“Drink it.”
“No—with my friends I either live or die.”
She took the little bottle, looked at it agonizingly, and then said, “There is barely enough for thee. Holy virgin, he has cast it to the ground.”
“But if I must die, thou demon—if I, my friend, my dear Orsini, if we all die, shalt thou live—thou? Ah! thou also hast reached death; none will come to help thee; hast thou not closed the door thyself. Prepare thee, thou shalt die!”
See how the knife glitters in the pale moonlight as it sweeps high up into the air.
“Gennaro! Gennaro! wouldst thou kill me?”
“On thy knees. I grant thee that mercy, die on thy knees.”
“I forbid thee!”
“Thou forbid me, thou who hast destroyed me. To thy knees! To thy knees!”
He forces her to her knees. Again the avenging steel is high in the air. Another moment and he shall thrust it downwards through the air—down, down, into her wicked heart. But she speaks five words—and see! The steel has fallen from his hand, and is lying harmless on the floor, his hands are clasped upon his head, and she may kill him without fear and so save herself. What is it then she has said? The words were:—