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Page 40
"The servants shrank, all
scared, and not too fain
To do their new lord's battle; Carlo hid;
But a servant pointed - more than one 'twas said -
And then his cousin knew the house too well.
He was haled out; Emilio made him bring
All monies he had by him - a round sum,
'Twas said, because he had been gathering in
Rentals and debts and so forth. 'Half for me,'
Emilio said 'for present urgent needs:
The rest for my good friends:' and parted it
Among his grinning men. And then perforce
Must Carlo sign him papers and a deed
That yielded up the heritage and owned
'Twas taken by injustice and by fraud.
And trembling Carlo signed, and still cried out
'Oh generous cousin do not murder me!'
"And, when he had signed all, Emilio said
'Now thou art purged we'll call thee not a thief,
And let thee answer me in proper sort
For slight upon the lady of this house,
My wife. We'll try it now, in this same room;
Now, choose thy weapon. And these friends of mine
Will bear no malice if I come to harm
In a fair fight!'
"They said that Carlo's eyes
Gleamed red with greed of blood, and that his aim,
Most nicely taken for his cousin's heart,
Missed only by the quivering of his frame
For eagerness. Emilio wounded him,
And, when he saw him dabbled in his blood
Lie on the ground called out for Barbara.
To play the surgeon. 'My wife's name' he said
'Is safe, the smirch has been washed off in blood
Of this poor sordid Judas. Help him now:
I would not have him die.'
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