And she pointed back toward the chamber of penitence. The marquis was about to make some observation in reply to the strange disclosures of the old sextoness, when suddenly the din of a tumult, occurring, as it seemed, in that department of the convent far overhead, reached his ears, commencing with the rushing of many feet--the ejaculations of hostile bands--and then continuing with the clash of arms, and the shrieks of affrighted women--until, in a few moments, those ominous sounds were broken in upon and dominated by the wild, terrific cry of "Fire! fire!" "Oh! wherefore have I tarried here so long?" exclaimed the marquis; and he was about to return to the chamber of penitence, when a sudden blaze of light appeared at the mouth of the pit, thirty yards above. Looking hastily up, he beheld the flames rolling over the entrance of that well at the bottom of which he stood; and, in another minute, the forked fire burst from the sides, forcing for itself a way through the wooden walls; and the old dry timber and planks yielded to the devouring element as if they had been steeped in oil. But while the marquis was still standing at the bottom looking up the pit, the clash of weapons, the tread of many steps, and the vociferations of combatants appeared to grow nearer; then in another moment he became aware that the hostile sounds came down the well, and proceeded from the room far above, where the fire as well as the war was raging. Manuel had again turned around to hurry back to the chamber of penitence, when a loud cry of despair came vibrating down, and in another instant the heavy form of a man was precipitated into the well. The wicker chair fortunately broke his fall, and he rose with a dreadful imprecation. "Piero!" cried the marquis. "Ah! my lord, is it you?" said the bandit faintly, as he staggered back and fell heavily on the floor. "This is a bad business--the sbirri were alarmed, and broke in--Lomellino has got away, but the rest who were with me are slain----" "And you are wounded, Piero," ejaculated the marquis, rushing forward to assist the bandit, from whose breast he now perceived the blood to be flowing. "Never mind me, my lord!" said Piero faintly. "Haste and tell Verrina that--our men fought well--it was not their fault--nor mine--the nuns must have given--the--alarm----" His voice had grown fainter as he spoke: and, while the marquis was endeavoring to raise him, he fell back again, and expired with the name of Carlotta upon his tongue.