The girl, risen in her place, stood panting as if she had been running. She had voice no more than to gasp across, ’Bernardo! For the love of God! Bernardo!’ and that was all. ’No mercy, beast!’ thundered Carlo. ’Down with thee to hell unshriven!’ His strenuous lifted arm was caught in a baby grasp. ’Carlo! forbear! The right is mine! Give me the knife! Nay, I am the stronger!’ With the blood-lust halted in him for one moment, the powerful creature turned upon his puny assailant with a roar:— ’The stronger! Thou!’ Nevertheless he rose, though he held the reptile crushed under his foot, while the company, landlord and all, stood huddled aghast. His breast was heaving like the pulse of a volcano. ’The knife!’ he gurgled hoarsely; ’well, the right is thine, as thou sayest. Take it—under with thee, dog!—and drive in.’ Bembo seized and flung the dagger into the thick of the vines; then threw himself on his knees, and, with all his strength, tore the heavy foot from its victim. ’Narcisso,’ he said, ’is it true? wouldst have slain Love! Ah, fool, not to know that Love is immortal!’ ’Now, Christ in heaven,’ roared Carlo, ’if that shall save him!’ Bernardo rose, and sprang, and cast himself upon his breast, writhing his limbs about him. ’Fly!’ he shrieked, ’fly! while I hold him!’ Then to Lanti: ’Ah, dear, do not hurt me, who owe thee so much!’ The fallen scoundrel was quick to the opportunity. He rose and fled, bloody and bemired, from the arbour. Madonna, seeing him escape, sunk, with a fainting sigh, upon her bench. Carlo mouthed after his vanishing prey; yet he was tender with his burden. ’Love!’ he groaned: ’Thou ow’st me? Not this—so damned to folly! There, let go. He was but the tool—and, for the rest——’ He glowered round. ’Hush!’ said Bembo. ’It is but the fruits of her teaching. Blame not thy pupil, Carlo.’ ’_My_ pupil!’ ’Is she Christ’s—or art thou? Love gives life, Carlo; and all life is God’s, since Christ redeemed it.’ ’What then?’ ’Why, is not thine honour thy life?’ ’I would die at least to prove it.’ ’Alas! and thou hast dishonoured love, which is life, which is God’s. Wouldst eat thy cake and have it, great schoolboy?’ ’Pish! Art beyond me.’ ’Why, if love is life, and life is honour—ergo, love is honour.’ ’Is it? I dare say.’ ’But thou must know it.’ ’I know nothing but that thou hast balked my vengeance; and with that, and having exercised thy jaw, let us go back to dinner.’ ’_Domine, emitte tuam lucem!_’ sighed Bembo. *CHAPTER IV*