“Up with the caitiff’s vizor,” shouted the Duke. “Let us see the bravo’s face. Up with his vizor.”
The captive knight cast a glance around, and beheld his followers--the dying and the dead--strewn over the floor of the cavern. The brave old Esquires lay side by side, their sinewy hands still grasping their broken swords, and their gray hair dabbled in blood.
“Sir Duke,” exclaimed the captive, “behold the bravo!” He raised his vizor, and the features of Adrian Di Albarone, pale and sunken, were revealed. “Behold the bravo!”
“Now, by the body of God!” shouted the Duke, boiling with passion, “thou shalt not escape me this time.--Dog----”
“These hands itch for thy blood”--shrieked a shrill and ringing voice, and Adrian beheld the distorted form and mis-shapen features of the Doomsman, pressing forward from the throng of men-at-arms, with his talon-like fingers grasping the air, while his face wore the expression of a demon in human guise,--“These hands itch for thy blood! Ha!--ha! Once escaped--the second time, the hot iron, the melted lead and the wheel of torture, wait not for thee in vain! Ha, ha,--hark how the cavern roof joins in my laugh. Great Duke, the Doomsman claims his victim!”
“Duke--tyrant, I am in thy power!” shouted Adrian, gazing upon the circle of men-at-arms who surrounded him. “These thongs, they are for my wrists! Yon chains--they soon will fasten this body to the dungeon floor! Thou art sure of thy victim--Lo! I defy thee!”
And as he spoke, there came gliding from the darkness of the cavern, two forms, clad in robes of sable velvet, who advanced hastily along the floor, and stood between the victim and the Duke.
“Lo! I defy thee! Tremble for thine own head, tyrant and coward! Tremble and turn pale, for lo! even now, the axe glimmers high above thy head, whetted for the Wronger’s blood--in a moment it descends--beware the blow!”
And as he spoke, while the Duke recoiled with a sudden start, and even the Doomsman trembled as he beheld the sable figures standing before his victim, silent and motionless, yet with the long curved dagger in their girdles, and the parchment scroll in their hands, all suddenly became dim and indistinct, and the cavern was wrapped in darkness.