Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-04-28

part oil tue value Of the stone, "'ro sell it at
that price, you must be robber, and arrest you.'
"lf it is not worth so much, give me less,'' said
massaccio, al am not n robber am an honest
man; 1t was the serpent who gave me the dia-
mond."
But the police now arrived, and Conducted him
before a magistrate. There lie 1recounted his adj
venture, which appeared TO be mere fairy vision
Yet, as the Signor Vitalis was implicated in lie
story, the magistrate referred In: affair to the
State nquiSition and appeared before ii.
'Relnte 10 us your history" said one OF the in
quisitors, .and lie not or we will have you lrow
into the canal.n
Massaccio related his adventure.
vitaisY''
eyes, noble sign,rs"
And he promised You marriage potion for
your bride, and his palace Venice for yourself p,
eyes, noble signors."
"And he drove you like a beggur from his door?"
yes noble signors."
"Let the Signor Vitalis appear" said the same
inqgisitor.
Vitalis appeared.
., "Do you know, this man, signor vitalis3" said
the inquisito:.
''No, l know him not" replied Vitalis.
The inquisitors consulted together
"Fhis man." said they, speaking of MasSaccio,
rs evidently a knave and cheat; he must be
thrown into prison. Signor Vi;alis, you are ac-
Quilted" Then, making sign to an officer Of
police, "rake that man." said heS "to prison."
Massaccio fell on his knees in the middle ofthe
| hall. "Noble sgnors, noble signors," said he,
"it is possible that the diamond may have been
stolen; the serpent who gave it me may hive
wished to deceive me. Ii is possible that the ape,
the lion, and the s.rpent may all be allusion of
the demon; outfits true that saved the Signor
| Vitalis. Signor Yitalis,'s Cunning TO Iim) "a [
ask you not for the marriage portion for my bride,
nor Tor your palnce of marble, but say word for
me; suffer me not to be thrown into prison; do
not abandon me. did not abandon you when
| you were in the pit"
| HNoblc SgnorS'S Snil VitnlIR. bOwinp IN he
tribunal, al can only repeat what have already
said; know moi this man. Has he single wit
ness 10 produce?"
| AT this moment the whole court was thrown IN
to Tear and establishment, for The lion the monkey
and the serpent entered the hall together. Tie
monkey was mounted on the back of the lion. and
the serpent was twined round the arm of the
monkey. On entering the lion roared, the monkey
spluttered, and the srIpent Missed.
IAN, these are the animals Of the pitt" cried
| Vitalis, in alarm.
..signor Yitalis," resumed the chief OF the in
qulsltors, when the dis may which this apphrtion
had caused had somewhat diminished, "you have
asked where are the witnesses OF MaSsaccio? You
see that God has sent them at the right time before
the bar of our tribunal. Since then, God has tes-
Tilted against you, we shouIi be culpable before
Him II we did notpunish your ingratitude. Your
palace and your possessions confscaied, nd
you shall pass the rest OF your life in a narrow
p ison. And you,". continued he, addressing him
self 10 Massaccio, who was all this time careSsirg
the non, the monkey and the serpent, "Since u
Venitian has promised you palace OF marble,
and portion for your bride, the republic of Venice
will accomplish the promlse; Tie palace and pc.
sessions Of Vitalis are thine. You,' said he TO
the secretary OF the tribunal, ''draw up an account
OF al this history, that the people OF Venice may
know, through all generations, that the Justice of
the tribunal of the state inquisiion is not less
equitable than it is rigurous.''
| MasSacco and his wife lived happily for many
years afterwards in the palace of Vilalis with the
monkey, the lion aud the serpent; and Massaccio
had them represented in picture the wall of
his palace, as they entered the hall of the tribu-
nal, the lion carrying the monkey, and the monkey
carrying the serpent.