410 GRIMALDI. 



dangerous to accufed innocence, extorted from Fazio 

 a confeflion of all he had done, and even of what he 

 had not. He accufed himfelf as the murderer of Gri- 

 maldi, although he was not ; and was fentenced to for- 

 feit his pofTeffions, and to fuffer death at the place of 

 public execution. 



Valentina, on being difmifTed, would have returned 

 to her habitation, but was not a. little furprifed at find- 

 ing it befet with officers of juftice, who had even 

 turned her children out of it. No more was wanting 

 than this frefh misfortune for completely rendering her 

 z prey to defpair. The flings of confcience already 

 wrung her heart : for, her revenge being fatiated, fhe 

 had opened her eyes, faw the rafhnefs of her conduct 

 in all its extent, and had a full prefentiment of her fu- 

 ture mifery. Pain and remorfe now arofe to their 

 height. In frantic mood fhe ran about with difhevel- 

 led hair, and implored the judge to fet free her huf- 

 band, whom fhe herfelf had delivered up to the hang- 

 man, The fight of her children redoubled the pangs 

 of her foul. 



The whole city refounded with this melancholy 

 event. Valentina, who was a horror to herfelf, had 

 not even the poor confolation of exciting compaffion. 

 Relations and acquaintance hated and avoided her like 

 a ravening bean:. 



Fazio, in the mean time was awaiting his deplorable 

 doom. He was led to the place of execution along the 

 principal ftreets. He afcended the fcaffold with great 

 compofure, avouched his innocence, and curfed the 

 impetuous jealoufy of his wife. He was executed ; and 

 his body, according to cuftom, was expofed on the fcaf- 

 fold 



