming."
"Then where is my horse?" said Count Antonio; and Giuseppe showed himwhere the horse stood in the shadow of the portico. "Do not let theSyndic know," added Antonio, "that the young men are of my company, andsend them away in safety."
"But what do you, my lord?" cried Giuseppe.
"What I have done before, Giuseppe. I ride for life," answered theCount.
Then the Count, delaying no more, ran lightly down the stairs, leapt onhis horse, and, drawing his sword, rode forth from the portico; and hewas among the Syndic's company before they thought to see him; and hestruck right and left with his sword; and they fell back before him infear, yet striking at him as they shrank away; and he had come cleanoff, but for one grizzly-haired fellow who had served much in FreeCompanies and learnt cunning; for he stooped low, avoiding the sweep ofAntonio's sword, and stabbed the horse in its belly, and stood wipinghis knife and saying, "My legs are old. I have done my part. Do yours;the horse will not go far." In truth the horse was wounded to death, andits bowels protruded from the wound; and Antonio felt it falter andstumble. Yet the gallant beast carried him for half a mile, and then hesprang off, fearing it would fall under him as he sat and he be crushedby it; and he drew his sword across its throat that it might not lingerin pain, and then ran on foot, hearing the cries of the Syndic's companyas it pressed on behind him. And thus, running, he came to the church ofSt. John and to the vault of the Peschetti by it; two men were at workpreparing for Cesare's funeral, and the door of the vault was open.Antonio hurled one man to the right and the other to the left, andrushed into the vault; for his breath failed, and there was no chancefor his life were he overtaken in the open; and before the men regainedtheir feet, he pulled the door of the vault close and sank on his kneeinside, panting, and holding his sword in readiness to slay any whoentered. Then the Syndic and his company came and called on him tosurrender. And Antonio cried, "Come and take me." Then the Syndic badethe workmen pull open the door; but Antonio held it with one handa
gainst them both. Yet at last they drew it a little open; and Antoniolunged with his sword through the aperture and wounded the Syndic in theleg, so that he stumbled backwards with an oath. And after that none waswilling to enter first, until the grizzly-haired fellow came up; but he,seeing the aperture, rushed at it sword in hand, fearing no man, noteven Count Antonio. But he could not touch Antonio, and he also fellback with a sore gash in his cheek; and Antonio laughed, saying, "ShallI surrender, Syndic?"
Now the Syndic was very urgent in his desire to take Antonio, but hismen shook their heads, and he himself could not stand because of thesword-thrust in his leg; and, instead of fighting, his company began totell of the wonderful deeds Antonio had done, and they grew no bolder bythis; and the grizzly-haired fellow mocked them, saying that he would goagain at the aperture if two more would attempt it with him; but noneoffered. And the Syndic raged and rebuked them, but he could not hurtthem, being unable to stand on his feet; so that one said boldly, "Whyshould we die? The Duke's Commissaries will be here to-morrow with acompany of the Guard. Let the Count stay in the vault till then. He isin safe keeping; and when he sees the Guard he will surrender. It islikely enough that a great lord like the Count would rather die thangive up his sword to the Syndic." Whereat the Syndic was very illpleased, but all the rest mighty well pleased; and, having heard thiscounsel, they could by no means be persuaded to attack afresh, but theylet Antonio draw the door close again, being in truth glad to see thelast of his sword. Therefore the Syndic, having no choice, set twentyto guard the entrance of the vault and prepared to depart. But he criedto Antonio, again bidding him to surrender, for the Guard would cometo-morrow, and then at least he could not hope to resist.
"Aye, but to-morrow is to-morrow, Master Syndic," laughed Antonio. "Go,get your leg dressed, and leave to-morrow till it dawn."
So the Syndic went home and the rest with him, leaving the twenty onguard. And to this day, if a man hath more love for fighting than skillin it, folk call him a Syndic of Baratesta.
Count Antonio, being thus left in the vault, and perceiving that hewould not be further molested that day, looked round; and though nodaylight reached the vault, he could see, for the workmen had set a lampthere and it still burnt. Around him were the coffins of all thePeschetti who had died in five hundred years; and the air was heavy andstifling. Antonio took the lamp and walked round the vault, which was ofcircular form; and he perceived one coffin standing upright against thewall of the vault, as though there had been no room for it on theshelves. Then he sat down again, and, being weary, leant his headagainst the wall and soon slept; for a man whose conscience is easy andwhose head has sense in it may sleep as well in a vault as in abedchamber. Yet the air of the vault oppressed him, and he slept butlightly and uneasily. And, if a proof be needed how legends gather roundthe Count's name, I have heard many wonderful stories of what happenedto him in the vault; how he held converse with dead Peschetti, how theytold him things which it is not given to men to know, and how a certainbeautiful lady, who had been dead two hundred years, having been slainby her lover in a jealous rage, came forth from the coffin, with herhair all dishevelled and a great wound yet bleeding in her bosom, andsang a low sweet wild love-song to him as he lay, and would not leavehim though he bade her soul rest in the name of Christ and the Saints.But that any of these things happened I do not believe.
It was late when the Count awoke, and the lamp had burnt out, so thatthe vault was utterly dark. And as the Count roused himself, a soundstrange in the place fell on his ear; for a man talked, and his talk wasnot such as one uses who speaks aloud his own musings to himself when heis alone (a trick men come by who live solitary), but he seemed toquestion others and to answer them, saying, "Aye," and "No," and "Alas,sweet friend!" and so forth, all in a low even voice; and now and againhe would sigh, and once he laughed bitterly. Then the Count raised hisvoice, "Who is there?" And the other voice answered, "Which of youspeaks? The tones are not known to me. Yet I know all the Peschetti whoare here." And Antonio answered, "I am not of the Peschetti save by mymother; my name is Antonio of Monte Velluto." On this a cry came fromthe darkness, as of a man greatly troubled and alarmed; and after thatthere was silence for a space. And Antonio said, "There is naught tofear; I seek to save myself, not to hurt another. But how do you, aliving man, come to be in this vault, and with whom do you speak?" Thencame the sound of steel striking on a flint, and presently a spark, anda torch was lighted; and Antonio beheld before him, in the glow of thetorch, the figure of a man who crouched on the floor of the vault overagainst him; his hair was long and tangled, his beard grew to his waist,and he was naked save for a cloth about his loins; and his eyes gleameddark and wild as he gazed on Antonio in seeming fright and bewilderment.Then the Count, knowing that a man collects his thoughts while anotherspeaks, told the man who he was and how he came there, and (because theman's eyes still wondered) how that he was an outlaw these three yearsand more because he would not bow to the Duke's will: and when he hadtold all, he ceased. Then the man came crawling closer to him, and,holding the torch to his face, scanned his face, saying, "Surely he isalive!" And again he was silent, but after a while he spoke.
"For twenty-and-three years," he said, "I have dwelt here among thedead; and to the dead I talk, and they are my friends and companions.For I hear their voices, and they come out of their coffins and greetme; yet now they are silent and still because you are here."
"But how can you live here?" cried Antonio. "For you must starve forlack of food, and come near to suffocation in the air of this vault."
The man set his hand to his brow and frowned, and said sadly, "Indeed Ihave forgotten much, yet I remember a certain night when the Devil cameinto me, and in black fury and jealousy I laid wait by the door of theroom where my wife was; and we had been wedded but a few months. Therewas a man who was my friend, and he came to my wife secretly, seeking towarn her that I was suspected of treason to the Prince: yes, in allthings he was my friend; for when I stabbed him as he came to the door,and, rushing in, stabbed her also, she did not die till she had told meall; and then she smiled sweetly at me, saying, "Our friend willforgive, dear husband, for you did not know; and I forgive the blow yourlove dealt me: kiss me and let me die here in your arms." And I kissedher, and she died. Then I laid her on her bed, and I went forth from myhome; and I wandered many days. Then I sought to kill myself, but Icould not, for a voice seemed to say, 'What penitence is there indeath? Lo, it is sweet, Paolo!' So I did not kill myself; but I took anoath to live apart from men till God should in His mercy send me death.And coming in my wanderings to the river that runs by Baratesta, I founda little hollow in the bank of the river, and I lay down there; and nonepursued me, for the Duke of Firmola cared not for a crime done inMantivoglia. And for a year I dwelt in my little cave: then it wasnoised about that I dwelt there, and fools began to call me, who was thevilest sinner born, a holy hermit, and they came to me to ask prayers.So I begged from one a pick, and I worked on the face of the rock, andmade a passage through it. And I swore to look no more on the light ofthe sun, but abode in the recesses that I had hollowed out. And I go nomore to the mouth of the cave, save once a day at nightfall, when Idrink of the water of the river and take the broken meats they leave forme."
"But here--how came you here?" cried Antonio.
"I broke through one day by chance, as I worked on the rock; and, seeingthe vault, I made a passage with much labour; and having done this, Ihid it with a coffin; and now I dwell here with the dead, expecting thetime when in God's mercy I also shall be allowed to die. But to-day Ifled back through the passage, for men came and opened the vault and letin the sunshine, which I might not see. Pray for me, sir; I have need ofprayers."
"Now God comfort you," said Count Antonio softly. "Of a truth, sir, aman who knows his sin and grieves for it in his heart hath in God's eyesno longer any sin. So is it sweetly taught in the most Holy Scriptures.Therefore take comfort; for your friend will forgive even as the gentlelady who loved you fo
rgave; and Christ has no less forgiveness thanthey."
"I know not," said the hermit, groaning heavily. "I question the deadwho lie here concerning these things, but they may not tell me."
"Indeed, poor man, they can tell nothing," said Antonio gently; for heperceived that the man was subject to a madness and deluded by fanciedvisions and voices.
"Yet I love to talk to them of the time when I also shall be dead."
"God comfort you," said Count Antonio again.
Now while Antonio and the hermit talked, one of those who guarded thevault chanced to lay his ear against the door, listening whether Antoniomoved, and he heard, to his great dread and consternation, the voice ofanother who talked with Antonio: most of what was said he did not hear,but he heard Antonio say, "God comfort you," and the hermit answersomething and groan heavily. And the legs of the listener shook underhim, and he cried to his comrades that the dead talked with Antonio, hehimself being from fright more dead than alive. Then all came andlistened; and still the voice of another talked with Antonio; so thatthe guards were struck with terror and looked in one another's faces,saying, "The dead speak! The Count speaks with the dead! Christ and theBlessed Mother of Christ and the Saints protect us!" And they lookedneither to right nor left, but sat quaking on the ground about the doorof the vault; and presently one ran and told the Syndic, and he causedhimself to be carried thither in his chair; and he also heard, and wasvery greatly afraid, saying, "This Antonio of Monte Velluto is a fearfulman." And the report spread throughout Baratesta that Count Antoniotalked with the dead in the vault of the Peschetti; whence came, I doubtnot, the foolish tales of which I have made mention. A seed is enough:men's tongues water it and it grows to a great plant. Nor did any manthink that it was the hermit who talked; for although they knew of hiscave, they did not know nor imagine of the passage he had made, and hisvoice was utterly strange, seeing that he had spoken no word to anyliving man for twenty years, till he spoke with the Count that night.Therefore the whole of Baratesta was in great fear; and they came to acertain learned priest, who was priest of the church of St. John, andtold him. And he arose and came in great haste, and offered prayersoutside the vault, and bade the unquiet spirits rest; but he did notoffer to enter, nor did any one of them; but they all said, "We haddetermined even before to await the Duke's Guard, and that is still thewiser thing."
For a great while the hermit could not understand what Antonio wanted ofhim; for his thoughts were on his own state and with the dead; but atlength having understood that Antonio would be guided through thepassage and brought to the mouth of the cave, in the hope of findingmeans to escape before the Duke's Commissaries came with the Guard, hemurmured wonderingly, "Do you then desire to live?" and rose, and ledAntonio where the coffin stood upright against the wall as Antonio hadseen it; but it was now moved a little to one side, and there was anarrow opening, through which the Count had much ado to pass; and in hisstruggles he upset the coffin, and it fell with a great crash; whereatall who were outside the vault fled suddenly to a distance of a hundredyards or more in panic, expecting now to see the door of the vault openand the dead walk forth: nor could they be persuaded to come neareragain. But Antonio, with a great effort, made his way through theopening, and followed the hermit along a narrow rough-hewn way,Antonio's shoulders grazing the rock on either side as he went; andhaving pursued this way for fifteen or twenty paces, they turned to theright sharply, and went on another ten paces, and, having passed throughanother narrow opening, were in the cave; and the river glistened beforetheir eyes, for it was now dawn. And the hermit, perceiving that it wasdawn, and fearing to see the sun, turned to flee back to the vault; butAntonio, being full of pity for him, detained him, and besought him toabandon his manner of life, assuring him that certainly by now his sinwas purged: and when the hermit would not listen, Antonio followed himback to the opening that led into the vault, and, forgetting his ownperil, reasoned with him for the space of an hour or more, but could notprevail. So at last he bade him farewell very sorrowfully, telling himthat God had made him that day the instrument of saving a man's life,which should be to him a sign of favour and forgiveness; but the hermitshook his head and passed into the vault, and Antonio heard him againtalking to the dead Peschetti, and answering questions that his owndisordered brain invented.
Thus it was full morning when Antonio came again to the little cave bythe river, and bethought him what he should do for his own safety. Andsuddenly, looking across the river, he beheld a gentleman whom he knew,one Lepardo, a Commissary of the Duke's, and with him thirty of theDuke's Guard; and they were riding very fast; for, having started atmidnight to avoid the heat of the sun (it being high summer), so soon asthey reached the outskirts of Baratesta, they had heard that Antonio wasin the vault, and were now pressing on to cross the bridge and come uponhim. And Antonio knew that Lepardo was a man of courage and hardihood,and would be prevented by nothing from entering the vault. But on asudden Lepardo checked his horse, uttering a loud cry; for to his greatamazement he had seen Antonio as Antonio looked forth from the cave,and he could not tell how he came to be there: and Antonio at oncewithdrew himself into the shadow of the cave. Now the banks of thestream on the side on which Lepardo rode were high and precipitous, and,although it was summer, yet the stream was too deep for him to wade, andflowed quickly; yet at Lepardo's bidding, six of his stoutest menprepared to leap down the bank and go in search of Antonio; and Antonio,discerning that they would do this, and blaming himself for his rashnessin looking out so incautiously, was greatly at a loss what to do; fornow he was hemmed in on either side; and he saw nothing but to sell hislife dearly and do some deed that should ornament his death. So heretreated again along the passage and passed through the opening intothe vault; and he summoned the hermit to aid him, and between them theyset not one only, but a dozen of the coffins of the Peschetti againstthe opening, laying them lengthwise and piling one on the top of theother hoping that Lepardo's men would not discover the opening, orwould at least be delayed some time before they could thrust away thecoffins and come through. Then Antonio took his place by the gate of thevault again, sword in hand, saying grimly to the hermit, "If you seekDeath, sir, he will be hereabouts before long."
But the Count Antonio was not a man whom his friends would abandon todeath unaided; and while the Syndic was watching Antonio, the four youngmen who were with the Count made their escape from Cesare's house; and,having separated from one another, rode by four different ways towardsthe hills, using much wariness. Yet three of them were caught by theDuke's company that watched in the plain, and, having been soundlyflogged, were set to work as servants in the camp. But the fourth camesafe to the hills, and found there Tommasino and Bena; and Tommasino,hearing of Antonio's state, started with Bena and eighteen more torescue him or die with him. And they fell in with a scouting party ofthe Duke's, and slew every man of them to the number of five, losing twoof their own number; but thus they escaped, there being none left tocarry news to the camp; and they rode furiously, and, by the time theycame near Baratesta, they were not more than a mile behind Lepardo'scompany. But Lepardo, when he had detached the six men to watch Antonio,rode on hastily to find the Syndic, and learn from him the meaning ofwhat he had seen; and thus Tommasino, coming opposite to the mouth ofthe hermit's cave, saw no more than six horses tethered on the riverbank, having the Duke's escutcheon wrought on their saddle-cloths. Thenhe leapt down, and, running to the edge of the bank, saw a mandisappearing into the mouth of the cave, dripping wet; and this man wasthe last of the six who had swum the river, and were now groping theirway with great caution along the narrow track that the hermit had made.Now Tommasino understood no more than Lepardo that there was any openingfrom the cave to the vault, but he thought that the Duke's men did notswim the river for their pleasure, and he bade Bena take five and watchwhat should happen, while he rode on with the rest.
"If they come out again immediately," he said, "you will have them at adisadvantage; but if they do not come out
, go in after them; for I knownot what they are doing unless they are seeking my cousin or laying sometrap for him."
Then Tommasino rode after Lepardo; and Bena, having given the Duke's menbut the briefest space in which to come out again from the cave,prepared to go after them. And the Duke's men were now much alarmed; forthe last man told them of the armed men on the bank opposite, and thatthey did not wear the Duke's badge; so the six retreated up the passagevery silently, but they could not find any opening, for it grew darkerat every step, and they became much out of heart. Then Bena's mencrossed the river and entered the mouth of the cave after them. Thusthere was fair likelihood of good fighting both in the passage and bythe gate of the vault.
But the Count Antonio, not knowing that any of his band were near, hadceased to hope for his life, and he sat calm and ready, sword in hand,while the hermit withdrew to a corner of the vault, and crouched theremuttering his mad answers and questions, and ever and again hailing someone of the dead Peschetti by name as though he saw him. Then suddenly acoffin fell with a loud crash from the top of the heap on to the floor;for the Duke's men had found the opening and were pushing at it withhand and shoulder. Antonio sprang to his feet and left the gate and wentand stood ready by the pile of coffins. But again on a sudden came atumult from beyond the opening; for Bena and his five also were now inthe passage, and the foremost of them--who indeed was Bena himself--hadcome upon the hindmost of the Duke's men, and the six, finding an enemybehind them, pushed yet more fiercely and strenuously against thecoffins. And no man in the passage saw any man, it being utterly dark;and they could not use their swords for lack of space, but drew theirdaggers and thrust fiercely when they felt a man's body near. So in thedark they pushed and wrestled and struggled and stabbed, and the soundof their tumult filled all the vault and spread beyond, being heardoutside; and many outside crossed themselves for fear, saying, "Hell isbroke loose! God save us!" But at that moment came Lepardo and hiscompany; and he, having leapt from his horse and heard from the Syndicthat Antonio was in very truth in the vault, drew his sword and came atthe head of his men to the door; and hearing the tumult from within, hecried in scorn, "These are no ghosts!" and himself with his boldestrushed at the door, and they laid hold on the handles of it and wrenchedit open. But Antonio, perceiving that the door was wrenched open, andnot yet understanding that any of his friends were near, suddenly flunghimself prone on the floor by the wall of the vault, behind two of thecoffins which the efforts of the Duke's men had dislodged; and there helay hidden; so that Lepardo, when he rushed in, saw no man, for thecorner where the hermit crouched was dark; but the voice of the madmancame, saying, "Welcome! Do you bring me another of the Peschetti? He iswelcome!" Then the Duke's men, having pushed aside all the coffins saveone, came tumbling and scrambling over into the vault, where they foundLepardo and his followers; and hot on their heels came Bena and hisfive, so that the vault was full of men. And now from outside also camethe clatter of hoofs and hoarse cries and the clash of steel; forTommasino had come, and had fallen with great fury on those of Lepardo'smen who were outside and on the Syndic's levies that watched from afaroff. And fierce was the battle outside; yet it was fiercer inside, wheremen fought in a half-light, scarcely knowing with whom they fought, andtripping hither and thither over the coffins of the Peschetti that werestrewn about the floor.
Then the Count Antonio arose from where he lay and he cried aloud, "Tome, to me! To me, Antonio of Monte Velluto!" and he rushed to theentrance of the vault. Bena, hailing the Count's voice, and cutting downone who barred the way, ran to Antonio in great joy to find him aliveand whole. And Antonio came at Lepardo, who stood his onset bravely,although greatly bewildered to find a party of Antonio's men where hehad looked for Antonio alone. And he cried to his men to rally roundhim, and, keeping his face and his blade towards the Count, began tofall back towards the mouth of the vault, in order to rejoin his menoutside; for there also he perceived that there was an enemy. ThusLepardo fell back, and Antonio pressed on. But, unnoticed by any, themad hermit now sprang forth from the corner where he had been; and, asAntonio was about to thrust at Lepardo, the hermit caught him by thearm, and with the strength of frenzy drew him back, and thrust himselfforward, running even on the point of Lepardo's sword that was ready forCount Antonio; and the sword of Lepardo passed through the breast of thehermit of the vault, and protruded behind his back between hisshoulders; and he fell prone on the floor of the vault, cryingexultantly, "Death! Thanks be to God, death!" And then and there he diedof the thrust that Lepardo gave him. But Antonio with Bena and threemore--for two of Bena's five were slain--drove Lepardo and his men backbefore them, and thus won their way to the gate of the vault, where, totheir joy, they found that Tommasino more than held his own; for he hadscattered Lepardo's men, and the Syndic's were in full flight, saveeight or ten of the old soldiers who had served in Free Companies; andthese stood in a group, their swords in their right hands and daggers inthe left, determined to die dearly; and the grizzly-haired fellow whohad killed Antonio's horse had assumed command of them.
"Here are some fellows worth fighting, my lord," said Bena to Tommasinojoyfully. "Let us meet them, my lord, man for man, an equal number ofus." For although Bena had killed one man and maimed another in thevault, he saw no reason for staying his hand.
"Aye, Bena," laughed Tommasino. "These fellows deserve to die at thehands of men like us."
But while they prepared to attack, Antonio cried suddenly, "Let them be!There are enough men dead over this matter of Cesare's treasure." And hecompelled Tommasino and Bena to come with him, although they were veryreluctant; and they seized horses that had belonged to Lepardo's men;and, one of Tommasino's men also being dead, Bena took his horse. ThenAntonio said to the men of the Free Companies, "What is your quarrelwith me? I do but take what is mine. Go in peace. This Syndic is nomaster of yours." But the men shook their heads and stood their ground.Then Antonio turned and rode to the entrance of the vault where his bandwas now besieging Lepardo, and he cried to Lepardo, "Confer with me,sir. You can come forth safely." And Lepardo came out from the vault,having lost there no fewer than five men, and having others wounded; andhe was himself wounded in his right arm and could not hold his sword.Then the Count said to him, "Sir, it is no shame for a man to yield whenfortune is against him. And I trust that I am one to whom a gentlemanmay yield without shame. See, the Syndic's men are fled, and yours arescattered, and these men, who stand bravely together, are not enough toresist me."
And Lepardo answered sadly--for he was very sorry that he had failed totake Antonio--"Indeed, my lord, we are worsted. For we are not ten menagainst one, as I think they should be who seek to overcome my lordAntonio."
To this Antonio bowed most courteously, saying, "Nay, it is ratherfortune, sir."
And Lepardo said, "Yet we can die, in case you put unseemly conditionson us, my lord."
"There is no condition save that you fight no more against me to-day,"said Antonio.
"So let it be, my lord," said Lepardo; and to this the men of the FreeCompanies also agreed, and they mingled with Antonio's band, and two ofthem joined themselves to Antonio that day, and were with himhenceforward, one being afterwards slain on Mount Agnino, and the otherpreserving his life through all the perils that beset the Count'scompany.
Then Antonio went back to the house of Cesare, and brought forth thebody of Cesare, and, having come to the vault, he caused those who hadbeen slain to be carried out, and set the coffins again in decent order,and laid Cesare, the last of the house, there. But when the corpse ofthe hermit was brought out, all marvelled very greatly, and had muchcompassion for him when they heard from the lips of Count Antonio hispitiful story; and Antonio bestowed out of the moneys that he had fromCesare a large sum that masses might be said for the soul of the hermit."For of a surety," said the Count, "it was Heaven's will that throughhis misfortune and the strange madness that came upon him my life shouldbe saved."
These things done, Antonio gathered his band,
and, having taken farewellof Lepardo and commended him for the valour of his struggle, prepared toride back to the hills. And his face was grave, for he was consideringearnestly how he should escape the hundred men who lay watching for himin the plain. But while he considered, Tommasino came to him and said,"All Baratesta is ours, cousin. Cannot we get a change of coat, and thusride with less notice from the Duke's camp?" And Antonio laughed also,and they sent and caught twenty men of Baratesta, grave merchants andpetty traders, and among them Bena laid hold of the Syndic, and broughthim in his chair to Antonio; and the Count said to the Syndic, "It isill meddling with the affairs of better men, Master Syndic. Off withthat gown of yours!"
And they stripped the Syndic of his gown, and Antonio put on the gown.Thus the Syndic had need very speedily of the new gown which he hadcontracted to purchase of the lame tailor as the price of the tailor'sinformation. And all Antonio's men clothed themselves like merchants andtraders, Antonio in the Syndic's gown taking his place at their head;and thus soberly attired, they rode out soberly from Baratesta, neitherLepardo nor any of his men being able to restrain themselves fromlaughter to see them go; and most strange of all was Bena, who wore anold man's gown of red cloth trimmed with fur.
It was now noon, and the band rode slowly, for the sun was very hot, andseveral times they paused to take shelter under clumps of trees, so thatthe afternoon waned before they came in sight of the Duke's encampment.Soon then they were seen in their turn; and a young officer of theGuard with three men came pricking towards them to learn their business;and Antonio hunched the Syndic's gown about his neck and pulled his capdown over his eyes, and thus received the officer. And the officer wasdeluded and did not know him, but said, "Is there news, Syndic?"
"Yes, there is news," said Antonio. "The hermit of the vault of thePeschetti is dead at Baratesta."
"I know naught of him," said the officer.
By this time Antonio's men had all crowded round the officer and hiscompanions, hemming them in on every side; and those that watched fromthe Duke's camp saw the merchants and traders flocking round theofficer, and said to themselves, "They are offering wares to him." ButAntonio said, "How, sir? You have never heard of the hermit of thevault?"
"I have not, Syndic," said the officer.
"He was a man, sir," said Antonio, "who dwelt with the dead in a vault,and was so enamoured of death, that he greeted it as a man greets a dearfriend who has tarried overlong in coming."
"In truth, a strange mood!" cried the officer. "I think this hermit wasmad."
"I also think so," said Antonio.
"I cannot doubt of it," cried the officer.
"Then, sir, you are not of his mind?" asked Antonio, smiling. "You wouldnot sleep this night with the dead, nor hold out your hands to death asto a dear friend?"
"By St. Prisian, no," said the young officer with a laugh. "For thisworld is well enough, Syndic, and I have sundry trifling sins that Iwould be quit of, before I face another."
"If that be so, sir," said Antonio, "return to him who sent you, and saythat the Syndic of Baratesta rides here with a company of friends andthat his business is lawful and open to no suspicion." And even asAntonio spoke, every man drew his dagger, and there were three daggersat the heart of the officer and three at the heart of each of the menwith him. "For by saying this," continued the Count, fixing his eyes onthe officer, "and by no other means can you escape immediate death."
Then the officer looked to right and left, being very much bewildered;but Tommasino touched him on the arm and said, "You have fallen, sir,into the hands of the Count Antonio. Take an oath to do as he bids you,and save your life." And Antonio took off the Syndic's cap and showedhis face; and Bena rolled up the sleeve of his old man's gown and showedthe muscles of his arm.
"The Count Antonio!" cried the officer and his men in great dismay.
"Yes; and we are four to one," said Tommasino. "You have no choice, sir,between the oath and immediate death. And it seems to me that you areindeed not of the mind of the hermit of the vault."
But the officer cried, "My honour will not suffer this oath, my lord."And, hearing this, Bena advanced his dagger.
But Antonio smiled again and said, "Then I will not force it on you,sir. But this much I must force on you--to swear to abide here forhalf-an-hour, and during that time to send no word and make no sign toyour camp."
To this the officer, having no choice between it and death, agreed; andAntonio, leaving him, rode forward softly; and, riding softly, he passedwithin half-a-mile of the Duke's encampment. But at this moment theofficer, seeing Antonio far away, broke his oath, and shouted loudly,"It is Antonio of Monte Velluto;" and set spurs to his horse. ThenAntonio's brow grew dark and he said, "Ride on swiftly, all of you, tothe hills, and leave me here."
"My lord!" said Tommasino, beseeching him.
"Ride on!" said Antonio sternly. "Ride at a gallop. You will draw themoff from me."
And they dared not disobey him, but all rode on. And now there was astir in the Duke's camp, men running for their arms and their horses.But Antonio's band set themselves to a gallop, making straight for thehills; and the commander of the Duke's Guard did not know what to makeof the matter; for he had heard the officer cry "Antonio," but did notunderstand what he meant; therefore there was a short delay before thepursuit after the band was afoot; and the band thus gained an advantage,and Antonio turned away, saying, "It is enough. They will come safe tothe hills."
But he himself drew his sword and set spurs to his horse, and he rodetowards where the young officer was. And at first the officer cameboldly to meet him; then he wavered, and his cheek went pale; and hesaid to the men who rode with him, "We are four to one."
But one of them answered, "Four to two, sir."
"What do you mean?" cried the officer. "I see none coming towards us butCount Antonio himself."
"Is not God also against oath-breakers?" said the fellow, and he lookedat his comrades. And they nodded their heads to him; for they wereafraid to fight by the side of a man who had broken his oath. Moreoverthe figure of the Count was very terrible; and the three turned asideand left the young officer alone.
Now by this time the whole of the Duke's encampment was astir; but theyfollowed not after Antonio, but after Tommasino and the rest of theband; for they did not know Antonio in the Syndic's gown. Thus theyoung officer was left alone to meet Antonio; and when he saw this hisheart failed him and his courage sank, and he dared not await Antonio,but he turned and set spurs to his horse, and fled away from Antonioacross the plain. And Antonio pursued after him, and was now very nearupon him; so that the officer saw that he would soon be overtaken, andthe reins fell from his hand and he sat on his horse like a man smittenwith a palsy, shaking and trembling: and his horse, being unguided,stumbled as it went, and the officer fell off from it; and he lay verystill on the ground. Then Count Antonio came up where the officer was,and sat on his horse, holding his drawn sword in his hand; and in aninstant the officer began to raise himself; and, when he stood up, hesaw Antonio with his sword drawn. And Antonio said, "Shall men withouthonour live?"
Then the officer gazed into the eyes of the Count Antonio; and the sweatburst forth on his forehead. A sudden strange choking cry came from him;he dropped his sword from his hand, and with both hands he suddenlyclasped his heart, uttering now a great cry of pain and having his facewrung with agony. Thus he stood for an instant, clutching his heart withboth his hands, his mouth twisted fearfully, and then he dropped on tothe ground and lay still. And the Count Antonio sheathed his sword, andbared his head, saying, "It is not my sword, but God's."
And he turned and put his horse to a gallop and rode away, not seekingto pass the Duke's encampment, but directing his way towards the villageof Rilano; and there he found shelter in the house of a friend for somehours, and when night fell, made his way safely back to the hills, andfound that the Duke's men had abandoned the pursuit of his company andthat all of them were alive and safe.
But when t
hey came to take up the young officer who had been false tohis oath, he was dead; whether from fright at the aspect of CountAntonio and the imminent doom with which he was threatened, or by someimmediate judgment of Heaven, I know not. For very various are thedealings of God with man. For one crime He will slay and tarry not, andso, perchance, was it meted out to that officer; but with another manHis way is different, and He suffers him to live long days, mindful ofhis sin, in self-hatred and self-scorn, and will not send him the reliefof death, how much soever the wretch may pray for it. Thus it was thatGod dealt with the hermit of the vault of the Peschetti, who did notfind death till he had sought it for twenty-and-three years. I doubt notthat in all there is purpose; even as was shown in the manner whereinthe hermit, being himself bound and tied to a miserable life, was aninstrument in saving the life of Count Antonio.