Tremblingly he prepared to
obey, but not without unfastening the horse which the dead Marquis
had so lately ridden, and taking some trouble to attach it to his
vehicle for his own uses.
"For if we do this, they will never know!" he muttered with
chattering teeth, "A horse is always a horse--and this is a good
animal, more valuable than the men;--and when they find the men that
is none of our business. In--in with you, Madama! I will drive you
into the city,--that is, if you give me a thousand francs instead of
the five hundred your man promised me! Otherwise I will leave you
here!"
"A thousand!" shrieked Richaud, "Oh, thief! You know I am a poor
stranger--Oh, mon Dieu! Do not murder me!" This, as the driver,
having hustled her into the vehicle and shut the door, now shook his
dirty fist at her threateningly. "Oh!--what a night of horror! Yes--
yes!--a thousand!--anything!--only take me back to Rome!"
Satisfied in his own mind that he had intimidated her sufficiently
to make her give him whatever he demanded, the driver who, despite
his native cupidity, was seriously alarmed for his own safety,
hesitated no longer, and the noise of the dashing wheels and the
galloping hoofs woke loud echoes from the road, and dull
reverberations from the Ponte Nomentano, as the equipage, with two
horses now instead of one, clattered out of sight.
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