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"I was thinking, signor. It is fortunate that her cottage is at

the extremity of the village; we have need of some place of

concealment; and not far from her house there is that old

uninhabited building in the middle of the fields, that one-but,

your Highness knows nothing of these matters-which was burnt a

few years ago, and, not having been repaired, is now deserted,

except by the witches, who keep all cowardly rascals away from

it; so that we may take safe possession."

"Well; what then?"

Here Griso went on to propose, and Don Roderick to approve, until

they had agreed upon the manner of conducting the enterprise to

the desired conclusion, without leaving a trace of the authors of

it: and also upon the manner of imposing silence, not only upon

poor Agnes, but also upon the more impatient and fiery Renzo.