Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/230

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color. I was going to faint, when one of them uncovering his face, I recognized Jago. At the same time four naked daggers were lifted and pointed at my breast.

"Traitor," cried Jago, "remember thy oath! This is the last warning thy brethren give thee! Take it with silent awe and respect our secrets! We now leave thee; beware of making the least alarm, else thy life shall pay for it." Here the flame was extinguished, the horrid strangers alighted and bade the coachman drive on. I remained half senseless in the carriage, till at last it stopt before my door, when a strange man opened it, and asked me if I pleased to alight, I was still more frightened at this incident, and almost afraid to venture out.

Perceiving however nobody else about me, I asked the driver whence he came, and who had ordered him to take charge of my carriage, while my own coachman had been left to take care of it. He informed me, that he was an inhabitant of Alcantara, and had been out to do a hackney job in the country. That on his return he stop-