"Luigino Arionelli!" said the Gonfalonière, more mildly, "why, if this female's safety be so precious to you, do you not secure it, and answer the questions which we propose?" "It is because----" The outlaw hesitated.--"Now, Gonfalonière--you are a human creature--make that toad-like wretch take his base hands from her! Now she has fainted--let her not be bound! Villain! rogue! bare but one spot of her fair flesh, and you shall yet expire in tortures!--Marquis! Now thanks and blessings! Let the villains stand from her. Captain! Gentleman of honour! You wear a sword--I have seen you use it in the fight--support her--and may your own wife or sister never ask the same assistance, or lie in the same need!--All who know me--robber as I am--know that I never inflicted injury or insult on a woman. I sent back the Podesta of Trieste's daughter to her father safe, and without ransom, when the villain churl refused to pay it. Why, thanks! Aurelia! Wife! look up! Oh treat me--robber as I am--but as a man! Let me be free--only to sustain her; and command or question what you will." "Luigino!" said the Marquis Arestino, who seemed something affected by the outlaw's passion, though reasons perhaps prevented his doing anything which might be construed into the showing him favour--"the court in mercy has granted this momentary delay; why is it that you do not use it to confess?" "It is because--because," continued Arionelli, passionately, but not violently, "my hope is over--I have nothing to confess. It is because--as I stand in this danger--as I have a soul--I have nothing that can assist you in what you desire to know. When I was stopped and brought back to prison from my way to execution, I was ignorant even of how it arose that I was suspected of this crime. I saw your anxiety for the information which you thought I possessed; and would, if I could, have gained a promise of life for myself and my comrades before I declared the truth. You will not blame me for this effort? It was not quite base or selfish; for, win or lose, it included those who had put themselves in danger to aid in my escape. But it is over now. I give it up. The cloak which your people recognise, may or may not, for aught I know, have been taken from the Signor Lorenzo di Vasari. But it was the property--this is all I know--of a robber of my band, who died ten days before my apprehension." The countenances of the judges darkened. "Where is this man?" asked the secretary Benetti; "how did he obtain this spoil, and is he one of those already in our power?"