'Make room!'
The people were pushed and hustled back till they were crammed against
the house walls, leaving in the centre an enormous empty space. Then a
flourish of trumpets, and the people made an opening at the end of the
square to allow the passage of a horse and man, the horse--a huge black
stallion--prancing and plunging, and on each side a man was holding the
bridle. On his back sat a big man, dressed all in flaming red, and a red
hood covered his head and face, leaving two apertures for the eyes. A
horrified whisper ran round the square.
'The hangman!'
In the centre of the piazza he stopped. Caterina addressed the Orso.
'Have you anything to say, Orso Orsi?'
At last he seemed to hear, he looked at her and then, with all the
strength he had, hurled the word at her,--
'Bastard!'
She flushed angrily and made a sign. Two men seized the old man and
dragged him off the mule; they caught hold of his legs, throwing him to
the ground, and with a thick rope tied his ankles together.
At this I understood. I was seized with sudden horror, and I cried out.
Obeying a sudden impulse, I started forward; I don't know what I was
going to do; I felt I must protect him or die with him. I started
forward, but Andrea threw his arms round me and held me back.
'Let me go,' I said, struggling.
'Don't be a fool!' he whispered. 'What can you do against all these?'
It was no use; I gave way. Oh, God! that I should stand by and see this
awful thing and be utterly powerless. I wondered the people could suffer
this last atrocity; I thought they must scream and rush to save the
wretched man. But they watched--they watched eagerly....
By his feet they dragged him to the horse, and the end of the rope round
his ankles they tied to the horse's tail and about the rider's waist.
'Ready?' cried the hangman.
'Yes!' answered the soldiers.
They all sprang back; the hangman dug the spurs into his horse. The
people gave a huge shout, and the fiery beast went careering round the
square at full tilt. The awful burden dragging behind terrified him, and
with head strained forward and starting eyes he galloped madly. The mob
urged him on with cries, and his rider dug the spurs in deeply; the
pavement was scattered with blood.
God knows how long the wretched man lived. I hope he died at once. At
last the brute's furious career was stopped, the ropes were cut, the
corpse fell back, and, the people again making passage, horse and rider
disappeared. In the middle of the piazza, in a pool of blood, lay a
shapeless mass. It was ordered that it should be left there till
nightfall as an example to evildoers.
Andrea wanted to come away, but I insisted on staying to see what
happened more. But it was the end, for Caterina turned to Savello and
said,--
'I do not forget that all power comes from God, Monsignor, and I wish
solemnly to render thanks to the Divine Majesty, who has saved me, my
children and the State. Therefore, I shall order a grand procession
which shall march round the town and afterwards hear mass at the
cathedral.'
'It shows, madam,' replied Savello, 'that you are a pious and truly
Christian woman.'