Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-10-09
CHAPTER XXI.
MADNESS

CHAPTER XXI.
 MADNESS.
 Masaniello kicked away with his foot the rags he had worn the day before.
 Farewell to the cabin wetted by the sea wavesi" he exclaimed; farewell to the hat with its torn brimi Dress yourself, fisher man of Naples, and hasten to show yourself to Isabella ill the sumptuous habits given you by the people,"
 Speaking thus, he drew convulsively from out of the basket the costume which it con- tained Hardly, however, had he put it on, ere he felt a feeling of invisible lassitude creep over him. He sunk upon chair, and leaning his whirling head upon his hand, wiped away with his handkerchief of fns Flemish cloth the drops of precipitation which burst out on his forehead.
 "Ohl how 1 suffer-" he murIhured. My strength is leaving me, and life seems flying from me What is this illness which is con- suming mel Dear Isabellal is it possible that, when the day of our union draws near, there will be naught here save corpseF'
 Masaniello now perceived the flowers he had received the preceding night, and tried to carry them to his lips.
 Hardly, however, had he touched them than he started up with his hair on end, his eyes infamed; and, pacing rapidly up and down his room, he exclaimed:
 "Fernandez came to Naples to marry her! but it is I-I alone, the fisherman of the Mer- gellina, whom she lovesl Fernandez has leagued himself with Spinola to tear her from me! Do they not remember Carana's g deathg Ohl will challenge these naughty nobles who, from their earliest infancy, have learned the art of making up for want or courage by the use of stratagem, and who kill their adversary with such grace. By Saint Januanns, will teach them mode of fighting they do not know-a mode Of fighting always practiced by a man whose arm is strong and whose heart is inaccessible to fear Spinola, Fernandez, defend your selvesr" cried the fisherman, drawing his sword and making sparks of fire fly from 1t at every one of his movements.
 But his strength was soon unequal to his courage and he fell completely exhausted into chair.
 Such were the alternate fits of furious madness and of Encouragement, Of excite ment and weakness which Masaniello was destined to experience until the fatal mor- row.
 The murderous perfume of the bouquet given by Fernandez had derangcd his reason.
 The state carriage of the Duke of Arcos, magnificent and heavy vehicle, inclosed on all sides with plates of Venetian glass fixed in frames of carved wood ornamented with gold, drove out toward evening from the stables of the Vicaria. The fresh sea breeze had arisen, and the population began to scat ter themselves through the various streets, deligh hted at quitting their houses, where the sun had, so to speak, kept them besieged during the day Masaniello, dressed in a suit of clothes made in the French fashion and of the most incomparable richness and elegance. occupied the seat of honor at the back of the carriage. On his left was the i viceroy, and opposite him Fernandez The Count of Spnola was seated opposite the Duke of Arcos. Officers galloped at the doors of the magnificent vehicle, while a number of reiters closed the line of march. The palmy days of Spanish tyranny had returned.
 In vain, during his progress through the city, did Masaniello seek among the crowd for some of the popularity he had enjoyed only the day before; in vain did he attempt to gain few cheers by lowing to the few lazaroni that were grouped along his pas sage. The people remained dumb. They contemplated with uneasy curiosity the fish erman of the Nergellina metamorphosed into ! great nobleman; they no longer recognized | in him their chief, but merely saw in him al | ambitious man to whom his brethren owed nothing, since he had received from the Spaniards the price for which he had solo 1 himself
 A silent feeling of rage was boiling in Ma saniello's soul when he reached the market place. He could now hear the cries of men ace which rose above the murmurs of tho crowd The most violent of the lazaroni ex | claimed:
 'Down with the traitors! Down witt | Masaniello!"
 %b; ho hoA oP 3kc co | irrestraiuable and senseless fury produced il him by the fatal disorder to which his strong system was now prey. He got out of thu carriage and mounted his horse. Then put ting himself at the head of the Spanish sol diers, and advancing with drawn sword intt the midst of the lazaroni, he said:
 "Who was it cried, Down with Masa niello4'"
 There was something so menacing and st full of despair in his look and attitude tha the crowd were awed. Prolo, however, tn same who had conducted Corcelli and hi brigands to the faubourg of Lorstto, ad vanced bravely, and replied:
 "It was II"
 Without giving him time to continue, Ma saniello seized hold of the fisherman and lift ing him up by a superhuman effort, carriet him up to the front rank of the Spanish sol diers and threw him under the horses feet This act of violence excited an immense CT of indignation through the entire marke place.
 "Ahl you have not had enough sedition enough murders and combats7" continue Masaniello with menacing gesture. "Fo low me, soldiers! Let us charge thes wretches!"
 7 Speaking thus, he galloped forward, fo lowed by the soldiers of the cavalleria del rs
 When this torrent of men cased in steel an of horses excited by the spur, had swer across the market place, Ave or six Neapol tans, killed or wounded, were seen stretche upon the ground.
 They raised up those that still lived. Som of the horsemen threw them across thei horses necks, and with these funeral trophie did Masaniello return to the palace. Ths same evening, while the young man, a pre- to the working of the poison and worn out the emotions of this unfortunate day, ws lying stretched out senseless upon his bed, th prisoners were hanged by torchlight.
 Over the gallows was the following inscril tion:
 sThonas Aniello=-condemned by the hea of the people"