Bernardo drew a small purse from his doublet, and handed to his companion its scanty contents. "Here is all I possess," he said. "I fear they will go like the others." Julio thrust the shillings into his pocket, and muttered: "I do not deny that I may go this evening to the parish of Saint Andrew, to see if any one would dare play against me." "Julio, Julio, I pity you!" said Bernardo, sadly. "I do not wish to lecture you; but you have an unfortunate and aged mother who requires your aid. You are always talking of sending her assistance, and for six months past every farthing has been lost at play. Perhaps in the meantime your mother has suffered for want of food." This reproach seemed to affect Julio deeply. He looked down abashed, and then said, dejectedly: "Bernardo, never speak to me again of my mother. You touch the only sensitive spot in my heart. And yet you are right; I am a monster! Oh! this miserable play! I will do better in future. Go away now, and let me continue my work." "What are you making?" asked Bernardo. "This is the third spring you have ordered, and each time from a different locksmith." "It is a secret known only to my master and myself." "A secret?" said Bernardo. "Springs, a secret! What can it mean?" "Come with me, and I will show you. The signor may be angry if he chooses, I don't care. But, Bernardo, you must be as silent as one deaf and dumb." He conducted his companion to a room, and throwing open the door showed him a large arm-chair, which in form was like the other chairs around, excepting that from each arm extended two bent springs. "This is what I have worked at, without stopping, for four days. I wish the bewitched chair to the devil! I have already exhausted myself; but the new spring is good, and in a few minutes I will have finished." Bernardo examined attentively the unfinished chair, and looked frightened. "Heavens!" he exclaimed, "a chair for a trap! Do you entrap men here?" Julio nodded his head affirmatively. Pale from anxiety, Bernardo muttered: "May God preserve me! What crime is in contemplation? Does our master know anything of this terrible piece of furniture?" "Was it not from him that you received the order to bring me the springs?" The humpbacked man made the sign of the cross, and muttered a few indistinct words. Suddenly Julio laughed immoderately, and slapping him on the shoulder exclaimed: "Foolish boy! he already sees a victim in this chair, and the blood flowing as freely as in some old woman's story. Be at ease, Bernardo; this is done only to satisfy a caprice of our master. He intends to clean the garden and repair the fountain. He will place this arm-chair in an arbor near the fountain; the guest who seats himself in it will be caught, and the salamanders may throw the water upon him as long as they please. It is a mania of our master."