"Do you bring any information to us?"
This question was put by the Italian bully and brigand, and to him the stranger turned with an elaborate bow.
"What do you want?"
"To get hold of Harkaway himself," cried Toro.
"Then I can help you to do this."
"You can--then money shall be yours," said Toro.
"I hope so; why, I"ve got that already from them."
"You have!--much?"
"A pretty lump. Look."
It was a bag of money composed of pieces of copper, silver and gold.
It was a good round sum, and it looked considerably more than it was.
"Is that all?"
"I have these few nicknacks," added the stranger, producing a bundle tied in his pocket-handkerchief.
They tore open the bundle eagerly and it was found to contain various articles of plate, a silver candlestick, and some jewels.
"Those," he said, pointing to the latter, "belonged to Mrs. Harkaway, and I believe she set some store by them--they were wedding presents."
"So much the better," exclaimed Toro, exultingly.
"So say I," added Hunston.
"Is all this a fair amount for a fellow to bring as his entrance fee?"
demanded the stranger.
"What say you, comrades?" demanded Toro of the bystanders. "You are the best judges. Shall we admit this man in as a brother and a comrade?"
"We will," shouted the brigands.
"Agreed on all hands?" said the Italian chief.
"Agreed."
It was answered as if with a single voice.
"Good," said Toro; "do you, Boulgaris, prescribe the oath."
The oath, which was administered in Greek, was not at all understood by the novice, but he subscribed to it cheerfully.
"You swear to devote your life to the destruction of your enemies,"
said Hunston.
"I do," responded the new brigand, with fervour.
"Enough. What is your name?"
"Geoffrey Martin."
"Geoffrey Martin," repeated Toro; "the name has a ring about it that I like. Now understand, the end of the Harkaways draws near; one has already paid the forfeit."
"Who?" cried the stranger.
"Two!" said a voice.
The brigands turned and beheld Diana, the widow of Mathias.
"Two have already fallen, for I myself struck the wife of this hated Harkaway to the heart with my dagger," cried the fierce woman.
And she then recounted (as we have done in a previous chapter) how she gained admittance to the Harkaway mansion, concealed herself in Mrs.
Harkaway"s chamber, and dealt her the fatal blow.
To all this the brigands" new recruit listened calmly enough.
When, with an air of triumph, Diana concluded her narration, the brigands cheered loudly.
"Another of our hated foes dead. Three cheers for the brave Diana!"
"Certainly," said Geoffrey Martin politely.
And his voice was heard in the general shout.
"Now, gentlemen," said he, when silence was once more restored, "allow me to correct one very slight error in the statement of this good and valorous lady."
"What is that?" demanded Toro.
"Her narrative is quite correct, with this little exception--it was not Mrs. Harkaway who was killed."
Diana turned pale, and uttering a wail of disappointment, sat down.
Hunston, after venting a few fearful imprecations, said--
"Then I hope and trust it may have been the wife of that confounded Harvey."
"It was not, and to tell you the truth, I am rather glad of it, for, do you know I have almost fallen in love with her?"
"Cheek!" muttered Hunston. "Well, who was it, then?"