Two men who were
walking up the footway from the opposite direction stopped at a little
distance and looked on, their hoods drawn over their eyes.
Giovanni came out hurriedly and crossed the bridge. He laid his hand on
the lieutenant's shoulder anxiously and spoke close to his ear, for the
pounding was deafening. The six men had strapped their halberds firmly
together in a solid bundle with their belts, and standing three on each
side they swung the whole mass of wood and iron like a battering ram, in
regular time.
"Stop them, sir! Stop them, pray!" cried Giovanni. "I will have the door
opened for you."
Suddenly there was silence as the officer caught one of his men by the
arm and bade them all wait.
"Who are you, sir?" he inquired.
"I am Giovanni Beroviero," answered Giovanni, sure that his name would
inspire respect.
The officer took off his cap politely and then replaced it. The two men
who were looking on nudged each other.
"I have a warrant to arrest a certain Zorzi," began the lieutenant.
"I know! It is quite right, and he is within," answered Giovanni.
"Pasquale!" he called, standing on tiptoe under the grating. "Pasquale!
Open the door at once for these gentlemen."
"Gentlemen!" echoed one of the men softly, with a low laugh and digging
his elbow into his companion's side.
Pages:
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344