"The identical one," returned Stephano. "I concealed myself so well that I knew I might bid defiance to those bungling sbirri--although their scent was sharpened by the hope of the reward set on my head by the prince. While I thus lay hidden, I beheld a scene that would have done good to the heart of even such a callous fellow as yourself--I mean callous to female qualifications. In a word, I saw one woman stab another as effectually as----" "But it was Wagner who killed the woman!" ejaculated Lomellino. "No such thing," said Stephano quietly. "The murderess is of the gentle sex--though she can scarcely be gentle in disposition. And such a splendid creature, Lomellino! I beheld her countenance for a few minutes, as she drew aside her veil that her eyes might glare upon her victim; and I whispered to myself, 'That woman must be mine; she is worthy of me!' Then the blow descended--her victim lay motionless at her feet--and I never took my eyes off the countenance of the murderess. 'She is an incarnate fiend,' I thought, 'and admirably fitted to mate with the bandit captain.' Such was my reflection then; and the lapse of a few hours has only served to strengthen the impression. You may now judge whether I have formed an unworthy attachment!" "She _is_ worthy of you, captain!" exclaimed Lomellino. "Know you who she is?" "Not a whit," replied Stephano Verrina. "I should have followed her when she left the garden, and complimented her on her proficiency in handling a poniard, but I was not so foolhardy as to stand the chance of meeting the sbirri. Moreover, I shall speedily adopt measures to discover who and what she is; and when I present myself to her, and we compare qualifications, I do not think there can arise any obstacle to our happiness--as lovers are accustomed to say." "Then it was _she_ who murdered the Lady Agnes?" said Lomellino. "Have I not told you so? Signor Wagner is as innocent of that deed as the babe unborn; but it is not for me to step forward in his behalf, and thereby criminate a lady on whom I have set my affections." "That were hardly to be expected captain," returned Lomellino. "And all that I have now told thee thou wilt keep to thyself," added Stephano; "for to none else of the band do I speak so freely as to thee." "Because no one is so devoted to his captain as I," rejoined Lomellino. "And now that we are about to separate," added the man, as they reached the verge of the suburb, which was then divided by a wide, open space from the city itself, and might even be termed a detached village--"now that we are about to separate, captain, allow me to ask whether the affair of Monday night still holds good?"