1826.) The Cup of Honours: 395 
aie Je 
your ears. I have, from particular circumstances, a strong hope, of 
bringing that villain to justice.” ua» 
« Justice !” exclaimed the Italian: “ it is now you that are the mad- 
man: Justice in Naples! Justice with a bigotted government, a besotted 
people, and every soul in the tribunals bribed, or bribable, from the 
lowest huissier up to the supreme judge! No: the only chance for me 
is his stant death. Are there no fevers, no pestilences under heaven!” 
He rose and walked restlessly about the room. Malatesta followed him 
with his eyes. “ Are there no opium draughts, no agua-tofana drops ? 
Is there no doctor in the whole length of the toledo ?” the old man pro- 
nounced: those are rather more to the purpose—shall I inquire ?” 
_ The Italian heard him—but returned no answer : he continued pacing 
the room. .A loud knocking was suddenly heard at the outer-door. He 
glanced out of the window; and, starting back, flung himself on the 
floor inagony. “ They are come,” said he, “ the officers of the tribunal, 
to take me before the minister—my disgrace will be public: I am 
beggared, outcast—crushed to the dust for ever.” He writhed upon 
the floor. 
_. « Atallevents, you must not be left in the hands of those hang-dogs,” - 
said the old man, attempting to lift him. ‘ One word for all—give me 
carte-blanche, and let me save you; there is but one way.” The 
wretched treasurer, stil! upon the ground, paused in his agony, and 
threw up a melancholy look of doubt on his preserver. “ What I say I can 
do,” whispered Malatesta: “but Flores must die. I have sworn it long 
ago—my own injuries, and not your’s, call for it—but I also desire to 
save my friend. Have I your consent to my at least making the trial 7” 
The knocking was redoubled. “ All—any thing,” said the shuddering 
Italian: «do what you please!” The old man absolutely sprang from the 
ground with a cry of exultation, waved his withered arm with a gesture 
of wild triumph over the head of the unfortunate being still stretched 
beneath him, and was in an instant gone. 
~ * * * * * * 
* * * * * * * 
The fleet of the King of the two Sicilies was coming into the Bay of 
Naples after a successful co-operation with the imperial forces against 
Venice. The city was all in an uproar of exultation. The whole range 
of the magnificent houses on the Chiaja were illuminated ; and fétes of 
the most costly description were going on in the mansions of all the 
principal courtiers. But the most costly was that celebrated in the 
palazzo of the Countof Manfredonia, first minister, and aman of the 
‘most distinguished abilities and success in his administration. The 
Spanish alliance had been negociated by him in the face of difficulties 
innumerable; and the late conquest of the Venetian terra firma was 
due not less to his diplomatic sagacity than to his personal enterprize. 
_ But he was more respected than popular. His life of anxiety and 
occupation had given him secluded habits ; and on this evening he had 
soon retired to his cabinet, leaving all the pomp and vanities of almost 
Zoyal feasting to the crowd that filled his superb apartments. He was 
sitting, wearied and head-ached, in a small study that looked out upon 
_ the waters; and where the slight sound of the sea-air, and the subsiding 
imgeys®, were the only music. He had been for some days waiting for 
espatches from the imperial governor of Milan; and their delay had 
3 E 2 
