THE GODFATHER. Great Pancratius, I appear as mediator between you and your prisoners; spare these citizens of noble birth, because they have given up to you the keys and strongholds of the castle of the Holy Trinity! PANCRATIUS. I have conquered by my own strength, and need no mediator. You will yourself take charge of their immediate execution! THE GODFATHER. My whole life has been that of a good citizen. I have frequently given proof of true patriotism. When I joined your cause, Pancratius, it was not with the intention of leading my own noble brethren to--.... PANCRATIUS (_interrupting him_). Seize the old pedant! away with him! let him join his _noble_ brethren! The soldiers surround the Godfather and the prisoners. Where is Count Henry? Has no one seen him, dead or living? A purse of gold for Henry, if only for his corpse! A division of soldiers descend the wall from above. THE LEADER OF THE DIVISION. Citizen general! by the command of General Bianchetti, I stationed myself with my detachment, on the west side of the bulwark; upon our entrance into the fort on the third bastion to the left, I observed a man standing, unarmed, but bleeding and wounded, by a dead body. I cried immediately to my men: 'Hasten your steps, we must reach him!' but before we could approach him, he ascended a steep cliff overhanging the valley, stood for a moment on a sharp and jutting point of rock, and fixed his haggard eyes upon the depths below. I saw him, then, extend his arms like a swimmer about to make a sudden plunge; he threw himself forward with all his force; I saw him a moment in the air, and we all heard the noise made by the fall of the body as it pitched and fell from rock to rock into the abyss below. This is the sword which we found but a few steps from the spot on which we first observed him. He hands a sword to Pancratius. PANCRATIUS (_examining the sword_). Drops of blood stain the handle, but here are the arms of his house! It is the sword of Count Henry! He alone among you all has kept his plighted faith; to him be endless glory--to you, traitors, the guillotine! General Bianchetti, you will see that the fortress of the Holy Trinity is razed to the ground, and will also superintend the execution of the prisoners! Leonard! He withdraws with Leonard. A bastion on the north tower. Pancratius, Leonard. LEONARD. You require repose after so many sleepless nights; you look wearied and exhausted with ceaseless labor.