Danger in the Dark - ZseZse

DANGER IN THE DARK. 217
tioned by all nations, he should have suffered an
ignominious death.
There were at Bologna two regiments of Swiss,
numbering about 4000, who were in the service of
the Republic. Bedini took upon himself the mission
of going in disguise to Bologna in order to corrupt
the Swiss, and induce them to leave the service
of the Republic. The Swiss proved incorruptible,
and Bedini redoubled his seduction and promises;
but the whole affair was soon discovered. The city
was alarmed, and the surrounding towns put'\>n their
guard-for Bedini's instructions were that the Swiss
should open themselves a path by force, collect by
threats the most money they possibly could in the
towns through which they were to pass, and carry it
to the Pope.
The governor of Bologna, in his too great clemency,
allowed Bedini, the infamous spy, to escape. The
republican government, becoming fearful of the regiments,
owing to what had passed, ordered them to
be immediately disbanded. "And it is a curious
circumstance," remarks an Italian, "that of all the
soldiers thus set at liberty, not one returned to the
service of the Pope."
But this crime in Bedini, though worthy of 'death,
was nothing, compared with the brutality, and infer- ,
nal malignity he displayed in the assassination and
torture of Ugo Bassi, a man of uncommon talent and
virtue, who had been taken captive, and placed as a
political prisoner at the disposal of Bedini,