Silently the Duchessa watched the scene.Her face was as pallida and immobile as ever；even the eyes seemed to have lost expression.But the next words showed that she was still unconquered.
"You shall take the money of the fat pig of an American；itis well to do so.But the youth who boldly calls himself Ferralti shall make no tribute to this family.He shall die as I have declared.""I will not take the risk，"asserted the Duke，sourly.
"Have the others who lie in the pit told talesb ？"she demanded.
"No；but they died alone.Here are two Americans ourprisoners，and they have many and powerful friends，both at Taormina and at Naples.The man Merrick，when he goes，will tell that Ferralti is here.To obtain his person，alive or dead，the soldiers will come here and destroy us all.It is folly，and shows you are old and imbecile.""Then go ！"she cried，fiercely."Go，you and Tato；take your money and escape.And leave me my valley，and the youth Ferralti，and my revenge.Then，if I die，if the soldiers destroy me，it is my own doing.""In this new world，of which you know nothing，escape is not possible，"replied the duke，after a moment's thought."Ferralti must be accounted for，and because I captured himthey would accuse me of his death，and even Tato might be made to suffer.No，madame.Both the Americans must be killed，or both set free for ransom."Uncle John gave a start of dismaya.Here was a development he had not expected.
"Then，"said the old woman，positively，"let them bothdie.""Oh，no！"exclaimed Tato."Not that，grandmother！""Certainly not so，"agreed the Duke."We want theirmoney.""You are already rich，"said the Duchessa."You have yourself said so，and I know it is truth.""This new world，"explained the Duke，"contains of luxuries many that you have no understanding of.To be rich to—day requires more money than in your days，madre mia.With these ransoms，which already we have won，we shall have enough.Without this money my Tato would lack much that I desire for her.So of new murders I will take no risk，for the bambina's sake.""And my revenge？""Bah，of what use is it ？Because the boy's father married my sister Bianca，and ill—treated her，must we kill their offspring ？""He is his father's son.The father，you say，is dead，and so also is my child Bianca.Then my hatred falls upon the sonArturo，and he must die to avenge the wrong to our race.""More proof that you are imbecile，"said the Duke，calmly."He shall not die.He is nothing to us except a mine from whence to get gold.""He is my grandson.I have a right to kill him.""He is my nephew.He shall live.""Do you defya me？""With certainty.I defy you.The new world permits no crazy nonna to rule a family.That is my privilege.If you persist，it is you who shall go to the pit.If you have reason，you shall remain in your garden in peace.Come，Tato；we will retire."He arose and took the child's hand.The old woman sat staring at them in silence，but with an evil glint in her glistening eyes.
Uncle John turned around and softly made his retreat from the garden.His face wore a startled and horrified expression and on his forehead stood great beads of sweat that the sultrinessb of the day did not account for.
But he thought better of Il Duca.