Vespasien del Dongo part, mais en naviguant sur le lac, il se souvient d’un vieux conte grec, car il était savant ; il ouvre la lettre de son bon maître et y trouve l’ordre adressé au commandant du château, de le mettre à mort aussitôt son arrivée.
Vespasiano del Dongo started off, but, as he was sailing over the lake, an old Greek tale came into his mind, for he was a man of learning; he opened his liege lord's letter and found inside an order addressed to the governor of the castle to put him to death as soon as he should arrive.