The Last Lords of Gardonal | Page 4

Had it been Biffi's wife instead you
might have shown more courage."
"Had I followed my own inclination," said Ludovico, "I would have
killed the fellow on the spot; but then I could not have brought away
the young lady with me, for there were too many persons about the
house and in the fields at the time. So I thought, before acting further, I
had better let you hear his answer. One favour I hope your excellency
will grant me, that if the fellow is to be punished you will allow me to
inflict it as a reward for the skill I showed in keeping my temper when I
heard the message."
"Perhaps you have acted wisely, Ludovico," said the baron, after a few
moments' silence. "At present my mind is too much ruffled by the
villain's impertinence to think calmly on the subject. Tomorrow we will
speak of it again."
Next day the baron sent for his lieutenant, and said to him--

"Ludovico, I have now a commission for you to execute which I think
will be exactly to your taste. Take with you six men whom you can
trust, and start this afternoon for Bormio. Sleep at some village on the
road, but let not one word escape you as to your errand. Tomorrow
morning leave the village--but separately--so that you may not be seen
together, as It is better to avoid suspicion. Meet again near the farmer's
house, and arrive there, if possible, before evening has set in, for in all
probability you will have to make an attack upon the house, and you
may thus become well acquainted with the locality before doing so; but
keep yourselves concealed, otherwise you will spoil all. After you have
done this, retire some distance, and remain concealed till midnight, as
then all the family will be in their first sleep, and you will experience
less difficulty than if you began later. I particularly wish you to enter
the house without using force, but if you cannot do so, break into it in
any way you consider best. Bring out the girl and do her no harm. If
any resistance is made by her father, kill him; but not unless you are
compelled, as I do not wish to enrage his daughter against me.
However, let nothing prevent you from securing her. Burn the house
down or anything you please, but bring her here. If you execute your
mission promptly and to my satisfaction, I promise you and those with
you a most liberal reward. Now go and get ready to depart as speedily
as you can."
Ludovico promised to execute the baron's mission to the letter, and
shortly afterwards left the castle accompanied by six of the greatest
ruffians he could find among the men-at-arms.
Although on the spur of the moment Biffi had sent so defiant a message
to the baron, he afterwards felt considerable uneasiness as to the
manner in which it would be received. He did not repent having refused
the proposal, but he knew that the baron was a man of the most cruel
and vindictive disposition, and would in all probability seek some
means to be avenged. The only defence he could adopt was to make the
fastenings of his house as secure as possible, and to keep at least one of
his labourers about him whom he could send as a messenger to Bormio
for assistance, and to arouse the inhabitants in the immediate vicinity,
in case of his being attacked. Without any hesitation all promised to aid

Biffi in every way in their power, for he had acquired great renown
among the inhabitants of the place for the courage he had shown in
refusing so indignantly the baron's offer of marriage for his daughter.
About midnight, on the day after Ludovico's departure from the castle,
Biffi was aroused by some one knocking at the door of his house, and
demanding admission. It was Ludovico, for after attempting in vain to
enter the house secretly, he had concealed his men, determining to try
the effect of treachery before using force. On the inquiry being made as
to who the stranger was, he replied that he was a poor traveller who had
lost his way, and begged that he might be allowed a night's lodging, as
he was so weary he could not go a step further.
"I am sorry for you," said Biffi, "but I cannot allow you to enter this
house before daylight. As the night is fine and warm you can easily
sleep on the straw under the windows, and in the morning I will let you
in and give you a good breakfast."
Again and again did Ludovico plead to be admitted, but in vain; Biffi
would not be moved from