"'Term it as you please, Signor Excellenza. I implore you to allow me to restore him to his parents--his heart-broken mother especially.' "'It cannot be; his case is not in my hands.' "'In whose then?' "'It has been remitted to the general-commanding at Prato.' "'And the answer will come----' "'About midnight,' interrupted the count, with a dark glance there was no misinterpreting. 'Enough, priest. You may go.' "The poor priest felt his soul sink within him. Instead of seeking our parents, to whom, knowing the Austrians as he did, he could give no hope, he returned to the castle, and sought to prepare the unhappy child, my brother, for the fate, the great change, that was to follow. "All day had elapsed without food passing the boy's mouth, and he was in such a state as to be incapable of swallowing the coarse cake which the priest had procured with difficulty from the Croatian guard. "Attended by the corporal, named Schwartz, who remained persistently in the dungeon, holding a lamp, the priest sat on the damp stone, with Attilio on his knee; and resting his head caressingly on his shoulder, besought him to make his confession, in the fashion of our church--to speak in whispers, lest the Croat might overhear and mock them. "But the confession of a boy--a mere child, so pure, so good, and sinless, could interest the soldier but little, and the youthful prisoner made it with charming artlessness; though his large dark eyes began to dilate with mournful anxiety, fear, and wonder, and then to sparkle with courage and sublime resignation, as Fra Marraccini spoke to him in earnest whispers of his spiritual state, beseeching him to think of hopes beyond the grave, of the Father he had in heaven as well as his father on earth, and of the Blessed Madonna, who was the mother of all good children. "Then the little boy began to see clearly the terrible meaning of the priest, and though his heart yearned, and his tears fell fast when he thought of his poor mother who was on earth, and whom he never more should see, at length he became pacified, or worn out by emotion, and fell asleep in the arms of dear old Father Marraccini. "So the hours stole on, Corporal Schwartz trimmed the lamp, growled and swore, tugged his obstinate moustache, and smoked his huge meerschaum, while the old priest, heedless of his impatience, read the prayers for the dying with the child asleep upon his knee. "The galloping of a horse was heard, and the clank of a sabre, as an Austrian dragoon passed the grated window of the prison. "'Poor Attilio!' groaned the priest. "'Rouse the prisoner!' croaked the corporal, harshly, 'here comes the final order about him!' "At that time the clock of the fortress struck midnight. "Prato is only six miles from Pistoja, so the general there had not hurried himself.