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extremely useful。 It had so happened that Francesco； being
dissatisfied with Olympio； complained about him to Prince Colonna；
and he was dismissed。
After several consultations between the Cenci family； the abbe and
the sbirri； the following plan of action was decided upon。
The period when Francesco Cenci was accustomed to go to Rocco
Petrella was approaching： it was arranged that Olympio； conversant
with the district and its inhabitants； should collect a party of a
dozen Neapolitan bandits； and conceal them in a forest through which
the travellers would have to pass。 Upon a given signal； the whole
family were to be seized and carried off。 A heavy ransom was to be
demanded； and the sons were to be sent back to Rome to raise the sum；
but； under pretext of inability to do so； they were to allow the time
fixed by the bandits to lapse； when Francesco was to be put to death。
Thus all suspicions of a plot would be avoided； and the real
assassins would escape justice。
This well…devised scheme was nevertheless unsuccessful。 When
Francesco left Rome； the scout sent in advance by the conspirators
could not find the bandits； the latter； not being warned beforehand；
failed to come down before the passage of the travellers； who arrived
safe and sound at Rocco Petreila。 The bandits； after having
patrolled the road in vain； came to the conclusion that their prey
had escaped； and； unwilling to stay any longer in a place where they
had already spent a week； went off in quest of better luck elsewhere。
Francesco had in the meantime settled down in the fortress； and； to
be more free to tyrannise over Lucrezia and Beatrice； sent back to
Rome Giacomo and his two other sons。 He then recommenced his
infamous attempts upon Beatrice； and with such persistence； that she
resolved herself to accomplish the deed which at first she desired to
entrust to other hands。
Olympio and Marzio； who had nothing to fear from justice； remained
lurking about the castle； one day Beatrice saw them from a window；
and made signs that she had something to communicate to them。 The
same night Olympio； who having been castellan knew all the approaches
to the fortress； made his way there with his companion。 Beatrice
awaited them at a window which looked on to a secluded courtyard； she
gave them letters which she had written to her brother and to
Monsignor Guerra。 The former was to approve； as he had done before；
the murder of their father； for she would do nothing without his
sanction。 As for Monsignor Guerra； he was to pay Olympio a thousand
piastres； half the stipulated sum； Marzio acting out of pure love for
Beatrice； whom he worshipped as a Madonna； which observing； the girl
gave him a handsome scarlet mantle； trimmed with gold lace； telling
him to wear it for love of her。 As for the remaining moiety； it was
to be paid when the death of the old man had placed his wife and
daughter in possession of his fortune。
The two sbirri departed； and the imprisoned conspirators anxiously
awaited their return。 On the day fixed； they were seen again。
Monsignor Guerra had paid the thousand piastres； and Giacomo had
given his consent。 Nothing now stood in the way of the execution of
this terrible deed； which was fixed for the 8th of September； the day
of the Nativity of the Virgin； but Signora Lucrezia； a very devout
person； having noticed this circumstance； would not be a party to the
committal of a double sin； the matter was therefore deferred till the
next day； the 9th。
That evening； the 9th of September； 1598； the two women； supping with
the old man； mixed some narcotic with his wine so adroitly that；
suspicious though he was； he never detected it； and having swallowed
the potion； soon fell into a deep sleep。
The evening previous； Marzio and Olympio had been admitted into the
castle； where they had lain concealed all night and all day； for； as
will be remembered； the assassination would have been effected the
day before had it not been for the religious scruples of Signora
Lucrezia Petroni。 Towards midnight； Beatrice fetched them out of
their hiding…place； and took them to her father's chamber； the door
of which she herself opened。 The assassins entered； and the two
women awaited the issue in the room adjoining。
After a moment； seeing the sbirri reappear pale and nerveless；
shaking their heads without speaking； they at once inferred that
nothing had been done。
〃What is the matter？〃 cried Beatrice； 〃and what hinders you？〃
〃It is a cowardly act；〃 replied the assassins； 〃to kill a poor old
man in his sleep。 At the thought of his age； we were struck with
pity。〃
Then Beatrice disdainfully raised her head； and in a deep firm 。voice
thus reproached them。
〃Is it possible that you； who pretend to be brave and strong； have
not courage enough to kill a sleeping old man？ How would it be if he
were awake？ And thus you steal our money！ Very well： since your
cowardice compels me to do so； I will kill my father myself； but you
will not long survive him。〃
Hearing these words； the sbirri felt ashamed of their irresolution；
and； indicating by signs that they would fulfil their compact； they
entered the room； accompanied by the two women。 As they had said； a
ray of moonlight shone through the open window； and brought into
prominence the tranquil face of the old man； the sight of whose white
hair had so affected them。
This time they showed no mercy。 One of them carried two great nails；
such as those portrayed in pictures of the Crucifixion； the other
bore a mallet： the first placed a nail upright over one of the old
man's eyes； the other struck it with the hammer； and drove it into
his head。 The throat was pierced in the same way with the second
nail； and thus the guilty soul； stained throughout its career with
crimes of violence； was in its turn violently torn from the body；
which lay writhing on the floor where it had rolled。
The young girl then； faithful to her word； handed the sbirri a large
purse containing the rest of the sum agreed upon； and they left。
When they found themselves alone； the women drew the nails out of the
wounds； wrapped the corpse in a sheet； and dragged it through the
rooms towards a small rampart； intending to throw it down into a
garden which had been allowed to run to waste。 They hoped that the
old man's death would be attributed to his having accidentally fallen
off the terrace on his way in the dark to a closet at the end of the
gallery。 But their strength failed them when they reached the door
of the last room； and； while resting there； Lucrezia perceived the
two sbirri； sharing the money before making their escape。 At her
call they came to her； carried the corpse to the rampart； and； from a
spot pointed out by the women； where the terrace was unfenced by any
parapet； they threw it into an elder tree below； whose branches
retained' it suspended。
When the body was found