Here is next a glass
poniard; whomsoever this pierces, that man's death is certain. As
soon as the blow is given, you must break the dagger in the wound.
The flesh will close over the point which has been broken off, and
which will keep its quarters till the day of resurrection! Lastly,
observe this metallic dagger; its cavity conceals a subtle poison,
which, whenever you touch this spring, will immediately infuse death
into the veins of him whom the weapon's point hath wounded. Take
these daggers. In giving them I present you with a capital capable
of bringing home to you most heavy and most precious interest."
Abellino received the instruments of death, but his hand shook as it
grasped them.
"Possessed of such unfailing weapons, of what immense sums must your
robberies have made you master!"
"Scoundrel!" interrupted Matteo, frowning and offended, "amongst us
robbery is unknown. What? Dost take us for common plunderers, for
mere thieves, cut-purses, housebreakers, and villains of that low,
miserable stamp?"
"Perhaps what you wish me to take you for is something worse; for,
to speak openly, Matteo, villains of that stamp are contented within
plundering a purse or a casket, which can easily be filled again;
but that which we take from others is a jewel which a man never has
but once, and which stolen can never be replaced. Are we not, then,
a thousand times more atrocious plunderers?"
"By the house at Loretto, I think you have a mind to moralise,
Abellino?"
"Hark ye, Matteo, only one question.
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