Only one-third of the mine had actually exploded, and
only thirty Zouaves were at the time within the building.
"Did you see her face, Gaetano?" asked a rough fellow of his
companion. They stood together in a dark corner a little aloof
from the throng of people.
"No, but it must have been she. I am glad I have not that sin on
my soul."
"You are a fool, Gaetano. What is a girl to a couple of hundred
soldiers? Besides, if you had held her tight she would not have
got here in time to be killed."
"Eh--but a girl! The other vagabonds at least, we have despatched
in a good cause. Viva la liberta!"
"Hush! There are the gendarmes! This way!"
So they disappeared into the darkness whence they had come.
It was not only in the Borgo Nuovo that there was confusion and
consternation. The first signal for the outbreak had been given in
the Piazza Colonna, where bombs had been exploded. Attacks were
made upon the prisons by bands of those sinister-looking, unknown
men, who for several days had been noticed in various parts of the
city. A compact mob invaded the capitol, armed with better weapons
than mobs generally find ready to their hands. At the Porta San
Paolo, which was rightly judged to be one of the weakest points of
the city, a furious attack was made from without by a band of
Garibaldians who had crept up near the walls in various disguises
during the last two days.
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