Pagolo glanced furtively at Cellini, and saw plainly in his face that the judge might at any moment give place to the executioner; he bowed his head, therefore, with a groan.
"Take that ring from your finger, Pagolo, and put it on Catherine's."
Pagolo passively obeyed the first portion of the order, and Benvenuto motioned to Scozzone to draw near. She obeyed.
"Put out your hand, Scozzone," continued Benvenuto.
Again she obeyed.
"Now do the rest."
Pagolo placed the ring upon Scozzone's finger.
"Now," said Benvenuto, "that the betrothal is duly accomplished, we will pass to the marriage."
"Marriage!" muttered Pagolo; "we can't be married in this way; we must have notaries and a priest."
"We must have a contract," rejoined Benvenuto, producing the one prepared under his orders. "Here is one all ready, in which the names only need to be inserted."