"I swear," said each of them. "Do you persist in your accusation against Count Monte-Leone?" "I do," said they. "The Count," continued Francesco, "presided over the _Venta_ at Pompeia, where he was seen by my brothers and myself. In our presence he administered the oath to two of the neophytes of the society. They promised to contribute by every means in their power to the dethronement of our well-beloved sovereign Fernando IV., and to destroy monarchy forever in our country. The associates of the Count," added Raphael and Francesco, "discovered us listening to them, and our energy and strength alone preserved us from their poniards." "And my energy and strength," said Stenio, with an accent of rage, as he sprang unexpectedly from the bench on which he sat and pointed to Monte-Leone, "were able to contend with difficulty against the iron hand and poniard of this man." Then tearing up the cuff which hid his wound, he showed the judges a deep and blood-stained stab. A feeling of horror took possession of all the assembly. Every eye was fixed on Monte-Leone, who seemed unconscious of the sentiment he inspired. "The Count avenged himself on one of us, because we did our duty in denouncing him," said Francesco Salvatori. "He would have murdered us all had he been able," said Raphael. "Stenio," resumed Francesco, "has atoned for all the family." "And we ask," said Stenio, with a terrible voice, "we ask justice on the assassin! We demand it of God, the king, and the judges." The tall stature of Stenio, his pallor heightened by anger, and the bloody arm he intentionally exposed, made such an impression on the spectators that a murmur of approbation ran round the room. More numerous voices, however, soon drowned it. "Count Monte-Leone, have you prepared yourself to reply to these accusations, or have you chosen a defender?" "I have." "Name him," said the Grand Judge. "My defender is Stenio Salvatori, my accuser." Nothing could exceed the surprise caused by these words, not only in the minds of the three witnesses, but of the court and public. "Count," said the Grand Judge, solemnly, "you must remember this accusation is a solemn one; that you are accused of two crimes, the punishment of which is known to you. Such an answer testifies your small respect to this court, and must injure a cause which needs to be ably defended." "Signor," replied Monte-Leone, "it is because I recognize the great importance of the cause, that I confide to this man the duty of exonerating me from it. He alone can do so: his mouth alone, his lips, will demonstrate my innocence. Stenio Salvatori says, he saw me preside at the Venta of Pompeia." "I did," said Stenio, rising again. "He says I stabbed him at his threshold in the town of _Torre-del-Greco_." "I do," said Stenio.