to thee in this affair:  I might contrive that thou shouldst be where she is when Giacomino is gone off to supper; but, were I to presume to say aught to her on thy behalf, she would never listen to me.  This, if it please thee, I promise to do for thee, and will be as good as my word; and then thou canst do whatever thou mayst deem most expedient.”  Giannole said that he asked no more; and so ’twas arranged.

Meanwhile Minghino on his part had made friends with the maid, on whom he had so wrought that she had carried several messages to the girl, and had gone far to kindle her to his love, and furthermore had promised to contrive that he should meet her when for any cause Giacomino should be from home in the evening.  And so it befell that no long time after these parleys, Giacomino, by Crivello’s management, was to go sup at the house of a friend, and by preconcert between Crivello and Giannole, upon signal given, Giannole was to come to Giacomino’s house and find the door open.  The maid, on her part, witting nought of the understanding between Crivello and Giannole, let Minghino know that Giacomino would not sup at home, and bade him be near the house, so that he might come and enter it on sight of a signal from her.  The evening came; neither of the lovers knew aught of what the other was about; but, being suspicious of one another, they came to take possession, each with his own company of armed friends.  Minghino, while awaiting the signal, rested with his company in the house of one of his friends hard by the girl’s house:  Giannole with his company was posted a little farther off.  Crivello and the maid, when Giacomino was gone, did each their endeavour to get the other out of the way.  Crivello said to the maid:—­“How is it thou takest not thyself off to bed, but goest still hither and thither about the house?” And the maid said to Crivello:—­“Nay, but why goest thou not after thy master?  Thou hast supped; what awaitest thou here?” And so, neither being able to make the other quit the post, Crivello, the hour concerted with Giannole being come, said to himself:—­What care I for her?  If she will not keep quiet, ’tis like to be the worse for her.  Whereupon he gave the signal, and hied him to the door, which he had no sooner opened, than Giannole entered with two of his companions, and finding the girl in the saloon, laid hands on her with intent to carry her off.  The girl struggled, and shrieked amain, as did also the maid.  Minghino, fearing the noise, hasted to the spot with his companions; and, seeing that the girl was already being borne across the threshold, they drew their swords, and cried out in chorus:—­“Ah!  Traitors that ye are, ye are all dead men!  ’Twill go otherwise than ye think for.  What means this force?” Which said, they fell upon them with their swords, while the neighbours, alarmed by the noise, came hurrying forth with lights and arms, and protested that ’twas an outrage, and took Minghino’s part.  So, after a prolonged struggle, Minghino