Suppose that Geronimo should perceive me too soon and defend himself; that by chance the lute-players should be men of courage; that I should be wounded or made prisoner: any of these events might occur.

I would certainly be broken on the wheel or burned alive.

That, however, would be of little consequence, if by my death I could be useful to you.

But I am your servant, and known as such by all your acquaintances; and as I could have no motive of hatred or vengeance against a cavalier who has never spoken an unkind word to me, you would be at once suspected of having ordered the murder." "And you, I suppose, would betray me ?" said Turchi, with bitter irony.
"Betray you, signor?
that would not save myself; but under torture my tongue might against my will pronounce your name." Simon strode up and down the room, muttering between his teeth with suppressed rage.

His servant glanced at him stealthily, with an almost imperceptible smile of joy and triumph.
At last Simon stood still in the middle of the room; the scar on his cheek was of a fiery red, and his eyes rolled around restlessly.
"Shall I then be forever ruined?
Nothing is left me in the world but misery and infamy! Julio, is the arm-chair progressing ?"[16] "The arm-chair! Then the arm-chair was destined as a snare for Geronimo ?" said the servant, stupefied.