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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/38250-8.txt b/38250-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6dec596 --- /dev/null +++ b/38250-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11015 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Honour of Savelli, by S. (Sidney) Levett-Yeats + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Honour of Savelli + A Romance + +Author: S. (Sidney) Levett-Yeats + +Release Date: December 9, 2011 [EBook #38250] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HONOUR OF SAVELLI *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Booka + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://books.google.com/books?id=jQM1AAAAMAAJ + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + + + THE + + HONOUR OF SAVELLI + + + + _A ROMANCE_ + + + + + + BY + + S. LEVETT YEATS + + + + + + NEW YORK + D. APPLETON AND COMPANY + 1895 + + + + + + + Copyright, 1895, + By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY. + + + + + + + PREFACE. + + +Is writing this book the Author has made no effort to point a moral; +all that has been done is an attempt to catch the "spirit of the true +Romance," and to amuse. The book was partly written in the intervals +of work in India, and was completed during the leisure allowed by +furlough on medical certificate. In dealing with this period of +Italian history, in which the story is set, the Author would say he +has taken Dumas for his model, but hopes that he has worked out his +scheme on original lines; and he has used, as far as possible, the +language in which an Italian living in the beginning of the sixteenth +century would express himself. At the time the book was written the +Author had not read Mr. Stanley Weyman's brilliant novel, "A Gentleman +of France." Had he done so the style of the present book would +doubtless have been much improved from the lessons taught by a +master-hand. The Author, in bringing this to the notice of the reader, +would humbly add that he is making no challenge to break a lance with +so redoubted a knight as the creator of Gaston de Marsac. + + + + + CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER + + I. A Bolt from the Blue. + + II. Ruin. + + III. Madame D'Entrangues. + + IV. A Fool's Cap and a Sore Heart. + + V. D'Entrangues Scores a Point. + + VI. Bernabo Ceci. + + VII. The Garden of St. Michael. + + VIII. Temptation. + + IX. The Marzocco Inn. + + X. Niccolo Machiavelli. + + XI. The Letter to D'Amboise. + + XII. The Ambuscade. + + XIII. Rome. + + XIV. George of Amboise. + + XV. The Gift of Bayard. + + XVI. Friend or Foe. + + XVII. The Vatican. + + XVIII. The Opal Ring. + + XIX. Exit the Ancient Brico. + + XX. "A Brown Paul--a Little Copper." + + XXI. The Rescue of Angiola. + + XXII. The Ride to St. Jerome. + + XXIII. The Pavilion of Tremouille. + + XXIV. Too Dearly Bought. + + XXV. The Vengeance of Corte. + + XXVI. Concerning many Things. + + XXVII. My Lord, the Count. + + + + + PRELUDE. + + + I. + + He rydes untoe ye Dragon's Gate, + And blowes a ryngynge calle: + A gallant Knyghte in armoure bryghte, + 'Twere sadde toe see him falle. + Deare Sayntes of Mercy steele hys harte, + And nerve hys arme withalle! + + II. + + Noe glove bears he uponne hys creste, + And lettynge droppe hys visor's barres, + I sawe hys starke soule lookynge forthe, + Toe meete ye whysperes of ye starres. + True Knyghte of God, whose arme is stronge, + Whose harte is pure, whose lance is longe. + + III. + + Lette wyn, lette lose, belyke 'tis true, + Ye issue of ye daye will bee, + Notte toe ye dreamers; butte toe those + Who stayke their alle on victorie. + Notte to ye skiffes uponne ye streames, + Butte ye stronge shippes uponne ye sea. + + _Vanity Fair, 12th October, 1893_. + + + + + THE HONOUR OF SAVELLI. + + CHAPTER I. + + A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. + + +"I do not drink with a thief!" + +D'Entrangues spoke in clear, distinct tones, that rose above the hum +of voices, and every one caught the words. In an instant the room was +still. The laughter on all faces died away, leaving them grave; and +twenty pairs of curious eyes, and twenty curious faces were turned +towards us. It was so sudden, so unexpected, this jarring discord in +our harmony, that it fell as if a bolt from a mangonel, or a shot from +one of Messer Novarro's new guns, had dropped in amongst us. Even +that, I take it, would have caused less surprise, although for the +present there was a truce in the land. Prospero Colonna turned half +round in his seat and looked at me. Our host and commander, old Ives +d'Alegres, who was pouring himself out a glass of white vernaccia, +held the decanter in mid-air, an expression of blank amazement in his +blue eyes. Even the Englishman, Hawkwood, who sat next to me, was +startled out of his habitual calm. Every eye was on us, on me where I +sat dazed, and on D'Entrangues, who was leaning back slightly, a +forced smile on his face, the fingers of one hand playing with the +empty glass before him, whilst with the other he slowly twisted his +long red moustache. I was completely taken aback. Only that afternoon +I parted from D'Entrangues, apparently on the best of terms. We had +played together, and he had won my crowns. It is true he was not paid +in full at the time; but he knew the word of a Savelli. On leaving, +Madame D'Entrangues asked me to join her hawking party for the morrow, +and he urged the invitation. I accepted, and backed my new peregrine +against D'Entrangues' old hawk Bibbo for ten crowns, the best of three +flights, and the wager was taken. Never indeed had I known him so +cordial. I did not like the man, but for his wife's sake was friendly +to him. Of a truth, there were few of the youngsters in Tremouille's +camp who were not in love with her, and some of us older fellows too, +though we hid our feelings better. I was grateful to Madame. She had +been kind to me after the affair of San Miniato, when a Florentine +pike somehow found its way through my breastplate. Indeed, I may say I +owed my recovery to her nursing. In return, I had been of some service +to her in the retreat up the valley of the Taro, after Fornovo--she +called it saving her life. In this manner a friendship sprang up +between us, which was increased by the opportunities we had of meeting +whilst the army lay inactive before Arezzo. Long years of camp life +made me fully appreciate the society of a woman, remarkable alike for +her beauty and her talent; and she, on the other hand, felt for me, I +was sure, only that friendship which it is possible for a good woman +to hold for a man who is not her husband. + +I do not for one moment mean to imply that Doris D'Entrangues was +perfection. I knew her to be wayward and rash, sometimes foolish if +you will; but withal a pure woman. I soon found she was unhappy, and +in time she got into a way of confiding her troubles to me, and they +were not a few, for D'Entrangues was--what all men knew him to be. +Finding that I could be of help to Madame, I avoided all difference +with the husband, and for her sake was, as I have said, friendly to +him. Perhaps my course of action was not prudent; but who is there +amongst us who is always guided by the head? At any rate, I expiated +my fault, and paid the price of my folly to the end of the measure. + +As I sat in the now silent supper-room with the man's words buzzing in +my ears, a curious recollection of a scene that occurred about a month +ago came back to me. Madame and I had over-ridden ourselves hawking, +and I had dismounted at her request and gathered for her a posy of +yellow coronilla and scarlet amaryllis. This, in her quick impulsive +way, she held to her husband's face when we met him, a half-league or +so on our way back, saying, "See what lovely flowers Di Savelli has +given me!" He snatched them from her hand, and flung them under his +horse with an oath, adding something which I did not catch. Madame +flushed crimson, and the incident ended there, for I did not care to +press the matter. + +It all came back to me now, in the oddest manner, as I sat staring at +D'Entrangues. He had come in late to the supper, and, after greeting +D'Alegres, slipped into the seat opposite me in silence. Across him +two men were discussing a series of thefts that had recently disturbed +us. They were not common thefts, such as are of daily occurrence in a +military camp; but were the work of some one both daring and +enterprising. Even then the matter would not have attracted the +attention it did but for the loss of a ruby circlet by the Duchesse de +la Tremouille, which, besides its intrinsic value, was the gift of a +king. Madame de la Tremouille made an outcry, and the duke, as the +matter touched him, was leaving no stone unturned to find the thief. +It had come to be that every robbery in the camp was put down to this +same light-fingered gentleman; and Visconti, one of the two men who +were discussing the question, was loudly lamenting the loss of a rare +medallion of which he had just been relieved. Throughout their +conversation D'Entrangues, though once or twice addressed, spoke no +word, but maintained a moody silence. When the wine was circling round +I, being warmed, and wishing to stand well with the husband of Madame, +made some rallying allusion to our match for the morrow, and offered +to drink to him. His reply is known. + +The silence which followed his speech was so utter that one may have +heard a feather fall; and then some one, I know not who, laughed +shortly. The sound brought me to myself, and in a fury, hardly knowing +what I was doing, I jumped up and drew my dagger, but was instantly +seized by Colonna and Hawkwood. The latter was a man of great size, +and between him and Colonna I was helpless. + +"Give him rope," whispered Hawkwood, and his voice was kind, "this is +not an affair to be settled with a poniard thrust." + +The whole room was in an uproar now, all crowding around us; +D'Entrangues half-risen from his seat, his hand on his sword, and I +quivering in the grasp of my kind enemies. Old Ives d'Alegres rushed +forwards, "Silence, gentlemen!" he called out, "remember I command +here. Savelli, give up that dagger; D'Entrangues, your sword. Now, +gentlemen, words have been used which blood alone cannot wash out. M. +d'Entrangues, I await your explanation!" + +"Liar!" I shouted out, "you will give it to me at the sword's point," +and big Hawkwood's restraining arms tightened over me. + +"Thanks," replied D'Entrangues, "you remember the sword at last; a +moment before I saw in your hands your natural weapon." + +"A truce to this, sirs! I await you," interrupted D'Alegres. + +"Your pardon," said D'Entrangues. "Gentlemen, you want an explanation. +It is simple enough. We have a thief in our midst, and he is there." + +"A thief--Di Savelli!" called out a dozen voices, and Ives d'Alegres +said, "Impossible! you are mad, D'Entrangues." + +"No more so, sir, than you, or any one of us here. I confess, though, +I thought I was mad when I first knew of it, for this man has been my +comrade, we have fought side by side, and he has borne himself as a +gallant soldier. I thought I was mad, I say, when I first knew of +this; but the proofs are too strong." + +"What are they?" D'Alegres spoke very shortly. + +"You shall have them. You all know there have been a series of +unaccountable thefts amongst us lately. The duchess's rubies have +gone. Hardly a lady but has lost some valuable, my wife, amongst other +things, a bracelet. The thief did not confine his attentions to the +fair sex; but visited us men as well. They were not common thefts. +From the circumstances attending them, the robber must have known us +intimately, and had easy access to our quarters. Up to now the matter +has been a mystery. A lot of people have been wrongly suspected, and +two poor wretches are now swinging on the gibbet, condemned for +nothing that I know of." + +"It was done by my orders, sir," said D'Alegres, "the matter is beside +the point." + +"I stand corrected, General. Some little time ago a fortunate chance +revealed to me who the culprit was. I made no sign, but set to work +until complete proofs were in my hands." + +"You have said so before. Why beat about the bush? If you have proofs, +produce them?" + +"A moment, sir. May I ask any of you to state what your most recent +losses have been?" + +"My medallion by Cimabue," put in Visconti in his drawling voice. + +"Fifty fat gold crowns in a leather bag," grumbled Hawkwood, "the +residue of the Abbot Basilio's ransom. God send such another prize to +me, for I know not how to pay my lances." + +There was a little laugh at Hawkwood's moan, but it soon stilled, and, +one by one, each man stated his latest loss. + +"I will add to these Madame's bracelet," said D'Entrangues, "and shall +not be surprised if the duchess thanks me for her rubies to-morrow." + +"Tremouille has sworn to crucify the thief if he is found." + +"The duke knows the value of his gems." + +"He ought to be consoled, for he has a true wife left, and, his +eminence of St. Sabines tells me, such a possession is more precious +than rubies," drawled Visconti. + +"Gentlemen, you interrupt M. D'Entrangues. Let us end this painful +scene." + +"There is but one thing more, sir. I ask you now to have +this"--D'Entrangues indicated me with an insolent look--"this person's +quarters searched." + +Whilst he was speaking, D'Alegres gave a whispered order to a young +officer, who left the room immediately, although with a somewhat +discontented air at being sent away. As D'Entrangues finished, the +door was opened, a couple of files of Swiss infantry entered, and with +them Braccio Fortebraccio, our provost-marshal. At a sign from +D'Alegres one of the files surrounded me, the other D'Entrangues, and +Braccio called out in a loud voice, "Ugo di Savelli, and Crépin +D'Entrangues, I arrest you in the king's name!" + +"At your service, provost," said D'Entrangues with a bow, "my sword is +already given up. May I ask, sir," he continued, turning to D'Alegres, +"if you will put my proofs to the test?" + +"At once. Provost, lead your prisoners to M. di Savelli's quarters." + +"Thank God!" The expression burst from me, so great was my relief. I +was sure of being acquitted, and madame or no madame, I should kill +D'Entrangues the following day, even though I knew Tremouille had +sworn to hang the next man caught duelling within the jurisdiction of +his camp. We were, as I have stated, at Arezzo, and had passed the +winter there, in the truce following the expulsion of the Duke of Bari +from Lombardy. It had, however, become necessary to menace the Pope, +who was hilt deep in intrigue as well as crime, and Tremouille leaving +Monsignore d'Amboise in Milan, marched south, and with the aid of our +Florentine allies, held the Borgia and Spain in check. Acting under +the advice of Trevulzio, Ives d'Alegres, and others, the duke had not +entered the town; but kept us in camp near Giove, outside the walls. +The gates of the city and the citadel were, however, at the same time +strongly garrisoned, and Trevulzio held command within. It was all the +more urgent to keep the main body of the troops outside the walls, as +they were composed, with the exception of a few French regiments, +mainly of mercenaries, and by holding the town with picked men, upon +whom he could rely, Tremouille would be able, in case of any change of +front on the part of his mercenaries, to have them between two fires. +Ives d'Alegres, who then acted as lieutenant-general to the duke, was +immediately in command of the camp, and had fixed his headquarters in +a large villa, the property of the Accolti, and it was here that the +supper, which ended so disastrously for me, was given. My own quarters +were but a bow-shot or two away, in the direction of the town. When we +reached them, I was surprised to find at the door, my servant Tarbes +in the hands of two of the marshal's men, a half troop of French +lancers drawn up before my tent, and my own small _condotta_ of ten +lances, which I had raised for the war by pawning my last acre, all +under guard. As if any attempt at rescue were possible! I saw in a +moment that this accounted for D'Entrangues' late arrival at the +supper: but entered the tent sure of the results. A dozen blazing +torches threw a clear enough light, and D'Alegres briefly requested +the provost to begin the search. The practised hands of the field +police did this very effectually, but to no purpose, and I felt that +the faces of all were looking friendly towards me. D'Entrangues seemed +nervous, and his sallow cheek was pale. + +"Send for Tarbes," he said, and at a word from the provost my knave +was led in. This man was a Spaniard, whom I had taken into my service, +some little while ago, on the recommendation of D'Entrangues. Except +on one occasion when he lost, or maybe stole, a pair of silver spurs, +for which I cuffed him roundly, he had served me well. At the present +moment he seemed overcome with fear, trembled in every limb, and +refused to look at me. + +"Signor Tarbes," said the provost, "do you know what the wheel is?" + +The man made no answer, and Braccio went on-- + +"Signor Tarbes, we want a little information which I am persuaded you +possess. If you give it freely, we will be merciful; if you +prevaricate, if you attempt to conceal anything, we will do to you +what we did to the death hunters after San Miniato--you remember?" + +"Speak freely, Tarbes. There is no fear," I added. + +"Even your master, the excellent cavaliere, advises you, and I must +say advises you well," continued Braccio. "Signor Tarbes, you will now +show us," and he rubbed his hands together softly, "where the valiant +knight, Ugo di Savelli, keeps his prizes of war, the spoils of his bow +and spear--I was going to say fin----" + +"Have a care, sir," said D'Alegres sternly, "you are here to do your +duty, not to play the jester." Braccio shrank back at his look, and +the general turned to Tarbes, "In brief, we want to know, if your +master, M. di Savelli, has any concealed property here? Will you +answer at once, or do you prefer to be put to the question?" + +"I will speak--say anything, my lord--only have mercy. I swear what I +say is true. His excellency, my master, has nothing beyond what you +have seen--and what lies in the leather valise under this rug." + +Now this rug in question lay flat on the turf, on which my tent stood, +and at the time of the search D'Alegres and others were standing on +it. Owing to this, and to the crowded state of the tent, it had +hitherto escaped the attention, which it would doubtless have received +sooner or later, for nothing ever passed Braccio's eyes. In a moment +the rug was swept aside, and, as the torches were held to the turf, it +was evident that it had been dug away and then replaced somewhat +carelessly. + +Braccio was in his element. + +"_Pouf!_" he exclaimed, "a clumsy amateur after all! I thought better +of his valour. Here! give me a pike! And hold the torches so!" + +With a sharp point of the pike he quickly cleared away the turf, and, +stooping down, lifted up from the hole he exposed, a small brown +valise, which had been concealed in the earth. The interest was now +intense. Every one crowded round Braccio. Even the vigilance of the +guards over me completely relaxed. I felt a touch on my shoulder, and, +looking back, saw Hawkwood. + +"Would you like to go?" he whispered rapidly. "My horse is ready +saddled--you know where to find him." + +I thanked him with a look; but shook my head, and the giant fell back. + +"Shall I break it open, excellency?" and Braccio held the bag out to +D'Alegres. + +"My master has the key," put in Tarbes; "I know no more." + +"I--the key!" I exclaimed. "Villain, the bag is not mine!" + +"It bears your arms, however;" Braccio pointed to a little metal plate +on which they were distinctly engraved. + +"You must, I am afraid, submit to the further indignity of being +searched," said D'Alegres. + +There was no hope in resistance and I endured this. Braccio himself +searched me, and almost as soon as he began, pulled from an inner +pocket of my vest a small key, attached to a fine gold chain. + +"Here is the noble knight's key," he exclaimed, "and see; it fits +exactly!" He turned it in the lock, opened the valise, and emptied the +contents out on a rough camp table. A low murmur went up, for amongst +the small heap of articles was Hawkwood's leather bag, and madame's +bracelet, whilst something rolled a little on one side, and fell off +softly to the turf. A soldier picked it up, and placed it face upwards +on the table--the lost medallion. + +One by one D'Alegres held up the articles sadly, and I looked round in +my agony on the faces of those who but an hour ago were my friends. +They had all shrunk back from me, and I was alone within the circle of +the guards. D'Entrangues stood with folded arms, and a smile on his +lips, and Tarbes glanced from side to side, like an ape seeking chance +for escape. I looked towards Hawkwood, but even his face was hard and +set. + +"I do not see the duchess' rubies here," said D'Alegres. + +"I am prepared to produce them to-morrow," replied D'Entrangues; "in +the meantime, I trust you have sufficient proof?" + +"Give M. d'Entrangues his sword. You need not fight this man," +D'Alegres added, pointing to me, "even if he challenges you. Were you +a French subject," he said to me, "I would hang you in your boots; as +it is I will submit the case to the duke. D'Entrangues, I hold you to +your word about the rubies. Provost, see that your prisoner is +carefully guarded. You will answer for him with your life." + +"Prisoner, your excellency! There are two." + +"I have restored M. d'Entrangues his sword." + +"There is still another," and the provost pointed to Tarbes. + +"Pah!" exclaimed D'Alegres, "hang him out of hand--come, gentlemen!" + +One by one they went out. Not another look did they give me. I heard +the tread of feet, and the sound of voices in eager conversation, +dying out in the distance. I stood as in a dream. Tarbes had been +dragged away speechless, and half fainting. When he was outside he +found voice, and I heard him alternately cursing D'Alegres, and +D'Entrangues and screaming for mercy. Braccio touched me on the arm. + +"Come, signore," he said, "_you_, at any rate, have a few hours left." + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + RUIN. + + +I started at the man's words, and my rage and despair may be imagined, +when I saw that he proposed to bind me, a noble, like any thief! From +this I hoped to escape by bringing on death, and, on a sudden, hit the +guard next to me on the face, with all my force. Down he went like an +ox, and I made a rush to the tent door, little doubting that I should +be cut down, and put out of my misery. But they were too quick. I was +one, and they were many. In a hand turn I was tripped up, my wrists +securely fastened behind my back, and any further resistance on my +part impossible. The man whom I felled, scrambled up, and attempted to +brain me with the butt of his pike as I went down; but Braccio struck +him senseless with the hilt of his sword, and this time he lay in a +huddled heap, quiet enough. + +I besought Braccio to give me my parole, swearing on the faith of a +gentleman, on the honour of a Savelli, that I would not attempt +escape, and would go with him quietly, if I were but free from the +ignominy of the cords that bound me. + +"Shut the cage door, keep your bird," he laughed brutally, "I have to +answer for you to-morrow, and I weigh the faith of a gentleman, and +the honour--God save the mark--of a Savelli, as _that_," he snapped +his fingers, "when it comes to a consideration of Braccio +Fortebraccio's head. So your knighthood must even go as you are, with +my love-knots on you. Here, two of you, take charge of this tent, and +see after Arnulf there--I never thought his skull so thin--march!" + +And in this manner was I led out, two men in front of me, two behind, +one on either hand, all with their weapons ready, whilst the provost +himself brought up the rear, with his drawn sword in one hand and a +lighted torch in the other. Not that light was needed, for the moon +had risen, and was in its full. I believe, however, that Braccio held +the torch, so that the additional light might the more clearly show +who his prisoner was, and I hung down my head as, with quick steps, we +marched to the military prison. + +"_Qui vive là_," the challenge rang out crisply, and on the instant +the provost replied, "France and Tremouille." + +"Pass on," and the sentry, one of Bucicault's arquebusiers, looked at +us curiously as we went by. And now, to add to my shame, we met, face +to face, a group of late revellers returning to the camp. + +"_Diable!_" called out a gay voice, "our respectable provost is at +work I see. What have you got there, Braccio?" + +I shuddered, for I recognised Bellegarde, a young noble of the Franche +Compte, who had come to seek glory in the Italian war. + +"Close up, men--another of my strayed lambs brought back to the fold, +Viscompte--pardon me--it is late, and I must hurry on." + +But Bellegarde was merry with wine. "Not till you have drunk our +health," he laughed, barring the way with his drawn rapier, as he +added, "Lowenthal here has a skin of wine from the Rhineland, have a +pull at it, man, and let us see the prisoner." + +"_Blitzen!_ Der brisoner first, he will hang pefore der herr brovost," +and the half-drunk Lanzknecht thrust his wine-skin towards me. + +"Gentlemen--gentlemen! have you a care! See here, Viscompte," and +Braccio whispered to Bellegarde. + +"My God!" said the latter; and then hastily, "Come on, Lowenthal! Let +them go." + +"Let der brisoner drink. Would you debrife a boor man of his liquor?" +replied Lowenthal, and to hide my face, I seized the skin, and raised +it to my lips. Even Braccio held the torch away, and Von Lowenthal +failed to recognise me in the half-light. My throat was red-hot with +thirst, and sick as I was with shame, I drank greedily, and handed the +wine-skin back to the German. + +"_Blitzen!_" he said, giving it a shake, "you drink like an honest +man. Now, herr brovost, a health to Germany, in honest German wine. +What! No! Then drink to der halter, man, and Lowenthal will knight +you," swaying to and fro, he attempted to draw his sword. + +Matters were at a crisis, for Braccio was not to be trifled with any +longer. At this juncture, Bellegarde and the others with him again +intervened, and dragged Von Lowenthal away. The provost instantly +pressed forwards with a hurried good-night. We did not go so fast, +however, as not to perceive, from the noises behind us, that the +Lanzknecht had subsided to earth, and was apparently abandoned there, +with his wine-skin, by his companions. The sound of his voice, engaged +in a drunken monologue, reached us. + +"Der rascal Braccio, der knight of der noose und halter. I will gif +him der accolade. I----" But we lost the rest as we hurried on, the +guards smiling to themselves, and Braccio very ill-tempered. + +In a few paces we passed D'Alegres' headquarters, and through an open +window, I saw half-a-dozen of my late companions playing at dice, and +heard Hawkwood's bass calling the mains. A few steps more brought us +to our point, a fortified wing of the Villa Accolti itself, and +Braccio, thrusting me into a strong room, turned the key of the door, +and with a gruff order, which I did not catch, walked away. Now, +indeed, was I in a distressful state, and the agony of my mind so +great, that I heeded not the pain of the cords, but paced up and down +like any caged animal. I fully recognised that I was the victim of a +deeply laid plot on the part of D'Entrangues, and saw clearly that I +was completely in his hands. It was a stroke of genius on his part, +not to interfere in any way to save his creature, the wretched Tarbes. +That hasty order of D'Alegres had removed the only danger of his +scheme being laid bare. I tried to think out some plan of action; but +to no purpose, for my mind was altogether confused and bewildered, and +I was incapable of thought. The room in which I was confined was bare +of all furniture, not even a camp-stool. There was only one window, +and that, iron-grated, was set high up, near the ceiling. The +moonlight straggled through the grating in long white ribbons, and +dimly showed up the walls around me. Hour after hour passed away. I +could hear the occasional barking of dogs, the distant cries of the +sentinels as they called to one another, and the sound of the guard +being relieved at my door. Then the moon sank and the morning came. +From sheer weariness I threw myself on the floor, and fell into a +troubled sleep, from which I was aroused by the cords biting into my +flesh. This, and the constrained position in which my arms were held, +gave me torture. I attempted by shouting to attract the attention of +the sentinel over me; but though I heard the clod tramping up and +down, I received no answer. + +At length, about the sixth hour, I made another effort to get some one +to hear me. I fortunately chose a moment when the guards were being +visited. After a short discussion outside, an under-officer entered +the cell. I begged him to free me from the cords, pointing out that +escape was impossible, swearing that I would not attempt it, and ended +by offering him five crowns for the good office. He hesitated at +first, but either pity for my condition, or the bait of the crowns +moved the man, for he freed me with a touch of his dagger, and for +another five crowns I obtained from him the promise of procuring for +me a change of attire from my tent. I had, hidden in a belt, worn +under my shirt, thirty crowns, and this I reached with some +difficulty, owing to the stiffness of my arms, and paid him the money. +I specially begged he would get for me a pair of Spanish leather +boots, that were lying in my quarters, for the sole of one of my +_contigie_ had come off during the struggle of last night. The honest +fellow promised to do his best, and shortly returned with the articles +I wanted, and in addition brought me some food and a cup of wine, for +which he refused all payment, saying that I had treated him generously +enough. To eat was out of the question, but the wine was grateful, +and, after drinking it, I devoted myself to putting my attire in +order. And here I may mention an odd circumstance, to wit, that my +gold cross of St. Lazare, which I wore pinned to my breast at the +supper, had by some chance remained intact, despite the struggle I had +gone through, and was still hanging in its place by a shred of the +ribbon. I carefully unfastened it, and placed it for security in my +belt. To me it seemed an omen of fortune, this lost little tag of +honour which clung to me. I succeeded indifferently well in arranging +my dress, and so passed a full hour. Heavens! when I recall that +night, although more was to befall me, I do not think I ever endured +such misery; nor has the noiseless file of time ever been able to +eradicate the memory of those hours. + +At about noon Braccio entered the cell. He raged beyond measure at +finding me loosed of my bonds, and insisted at first on securing me +again. I shrewdly suspected, however, that Messer Braccio was a trifle +afraid of the consequences of his violence the night before, and that +his furious language was in this case but bluster. I showed a bold +front therefore, and the under-officer putting in a word for me, the +provost gave in with apparent reluctance. He informed me that my +affair was to be dealt with by the duke in person, and that I should +make ready to go with him. I replied that I was prepared to go at +once, and without more ado was escorted to the main building of the +villa. I could see that a considerable crowd was collected, and from +the litters and riding-horses that were being led to and fro, +perceived that some ladies had heard the news, and were come to +gratify their curiosity at my expense, and see such trial as I was to +undergo. I was led into the great hall, which was full of people, and +in the gallery above the dais saw, amongst other ladies, the Duchesse +de la Tremouille, and by her side Madame d'Entrangues. The latter kept +her eyes down, and fanned herself with a fan of peacock feathers, +which, even at that moment, I was able to recognise as my gift. On the +dais was a table with seats set about it, which were as yet empty. At +the steps of the dais stood D'Entrangues, and beside him a small man +cloaked in a sad-coloured mantle, with a keen, cleanly-shaven face, +and watchful eyes. He held in his hand a small packet, and surveyed me +with no little interest. D'Entrangues did not meet my look, and his +hang-dog face was turned towards the doorway immediately opposite to +him. In a moment or so that door was opened, and the duke entered, +talking earnestly with a cavalier of a most gracious and distinguished +presence. Tremouille himself was a small, slightly-built man, of +features in no way remarkable; but redeemed in some part by the alert +intelligence of his glance. In early life he had met with an accident +which left him lame ever after. Yet he was a good horseman and of a +constitution that nothing could tire. As for his companion, his face +was then strange to me; but in after times when I was admitted to his +intimacy and honoured with his friendship, I came to know him as great +beyond all men; and this I do not say in gratitude for the debt I owe +him; but simply to add my humble testimony to that of others, his +companions-in-arms, and equals in station, who with one consent allow +him to be the glory of his age, and of knighthood. Immediately behind +Tremouille came D'Alegres and Trevulzio, who had raised himself to his +present high position, and was a most capable soldier. These four took +their seats at the table, and the numerous and brilliant staff of +officers who accompanied them ranged themselves behind. From the +manner in which the stranger took his seat, I gathered, and I was not +mistaken, that he was there as one of my judges, and for the moment I +wondered who he was. That he was of the highest rank was clear from +his aspect and bearing, and from the fact that he wore round his +neck the collar of the Holy Ghost. The proceedings of this public +court-martial began at once. It is needless to set them down in full +detail. D'Entrangues stated his case, D'Alegres briefly set forth the +action taken by him, and Visconti and Hawkwood testified to having +found their property in my possession, under the circumstances already +explained. I will do them the justice to say that they did so with +evident and genuine reluctance. Tremouille, who had doubtless heard +all this before, listened patiently to the end, and then asked me what +I had to say. What could I say? I looked at the faces around me and +saw no sympathy. I looked up at the gallery where the ladies sat, and +caught a whisper: + +"I do not care--I know it is false; he is not guilty." + +The words gave me courage. The charge was false. As false as hell. +Then I found tongue. I asked if it were possible that I, a noble, +whose career had hitherto been blameless, could have suddenly become +so vile as to sink to common theft? I pointed out my long years of +service, and called D'Alegres and Trevulzio, under whose banners I had +served, to witness if they had ever known me sully my honour. + +"It is known, M. di Savelli, that you are hard put for money," said +Tremouille. + +I admitted the fact, and also admitted that at the time I stood there +I owed money lost at play; but that the sum did not amount to more +than fifty crowns, and there was twice that amount due to me from the +military chest. I then went on to point out how unlikely it was that, +even if I had stolen the jewels, I should have hoarded them up and not +turned them into money, for which I allowed I was pressed, and wound +up by saying I was the victim of a conspiracy, and that I was prepared +to assert my honour, man to man, against D'Entrangues, or any other +who would take up his cause. + +"What say you, my lord of Bayard?" and Tremouille turned to the +stranger who sat beside him. Even whilst waiting for his answer, and +on the cross with anxiety as I was, I could not help looking with the +greatest interest at the man. This then was the celebrated Pierre du +Terrail, the noblest knight in Christendom. Vague rumours that he was +about to join the army of Tremouille, with a high command, had +reached us. But we had merely looked upon them as rumours. And now he +had come, apparently suddenly, and without warning. I felt sure that +he brought war with him, but had no more time to think, for he +answered--"A fair offer--M. d'Entrangues can do no less than accept." + +But Trevulzio then cut in, pointing out, that practically the case was +proved. That to allow me the ordeal by combat would upset all the +course of military discipline, under which he thought the matter +should be decided. Even if the ordeal of battle was allowed, and I +won, it would not prove my innocence in the face of the damning +evidence against me. + +"If there is any shadow of doubt, your excellency," and D'Entrangues +advanced to the table, "this will clear it up. Messer Vieri, kindly +hand that package to the duke." + +The man whom he addressed, who was no other than he whom I had +remarked, on entering the justice room as D'Entrangues' companion, +stepped forward and placed the packet before Tremouille, who opened it +amidst a dead silence. + +"Messer Vieri, how did you obtain this?" asked Tremouille. + +"The matter is simple, excellency," replied the banker, "but first may +I ask if madame the duchess recognises the trinket?" + +The circlet was handed to the duchess, who said in a low voice-- + +"It is mine: it was stolen from me a month ago--on the seventh of +March." + +"On the eighth of March a packet was delivered to me at my house of +business by one Tarbes, calling himself servant to the Cavaliere di +Savelli. He did not know the contents of the parcel; but it was sent +to me for safe keeping by his master, so he said. I gave him a receipt +for it. I myself did not know what the nature of the packet was until +to-day; but hearing the charges preferred against the cavaliere, I +opened the case and at once recognised madame's circlet, which I have +the pleasure to restore." + +"How did you come to hear these charges against the Cavaliere di +Savelli?" asked Bayard. + +"I was informed of them by the knight, Messer d'Entrangues." + +"That is to say, M. d'Entrangues must have known that the jewels were +pledged to you. Is this not odd?" + +It was a straw of hope that floated to me, and I could scarcely +breathe. D'Entrangues, however, replied boldly, "I was told of the +matter by one Tarbes, a servant to M. di Savelli." + +"You forget to add," I burst out, "that he was a creature of yours, +whom I employed on your recommendation." + +D'Entrangues made no reply, and Bayard said, "M. d'Entrangues appears +to have usurped the functions of the provost and played catchpole. +Could we not see this Tarbes?" + +"Call Tarbes," said the duke. + +Braccio came forward and explained that he had been dealt with +summarily, under the orders of the lieutenant-general. + +"Mine!" said D'Alegres in astonishment. + +"Yes, excellency, he was the prisoner whom your excellency ordered me +to hang last night." + +"A pity," remarked the duke, and Trevulzio, between whom and D'Alegres +there was little love, smiled. + +"I suppose you have nothing to say to this?" said Tremouille to me. + +"I was not in the camp on the seventh." + +"Where were you?" + +But this question I could not answer for I caught Madame d'Entrangues' +eye imploring me to silence. I looked back at the duke, and as I did +so felt that Bayard had followed my glance, and that his eyes were +resting on madame's face. He glanced down almost as soon as I did and +turned to me, and there was a grave encouragement in his look from +which I took heart. To me it was a great thing to show I was not at or +near the camp on the seventh; and yet if I did so I would ruin a +woman's name. It had been a harmless frolic, I swear this, as I know I +will come to judgment before a higher tribunal than that of man; and +yet had I spoken there would have been but one construction. I hated +D'Entrangues, too, and this would have struck at a vital part. For a +second I hesitated, and looked up once more at madame. She was pale as +death. + +I looked at Bayard, and his glance seemed to penetrate my thoughts. + +"I cannot say!" + +There was a sound of a gasping sigh, and a heavy fall. The peacock fan +fluttered slowly down from the gallery to my feet, and lay there with +its hundred eyes staring at me. + +"This ruins you," exclaimed D'Alegres. + +"Think again before you reply," said the duke: "I will give you time." + +"I thank your excellency; but I have no further answer." + +Tremouille shrugged his shoulders with a disappointed air, and dropped +his chin between his clasped hands, his elbows resting on the table, a +favourite position of his. Whilst he was thus considering, Bayard was +whispering earnestly to Trevulzio, and the old soldier seemed to +assent, and his hard face almost softened as he looked at me. They +then turned their gaze on D'Entrangues, and Trevulzio, with a shake of +his head, noted something briefly on a slip of paper and passed it on +to D'Alegres. The lieutenant-general looked surprised; but after a +moment nodded assent, and in his turn passed the paper on to the duke, +saying "I agree." Tremouille read the paper slowly, and then they +consulted together in low tones. + +And now, in a few brief words I heard my sentence, and it was carried +out at once. Braccio himself hacked off my spurs, my sword was brought +in and solemnly broken, and I was warned to leave the camp within an +hour, on pain of being hanged as a thief. Such property as I had was +declared confiscate, and the men of my _condotta_ were to be enrolled, +by force if necessary, under another banner. How I went through it all +I do not know. I cannot say how I passed down that great hall with the +eyes of all fixed on me, a dishonoured man, an outcast, and a leper. +One thing, however, did happen. Whilst the sentence was being carried +out, Tremouille sat apparently absorbed in thought. When the provost +broke my sword he rose to leave the room, and as he passed +D'Entrangues the duke stopped. + +"Monsieur," he said, "you have mistaken your vocation. His majesty +does not desire his officers to be thief-hunters. For such talents as +yours you will doubtless find room elsewhere, and I have to tell you +that the king--my master--regrets he has no further need of your +services." + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + MADAME D'ENTRANGUES. + + +When I left the door of the justice room I had to pass through the +main court-yard, and run the gauntlet of open scorn and contempt, +bestowed upon me by all assembled there. It was a great thing for +them, for those whom the French call _canaille_--we have no such +appropriate word in our own tongue--to see a noble dragged in the dust +and covered with infamy. And they did not spare me, taunt and jeer +passed from mouth to mouth. Some even would have gone so far as to +strike at me, had not their officers prevented them. + +"Ah, _Croque-mort!_" exclaimed an arquebusier, "you should hang;" but +the man stepped back a half-pace at my look, and, gaining the outer +gate, I pressed on, hardly knowing whither my steps led me. I soon +found out I was going in the direction of Arezzo itself, and as that +was as good as any other place for me at present, I made no alteration +in my course; but anxious to get on as fast as possible, quickened my +pace almost to a run, until I was tired out, and perforce compelled to +go slower. + +This happened when I had covered about a mile, and was beginning the +ascent leading to the town; and here I heard behind me the clatter of +horses' hoofs, and looking back beheld a party riding in my direction. +I turned aside, and, concealing myself behind the stem of a locust +tree, waited until the riders should pass. This they did in a few +moments, and I saw it was Tremouille and his staff returning to the +town. By the side of the duchess, who was riding with her husband, was +Bayard, mounted on a bay English horse, which he managed with infinite +grace and dexterity. + +Madame de la Tremouille was in the best of humours, most probably at +the recovery of her circlet, for she was laughing gaily as she said +something; but they went by too rapidly for me to catch the words. I +waited until the troop was lost in the yellow dust which rose behind +them, and then, stepping forth from my hiding-place, became aware that +I was not alone; but that a body was hanging from a branch of the tree +close to where I was standing, and this I had not noticed in my +eagerness to escape observation. It needed but a glance to recognise +Tarbes, my scoundrel, who had paid so long a price for his treachery; +he was swinging there dead enough, overreached and destroyed by the +master-villain. + +The sight of my dead knave brought up an angry wave of hatred in my +heart towards D'Entrangues, and I prayed that I might not die until I +was even with him. So great was the uprising of my anger, that at the +time I bitterly regretted not having seized the opportunity to wound +him, by plainly answering Tremouille's last question. With my rage +against D'Entrangues, there came an almost similar feeling towards +Madame, and I began to accuse her in my heart of being the original +cause of my misfortunes, and of conspiring, by her silence, to set the +seal of my ruin. I did not stop to think that I was ruined already, +and that it mattered little whether Madame allowed me to be silent or +not. I only felt that she had made me pay too great a price for her +reputation, and that she had sacrificed me mercilessly. + +When I hastened from the scene of my condemnation, I had no other +idea but of death, of self-destruction rather than life as it would be +now to me; but I put aside all these thoughts for I had to live for +revenge. That would be my first object, and until it was achieved I +would not rest. With this in my mind I gained the St. Clement Gate of +Arezzo, passing through without notice. + +Walking down the Via San Dominico, I turned to the right by the +Borgo di San Vito, and here I was recognised and hooted. Pressing +hurriedly forwards, and aided opportunely by the passage of a body of +men-at-arms, coming through the street in a direction opposite to that +of my followers, I succeeded in shaking off my tormentors, and turning +again to the right up a narrow street, entered a barber's shop to have +my beard removed in order to disguise myself as far as possible. The +barber, a fussy little fellow, placed me before a mirror of polished +steel, and as he set to work stropping a razor on the palm of his +hand, I removed my cap, and for the first time observed that the hair +of my head was thickly streaked with grey. + +"Your excellency has doubtless come to join the army," said the barber +in a tone of inquiry as he drew his razor across my face. + +"Ah, yes, yes; I have just come," I replied, and the little man went +on-- + +"There have been great doings to-day. 'Tis said the duke has ordered +the Count di Savelli to be executed for having in his possession a +favour of Madame. They say the count stole it, but we know better, +don't we, your excellency?" and the little fool chuckled to himself. +He went on without waiting for an answer. "Ah, yes; the ladies can +never resist us soldiers. I may tell you that I served with Don Carlo +Baglioni, and can bear my pike--there now, I think that side is clean +shaven--as I was saying before, it was hard on the Marquis di Savelli, +a gallant noble whom I frequently saw--pardon, your excellency, it is +but a scratch after all--had you not moved so suddenly, still only a +scratch, nothing for a soldier. The Marquis di Savelli, as I said, was +a regular customer of mine, and he had a lovely head of hair, your +excellency. It was not so much before I took him in hand. _Ecco!_ but +in a month you should have seen! He came in here in his free easy way, +and flung me ten crowns. 'Buy a ribbon for Madonna Giulia with that, +Messer Pazzi,' says he; 'and harkee, send me over six more bottles of +your elixir of St. Symmachus. _Maldetto!_' he exclaimed, twisting his +curls between his fingers, 'but she adores me now.' Now who, I say, +could _she_ have been but--_tchick_? _Diavolo_? it is done; never a +cleaner shave in Rome itself. If your excellency's fortune grows as +well as your hair, I could wish you no better luck." + +I rose in silence, and, flinging him a crown, bade him pay himself, +and receiving my change, hurried out, declining all Messer Pazzi's +entreaties to bear with me a bottle of his precious elixir of St. +Symmachus or any other accursed balsam. I saw at a glance that the +removal of my beard caused a considerable alteration in my appearance, +and imagined if I could but change my attire, my most intimate friends +would not know me unless they observed closely; and even then might +perhaps fail to recognise me. This view, as it turned out, was not +quite correct, and I had yet to learn how difficult a thing it is to +arrange a complete disguise. + +A few doors further on I laid out some of my money in the purchase +of a stout leather buff coat, along dark mantle, and a cap to match. +The cap was ornamented with a single black feather; and when I had +donned these garments I felt that, wrapped in the cloak, with the cap +pulled well over my eyes, and the feather standing defiantly out to +the side, that I wanted but a fathom of sword to make myself as +ruffianly-looking a bravo as ever trod the purlieus of Naples or Rome. +But the sword was some difficulty, for my crowns had dwindled to +sixteen. Fortunately I had on my finger a sapphire ring, and this I +pledged for twenty crowns, and made my way to the armourer's. I there +selected a long straight weapon, with a plain cross handle and a +cutting blade, such as would be useful for rough work, and, after some +haggling, got it for ten pieces. The armourer assured me that it was a +sound blade, and I may say it did me good service. It now hangs in my +bed-chamber, a little chipped, it is true, but as bright and as fit +for use as the day I paid for it, with a heavy heart, in Don Piero's +shop, near the gate of St. Lawrence in Arezzo. + +I began now to feel the want of food, for beyond the cup of Chianti +brought to me by the under-officer I had tasted nothing since +yesterday evening, and therefore stepping into an ordinary called for +a flagon of wine and a pasty. Whilst engaged in assaulting these, +half-a-dozen men, whom I recognised as belonging to the garrison, +entered the hostel, but to my joy I saw I was not known to them, and +after a casual glance at me they fell to eating their meal. + +I was however perforce compelled to listen to their conversation, +which was carried on in the loud tone men of their class affect, and +found to my annoyance that they were discussing me, and the events of +the day. In order to escape this I was about to rise, when I heard one +of them mention D'Entrangues' name, and stopped to listen. + +"He has left for Florence, and, it is said, intends to offer his sword +to the Signory," said one. + +"And the other?" + +"Heaven knows! Perhaps Braccio's arm has reached him, poor devil!" + +"Well, he was a good soldier and a stout lance." + +"_Basta!_" said the first speaker. "What does a little lightness of +finger matter? Play it in a small way, you're a thief, and food for +Messer Braccio, curse him! Play it on a big scale and you're a prince. +I for one don't think the less of Di Savelli because perhaps his hand +at cards was always too good, and he made that little error in the +matter of the rubies. A gentleman is sometimes driven to hard straits. +I was a gentleman once and ought to know. I give you a toast--Here's +to a long sword and a light hand!" + +They drank with acclamation, and then set to a-dicing. I had however +heard enough, and settling my account with the host, stepped forth +into the street, intending to depart from the town by the Porta San +Spirito or Roman Gate, leaving the camp over my shoulder, and to make +my way to Florence as soon as possible. There I would meet +D'Entrangues, and kill him like a mad dog. I ground my teeth with rage +when I thought I had no horse, nor even the means to purchase one, and +must trudge it like any _contadino_. But if I had to crawl on my hands +and knees, I was determined to reach Florence and D'Entrangues. + +It was however not yet sundown, and my idea was to leave the city when +it was well dusk to avoid all possible chance of recognition. I meant +to have passed the interval in the inn; but, as I felt this was +impossible, it was necessary to find another spot where I could lay in +quiet. With this end in view I crossed the Piazza di Popolo in an +easterly direction, and went on until I came to the Franciscan church, +into which I entered, not, I am sorry to say, with any desire for +devotion, but merely because I was less likely to be disturbed there +than anywhere else I could imagine. I was right, in so far that on +entering the church I found it, as I thought, empty, but on looking +round I saw beneath the newly-completed wheel-window, the work of +Guillaume de Marseille, a kneeling figure, apparently absorbed in +prayer. I had approached quite close before I became aware that I was +not alone, and was about to turn away, when, perhaps startled by the +sound of my footfalls on the marble pavement, the person rose +hurriedly and looked towards me. It was Madame D'Entrangues. Her +glance met mine for a second as that of a stranger, but as I was +moving away some trick of gesture, or perhaps the hot anger in my +eyes, told her who I was, for, calling my name, she came towards me +with outstretched hands. + +"Di Savelli," she said, for I made no advance, "do you not know me?" + +"Madame," I bowed, "I am unfit to touch you." + +"No, no--a thousand times no! It is I who am unworthy." + +I still remained silent, and she asked with a passionate emphasis-- + +"Man, have you never sinned?" + +The words struck me like a shot. I felt in a moment I had no right to +stand in judgment. + +"God knows," I replied, "I have, and I have been punished." + +With that she took hold of my hand, and then suddenly burst into +tears, weeping over me with words I cannot repeat. It was not for me +to fling reproaches, and I softened and did what I could to appease +her. + +"I could not help it," she said, "I was not strong enough to speak or +to let you speak. Oh, you do not know what such a thing is to a +woman!" + +"Let it pass, madame. What is dead is dead." + +"I cannot. And yet, what can I do?" Her tears began afresh. + +In a little time she grew better, and I seized the opportunity to +point out the danger she ran of being seen speaking to me, and +suggested that she should make her way home. It was impossible to +escort her myself, but I would walk a little way behind, keep her in +sight, and see she came to no harm. I urged this all the more as I saw +it was growing late, and that she was without any attendants and far +from the camp. + +"You mistake," she said; "I have not far to go. In fact I am at +present the guest of the convent here." + +"And----" I did not finish the sentence, but she understood. I had +forced myself to ask, to hear, if possible, confirmation of +D'Entrangues' movements. + +"He," she answered--"he has left the army and gone towards Florence." + +"And you?" + +"I stay here for the present." + +Her tone more than her words convinced me that she had been abandoned +by D'Entrangues, and it added another mark to my score against him. + +"Why should I not tell you?" she continued. "After, when it was all +over, the duke struck his name off the army, and he left in an hour. +Before he went, he came and told me all, laughing at your ruin. I did +not know man could be so vile. God help me--it is my husband I speak +of! He offered to take me with him, but I refused; and he left, +mocking like a devil, with words I cannot repeat. He was not done with +you or with me, he said, as he went. I came here at once, and perhaps +when Madame de la Tremouille returns to France, I shall be enabled to +go with her in her train." + +"Excuse my asking it," I said, "but have you----?" + +"Oh, yes," she smiled sadly, "it is not that in any way." + +At this moment I looked up and saw that it was sunset. Through the +wheel-window the orange beams streamed in a long banner, and lit up +the figure of the saint above us. The rays fell on madame's pale face, +and touched with fire the gold of her hair. We stood before each other +in a dead silence. + +"Good-bye," I said, extending my hand. + +She placed her own in it and our eyes met. + +It was a moment of danger to both. Leper as I was, I had but to lift +my hand, but to say a word, and here was one who would have followed +me like a dog. I felt her weakness in her look, in the touch of her +hand, which shivered as it lay in mine like a captive bird. At once a +fire leapt up within me. I had lost all--everything. Why not throw +revenge after my losses, and with her by my side seek a new fortune +with a new name? The grand Turk needed soldiers, and what mattered it +whether it was cross or crescent that I served?' + +But the woman became strong as I grew weak. + +"Go!" she said faintly. + +I dropped her hand, and, turning without a word, strode down the +aisle. As I reached the church door the bells of the Angelus rang out, +and yielding to a sudden impulse I looked back. + +Madame was on her knees before the saint. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + A FOOL'S CAP AND A SORE HEART. + + +I was not so dense as to fail to grasp the extent of the peril I had +escaped, or to fully realise the evil strength of the temptation, +which came upon me as suddenly as a sneeze. It is rare in matters of +this kind for wicked thoughts to be of slow growth; they spring at +once to life, full-armed. I thanked God in my heart that I was able to +sweep aside the base desire, which covered my soul like a black cloud, +and refrained from taking advantage of madame's momentary weakness. I +could not but see I was to blame myself. + +I, the elder and the stronger, should have foreseen the probable +consequences of a friendship such as ours, and my sorrow for her was +mixed with the deepest regret for my part in the transaction. I +banished all idea of attacking D'Entrangues through his wife, +wondering at the littleness of spirit which had ever conceived such a +thought. If it were possible, I would have kicked myself. Perhaps such +victory as I gained over my heart was due to the secret springs of my +vanity being touched, to the fear of the loss of my self-respect, and +this mingling with my pity and regret, gave me the strength to win at +the moment of temptation. It is difficult to tell; I have lived long +enough in the world to know that the mysteries of the heart will +remain veiled to the end. Occasionally we may lift the curtain a +little, but more no man has done. + +What had happened, however, explained clearly to me the motive for +D'Entrangues' conduct. He, at any rate, must have seen, long before +either of us, how affairs stood with the wife whose life he +embittered; but he made no effort to save her, contenting himself with +striking an assassin's blow, which had taken from him the last shred +of respect madame may have felt for him, and which had in part +recoiled on his own head. Be this as it may, his stroke was +successful, in that to all intents and purposes it had utterly blasted +me. I was worse than dead. It was no ordinary revenge. In those +troublous times, a blow from a dagger could have easily rid him of a +wife of whom he was sick, or a man whom he hated, and no one would +have thrown the matter in his teeth. But with devilish cruelty, he +inflicted wounds which could never heal, and left his victims to live. +It was impossible to hit such a man back, in a way to make him feel to +the utmost extent the agony he had administered; the only thing was to +take from him his worthless life: this he doubtless valued most of all +things, and I meant to deprive him of it, if he stood at the altar of +Christ. Moved by such thoughts, and with my cloak drawn well over the +lower part of my face, I hastened towards the Roman Gate, reaching it +just as it was to be closed for the night. In fact, as I passed out, +the huge doors came together behind me with a groaning, and at the +same time I heard the dull boom of the evening gun from the camp, +followed immediately by the distant peals of the trumpets of the +cavalry brigade. + +The sun had now set, and night came apace; a grey haze enveloped the +town behind me; above, in the deep violet of the sky, a few stars were +shining, soon to be dimmed by the rising moon; from the east a bank of +clouds was rapidly approaching, the advance guard of a storm from the +Adriatic. To the west, there was still light enough to see the Chiana, +lying like a silver thread, flung carelessly to earth in long folds, +and the rugged outlines of the roadless Chianti hills stood up in +fantastic shapes against the horizon. South-east was the peak of Monte +Eavulto; due west, beyond Bucine, Mount Luco was yet visible. I halted +for a moment, hesitating what course to take; whether to cross the +swamps of the Chiana valley, and make my way over the Ambra to +Montevarchi, and on to Florence; or to skirt the camp, cross the Arno +at one of the fords between Laterine and Giove, and go on through the +Prato Magno. + +As the crow flies, Florence was but a few leagues distant; but I +obviously would have to journey by side-paths, over hill and across +valley to avoid observation, and this would occupy at least two days, +unless my travels were permanently stopped by my being cut off by a +privateering party from the camp, or by any other untoward accident. +Neither contingency was unlikely, for the writ of the king ran barely +a league from the army, and the country was full of banditti. In fact, +for a half-pistole one might have had a priest's throat cut. I decided +on the former route. So muffling myself well in my cloak, for the wind +blew chill, with my sword resting in the loop of my arm, I set forward +at a round pace, and avoiding the camp, directed my steps towards +Bucine. As far as Chiani I knew the road. Beyond that there was +nothing but quagmire and swamp; still I had little doubt of finding my +way by the moon, which would soon show, and if, perchance, I fell in +with nighthawks, well then, there was little to be gained from me but +hard knocks; and it would be an opportunity to test the temper of the +blade I had purchased from Don Piero, the armourer. + +In this mind I pressed on, intending to lie at Bucine for the night, +or, if no better accommodation offered, to sleep as a soldier should, +wrapped in my cloak, with the sky for a roof. As I went on, I found I +was relying a little too much on my knowledge of the road, and a blue +mist, which rose from the ground, made it impossible to pick my way by +landmarks. Stumbling along, I took a good two hours to do what should +have been done in one, and, by the time I reached Chiani, began to +think it would be well to reconsider my decision in regard to making +Bucine that night. It was then that I suddenly remembered that Chiani +was held by a piquet of Swiss infantry, and any attempt to enter would +be impossible, as the gates were doubtless shut. I was a little put +out, for had I only recollected the fact before, I might have been +saved the extra mile or so of hard work I had to reach within a few +yards of Chiani, merely for the pleasure of turning back. The moon, +come out by this time, shone fitfully through the bank of clouds, +which was shifting uneasily overhead, and the wind, rising steadily, +marked rain. I stirred myself all the faster, for I was in no mind to +add a wetting to my misfortunes, and a drop or two of rain that caught +me, showed I had but little leisure to lose. I made out a narrow +cattle track, and hurried along this; but before I covered a mile the +moon was obscured, and the wind dropped. It now began to rain, and the +darkness was so thick, that I could only just follow the road. Soon +the track died away into nothing, and I found myself floundering, over +my ankles in mud, and up to the waist in wet rushes. At any moment I +might strike a quicksand, with which these marshes abound, so I used +my sword as a search-pole, stepping only where I found foot-hold, a +dozen inches or so below the surface of the bog. In this perplexity, +imagine my relief to see the blaze of a fire shoot up beyond a small +rising ground before me, and throw an arc of light into the darkness, +against which the falling rain glittered like fine wires of silver. I +shouted aloud and to my joy got an answer. + +"Who is there? What is the matter?" + +"A traveller," I replied, "who has lost his way in this cursed swamp. +Whoever you are, you will make a friend and find a reward if you lead +me out of this." + +"Come straight on, there is no danger beyond getting your feet wet." + +"They are that already," I answered, and pressed on, having absolutely +to force my way through the wet rushes, which wound themselves round +me impeding my progress terribly. Moreover, so sticky was the slime +below, that I thought every moment it would pull the boots off my +feet. Struggling on in this manner for a hundred yards or more, guided +by the fire, and an occasional shout from my unknown friend, I at last +touched hard ground, and with a "Thank heaven!" got out of the swamp, +and found myself at the foot of the hillock, behind which the fire was +blazing. + +"Which way to Bucine?" I called out. + +"Are you out of the swamp?" + +"Yes!" + +"Then come round the shoulder of the hill to your right, and follow +your nose. You will find shelter here. Bucine you could never reach +to-night, and a dog should not be out in this weather." + +"True, friend," I muttered, and with a loud "thanks" to the apparently +hospitable unknown, I followed his directions, and rounding the +hillock, saw before me, spluttering in the rain, a huge fire of +pine-logs, at the entrance to a hut of the rudest description. Inside, +I perceived a sitting figure, over which the light from the fire +alternately cast a glare, and then left it in darkness. I made my way +to the open door, which hung back on hinges of rope, and entered +without further ceremony. + +"Humph!" snorted my host, without moving from his position. "I said it +was no night for a dog to be out, I did not say anything of a wolf." + +This change of tone was not so surprising, for dripping wet, covered +with mud, and white with fatigue, my general appearance was but little +calculated to re-assure any one. Yet, as I hung my cloak on a rough +wooden peg which caught my eye, I could not help laughing in mockery +as I answered: + +"Wolves, friend, come to wolves' lairs." + +He took no notice of my remark; but pointing to a heap of rushes +opposite to him, said, "Sit down there." He then rose, and went +towards the fire with an unlit torch in his hand. This gave me some +opportunity of observing him. I saw he was of spare, but elastic +figure. His head was bare, and his white hair hung in matted locks +over a lean neck to his shoulders. His dress was fantastic, and +entirely out of place with his surroundings. It consisted of a tight +fitting jerkin of parti-coloured velvet, with puffed breeches to +match, pulled over thick black hose. On his feet were the ordinary +sandals of the peasantry, and, as he stooped to light the torch-wood, +I saw his face was seamed with wrinkles, and that his lips moved +rapidly, as if he was speaking, although no sound issued from them. He +did not delay about his business; but hastened in, and sticking the +torch in a hole in the floor between us, resumed his seat, and said +abruptly-- + +"Let me look at you?" + +Apparently his scrutiny was satisfactory, and I did nothing to +interrupt him. + +"Hungry?" + +"No. All that I ask is to be allowed to rest here till to-morrow." + +"That is well, for I have no food to offer you; but here is some wine +in this skin." + +He reached to a corner and pulled out a small wineskin. This he placed +before me with the single word "drink." + +"No, thanks." The whole manner and aspect of the man were so peculiar, +that, although I was much fatigued, I judged it prudent to decline. +His quick eye seemed to read my thoughts, for he laughed a little +bitterly as he said-- + +"Tush, man! There is no fear. You bear too long a sword to have a +purse worth the picking, and you are not supping," a look of hate +passed over his features as he dropped out slowly, "with the Borgia. +See, I will give you a toast--Revenge." He took a pull at the skin and +flung it to me. + +"I drink to that," I said, tasting the wine in my turn. Here then was +another who, like me, sought for consolation in vengeance. We sat in +silence for some minutes, each absorbed in his own thoughts. The heat +from the fire had warmed the hut so, that the blue steam began to rise +from my damp clothes. My companion reclined on his elbow tracing some +diagram on the floor with a poniard, which from its shape was +evidently of Eastern make. The rain, which now increased in violence, +had almost quenched the log-fire, and was invading our shelter, for +the roof began to leak. There being no wind the torch burned steadily, +throwing sufficient light for us to distinguish each other. I began to +wonder what manner of man this was before me, dressed in a motley of +court-fool and peasant, and my curiosity was aroused to such an +extent, that for the time I forgot my own troubles. Nevertheless I +made no sign of inquiry, knowing there is no means so sure of +obtaining information as to seem not to desire it. My new friend +kept his eyes fixed on the point of his dagger, the muscles of his +queer-webbed face twitching nervously. At length he became conscious +of my scrutiny, for lifting his eyes, he looked me in the face, and +then made a motion of his hand towards the wine-skin. + +"No more, thanks." + +"There will be that left for to-morrow before we start." + +"Then you also are a traveller?" + +"If you so put it; but I have been here for a week." + +"An odd retreat to choose." + +"Any hole will do for a rat." + +"True; but we were wolves a moment ago," I smiled. + +"I did not say I was," he replied drily, "but you looked wolf all over +when you came in. Give me your hand." + +I stretched out my hand, and he held my open palm near the torch, bent +over it, and examined the lines keenly. + +"Yes," he muttered half to himself, "strong fingers that can close +over a sword-hilt, a soldier too, and one who has seen wars. Too much +conscience ever to be great. You will never die a prince as Sforza +did. Stay--what do I see? A man changed to a wolf--no--wolf you will +never be. A bitter enemy, a woman who loves you, and a free heart for +yourself. Sorrow and danger, bale and ruth, then calm waters and +peace. There! Are you satisfied? If the devil does not upset this, it +is the map of your life. Can you read mine?" + +"No," I replied, withdrawing my hand, and somewhat surprised at the +general accuracy of this man's knowledge of my past. Yet, I could not +help crossing myself as I thought of his allusion to the foul fiend. + +"Ay!" he sneered, "cross yourself. Peter and Paul are old and blind. +They do not see. Pray if you like. God is too far above the stars to +hear you. Go on your knees and beat at the skies with your +lamentations. You will surely see the light of a seraph's wings. Do I +not know--have I not seen the deep? Some day you will know, too." + +He stopped as suddenly as he burst out, and betook himself to his old +trick of moving his lips rapidly, forming words without any sound. I +began to think I was with a madman, and rapidly cast up the chances of +a struggle. I was physically the stronger, but armed as he was, with +an unsheathed dagger, the odds were against me. Perhaps it would be +prudent to begin the assault myself, and taking him by surprise, +overpower him. When, however, I came to consider that I was in a +manner his guest, that he had shown me kindness, and given no signs of +personal violence, I was ashamed of my fears. + +"You say you are going to Bucine?" He asked the question in his usual +abrupt manner; but his tone was composed. + +"It lies on my road." + +"And on mine, too. Shall we travel together? I could point out the +way." + +"Certainly. It is very good of you." + +"Well, it is time to sleep, and the torch has burnt to an end." + +As he spoke he stretched himself out at full length, and, turning his +back to me, appeared to sink at once into slumber. I watched him for +some time by the embers of the torch, wondering if I was wise in +accepting his companionship, and then, overpowered by fatigue, lost +myself in sleep, heedless of the rain, which dripped in twenty places +through the roof. + +I slept profoundly, until aroused by my shoulder being gently shaken, +and looking up, beheld my host, as I must call him, bending over me. I +thought I had slept for a few minutes only, and saw to my surprise +that it was well in the morning, and the sun shone brightly. All +traces of cloud were gone, though soft billows of mist rolled over the +olive gardens, and vineyards of Chianti grape, that stretched towards +Montevarchi. + +"Heavens, man! How you sleep! I was right when I hinted you had a good +conscience." + +I scrambled up with a hasty Good-morning; and a few minutes +afterwards, having finished the remains of the wine in the skin, we +started off in the direction of Bucine. My companion had politely +never inquired my name, and I had been equally reticent. He placed on +his head a silken fools'-cap, and the bells on it jingled incessantly +as he walked along with a jaunty air, at a pace that was remarkable +for a man of his age. He seemed to have lost the melancholy that +possessed him during the night, and conversed in so cheerful and +entertaining a manner, that in spite of myself, I was interested and +withdrawn from my unhappy thoughts. He kept up his mood to Bucine +where, notwithstanding our strange appearance, we attracted, to my +relief, less attention than I imagined we should draw. + +With appetites sharpened by our walk, we did full justice to the meal +I ordered at the only hostel in the place. Here I played host, as a +return for my entertainment, and in conversation my acquaintance said +that he was bound for Florence. I told him that also was my point, and +invited him to bear me company on the road, to which he willingly +agreed. I made an attempt here to hire a horse; but not even a donkey +was procurable, all available carriage having been seized upon for the +army. So once more descending the hill on which Bucine is situated, we +forded the river and continued our journey. + +At the albergo we heard that a body of troops were foraging along the +banks of the Arno, and resolved to make a detour, and, crossing Monte +Luco, to keep on the sides of the Chianti hills, if necessary avoiding +Montevarchi altogether. My companion maintained his high spirits until +we reached the top of the spur of Monte Luco, known to the peasantry +as the Virgin's Cradle. Here we stopped to breathe and observe the +view. I looked back across the Chiana valley, and let my eye run over +the landscape which stretched as far as the Marches. In the blue +splash, to the south of the rugged and conical hill of Cortona, I +recognised Trasimene, and beyond it lay Perugia. I turned to call my +friend's attention to the scene, and at first did not perceive where +he was. Another glance showed him standing on the edge of the cliff, a +little to my left, shaking his clenched hand in the direction of +Perugia, whilst on his face was marked every sign of sorrow and hate. + +Curious to see what this would result in, I made no attempt to attract +his attention, but in a moment he shook off the influence which +possessed him, and rejoined me with a calm brow. We thereupon +continued our journey with this difference, that my companion was now +as silent as hitherto he had been cheerful. My own dark thoughts too +came back to roost, and in a gloom we descended the Cradle, pushing +our way through the myrtle with which it was covered, and walked on, +holding Montevarchi to our right. + +We kept a sharp look-out for the foragers, and seeing no signs of +them, made up our minds, after some consultation, to risk going to +Montevarchi, which we reached without mishap a little after noon. It +was not my intention to halt there more than an hour or so, which I, +hoping I would have better luck than at Bucine, intended to spend in +trying to hire an animal of some kind to ride. + +We stopped at the Bell Inn, near the gate, and after a deal of +bargaining, which consumed a good hour, the landlord agreed to hire me +his mule for two crowns. The rascal wanted ten at first. Just as the +matter was settled a dozen or so of troopers rode in, and, spying the +mule, in the twinkling of an eye claimed it for carriage purposes. + +It was in vain the landlord protested that it was his last beast, that +it had been hired to the noble cavaliere, meaning me, and many other +things beside. The soldiers were deaf to his entreaties, and although +I had more than a mind to draw on the villains, I had the good sense +to restrain myself, for the odds were too many against me. I therefore +hid my chagrin under a smile, and the mule was led away amidst the +lamentations of mine host, who was further put out of pocket by a +gallon or so of wine, which the troopers consumed, doubtless in honour +of the prize they had taken, neglecting in the true fashion of the +_compagnes grandes_ to pay for it. It was a fit lesson to the +landlord, for had he not, in his cupidity, haggled for an hour over +the hire of the animal, he might have been the richer by two crowns +and still owned his mule. Thus it is that avarice finds its own +punishment. + +On going off, the leader of the troop, a man whom I knew by sight and +by reputation as a swashbuckler, if ever there was one, made me a mock +salute, saying, in allusion to my quietness in surrendering my claim +to the mule, "Adieu, Messer Feather-Cap--may your courage grow as long +as your sword." This taunt I swallowed ruefully, and immediately set +about my departure. My companion, who was not mixed up in the +altercation, joined me silently, and we followed in the direction +taken by the troopers, pursued by the maledictions of the innkeeper, +who vented his spleen on us as the indirect cause of his misfortune. + +The foragers, who owing to the warmth of the weather had all removed +their breast-plates, which were slung to their saddles, were going at +a walking pace; and it was amusing to see how the mere sight of their +presence cleared the streets. Noting, however, that they did not +appear to be bent on personal injury, we did not think it necessary to +go out of our course, or delay our departure until they left the town, +and as we walked fast and they went slowly, by the time they reached +the main square, we were not more than a dozen yards behind them. + +At this moment we noticed the figure of a woman, apparently blind, for +she was guided by a little dog attached to a string. The poor creature +was crossing the pavement almost in front of the leader of the troop, +and as she was right in the path of the troopers, we attempted to warn +her by shouting, and she stooped irresolutely, hardly knowing which +way to turn. The troop leader, without making any effort to avoid her, +rode on in a pitiless manner, and she was flung senseless to the +ground. In this her hood fell back, uncovering her face, and my +companion, suddenly uttering a loud cry, ran forward, and seizing her +in his arms, began to address her with every term of endearment, in +the manner of a father to his child. + +The troopers halted--discipline it will be observed was not great--and +one of them with rough sympathy called to my friend to bear the girl, +for so she looked, to the fountain, at the same time that their +commander gave a loud order to go on, and to leave off looking at a +fool and a beggar. I had, however, made up my mind there was a little +work for me, and, drawing my sword, stepped up to the swashbuckler's +bridle, and asked for a five minutes' interview there and then. + +He burst into a loud laugh, "_Corpo di Bacco!_ Here is Messer +Feather-Cap with his courage grown. Here! two of you bind him to the +mule." + +But the men with him were in no mood to obey, and one of them openly +said-- + +"It is always thus with the ancient Brico." + +"Do you intend to give me the pleasure I seek," I asked, "or has the +ancient Brico taken off his heart with his corselet?" + +For a moment it looked as if he were about to ride at me: but my sword +was ready, and I was standing too close to him for any such treachery +to be carried off. Flinging the reins, therefore, to the neck of his +horse, he dismounted slowly and drew his sword. A number of the +townsfolk, attracted by the scene, so far forgot their fear of the +foragers as to collect around us, and in a few moments a ring was +formed, one portion of which was occupied by the troopers. + +Brico took his stand so as to place the sun in my eyes, a manifest +unfairness, for we should have fought north and south; yet I made no +objection, and unclasping my cloak let it fall to the ground behind +me. + +"_À vous!_" he called out, and the next moment we engaged in the lower +circle, my opponent, for all his French cry, adopting the Italian +method, and using a dagger to parry. For a few seconds we tried to +feel each other, and I was delighted with the balance of my sword. It +did not take me a half minute to see that he was a child in my hands, +and I began to rapidly consider whether it would be worth the candle +to kill him or not. Brico, who had commenced the assault with a stamp +of his foot, and a succession of rapid thrusts in the lower lines, +became aware of his weakness as soon as I did, and began to back +slowly. I twice pricked him over the heart, and his hand began to +shake, so that he could hardly hold his weapon. + +"Make way there," I called out mockingly, "the ancient would like to +run a little." + +Maddened by this taunt, he pulled himself together and lunged +recklessly at me in tierce; it was an easy parry, and with a strong +beat I disarmed him. He did not wait, but with the rapidity of a hare +turned and fled, not so fast, however, but that I was able to +accelerate his departure with a stroke from the flat of my sword. + +"Adieu, ancient Brico!" I called out after him as he ran on, followed +by a howl of derision from the crowd, in which his own men joined. + +It was lucky that I adopted the course of disarming him, for had the +affair ended otherwise, I doubt not but that the men-at-arms would +have felt called upon to avenge their leader, poltroon as he was. As +it happened they enjoyed his discomfiture, and an old trooper called +out to me-- + +"Well fought, signore--you should join us--there is room for your +sword under the banner of Tremouille. What--no--I am sorry; but go in +peace, for you have rid us of a cur." + +Saying this, they rode off, one of their number leading the ancient's +horse by the bridle. + +I turned now to look for my companion. He was nowhere to be seen, and +on inquiry I found that he had lifted the girl up, and supporting her +on his arm, the two, followed by the dog, had turned down by the +church, and were now not in view. It would, no doubt, have been easy +to follow, and as easy to trace them; but I reasoned that the man must +have purposely done this to avoid me; and after all it was no business +of mine. I therefore returned my sword to its sheath and walked on. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + D'ENTRANGUES SCORES A POINT. + + +Before I had gone fifty paces, however, I became aware that there was +some law left in Montevarchi, for a warning cry made me look over my +shoulder, and I saw a party of the city-guards, who had discreetly +kept out of the way when Brico and I crossed swords, hurrying towards +me. The same glance showed me that the ancient was already in their +hands, and was being dragged along with but little regard to his +comfort; and I felt sure that now, as the troop was gone, the citizens +would wreak their vengeance on this hen-roost robber, and he would be +lucky if he escaped with life. As for me, the catchpolls being out, +they no doubt reasoned that they might as well net me. To stop and +resist, would only result in my being ultimately overpowered, and +perhaps imprisoned; to yield without a blow meant very much the same +thing, and, in the shake of a drake's tail, I resolved to run, and to +trust for escape to my turn for speed. So I set off at my roundest +pace, followed by the posse, and the rabble who but a moment before +were cheering me. + +More than once I felt inclined to turn, and end the matter for myself; +but the fact that this might mean laying aside all chance of settling +D'Entrangues, urged me to my best efforts. Some fool made an attempt +to stop me, and I was compelled to slash him across the face with my +sword, as a warning not to interfere with matters with which he had no +concern. I hardly knew where I was going; but dashed down a little +bye-street, and was, after a hundred yards, brought to a halt by a +dead wall. I could barely reach the top of it with my hands, luckily +this was enough to allow me to draw myself up, and drop over to the +other side, just as the police reached within ten feet of me. I did +not stop to take notes of their action, but was off as soon as my feet +touched ground, and found to my joy that I was close to one of the +unrepaired breaches in the city wall, made six months ago by +Tremouille's cannon. Through this I rushed, and scrambling down a +slope of broken stone and mortar, found I would be compelled to climb +down very nearly a hundred feet of what looked like the sheer face of +a rock, before I could reach level ground. There was not even a goat +track. My agility was, however, spurred on by hearing shouts behind +me, and preferring to risk death in attempting the descent, rather +than fall into the hands of messer the podesta, I chanced the venture, +and partly by holding on to the tough broom roots, partly slipping, +and aided by Providence and Our Lady of San Spirito, to whom I +hurriedly cast up a prayer, I managed to reach the bottom, and fell, +exhausted and breathless, into a cistus hedge. + +I was too beaten to go another yard, and had my pursuers only followed +up, must have become an easy prey. As it was I heard them reach the +breach, where they came to a stop, all shouting and babbling at the +same time. One or two, bolder than the others, attempted to descend +the ledge of rock, down which I escaped, but its steepness damped +their courage. They, however, succeeded in loosening some of the +débris so that it fell over the cliff, and a few of the stones dropped +very close to me; but by good hap I escaped, or else this would never +have been written. One great block indeed, just passed over my head, +and I vowed an altar-piece to Our Lady of San Spirito, who alone could +have diverted that which was coming straight to my destruction; and I +may add I duly kept my word. After a time the voices above began to +grow fainter, and to my delight I found that the citizens, thinking it +impossible I should have escaped like a lizard amongst the rocks, were +harking back, and ranging to the right and left. I waited until all +sound died away, and cautiously peeped out. The coast was clear. I had +recovered my wind, and without more waste of time, I rose and pressed +on in the direction of the hills, determined to chance no further +adventures near the towns. Indeed, I had crowded more incident into +the past few hours, than into the previous five-and-thirty years of my +life, and my sole object, at present, was to reach Florence without +further let or hindrance. + +Keeping the vineyards between me and the town, I avoided all +observation, and at a small wayside inn, filled a wallet which I +purchased, with food and a bottle of the rough country wine, so that +there might be no necessity for my visiting a human habitation during +the remainder of my journey. With the wallet swung over my shoulder, +an hour or so later I was ascending the slopes of Mount St. Michele, +cursing the fallen pine-needles, which made my foothold so slippery, +that I slid rather than walked. + +Turning the corner of a bluff, I suddenly came upon half-a-dozen men, +reclining under the pines in various attitudes of ease. They sprang up +at once on seeing me, and one of them, presenting his arquebus, called +on me to halt. + +"You must pay our toll before you pass, Signore," said the man, who +appeared to be the leader of the party. + +"As you please," I replied, "but my only metal is cold steel." + +"_Corpo di Bacco!_" he exclaimed. "I thought I knew you, and your +voice makes me certain. Surely I address the Cavaliere di Savelli?" + +I bowed, a little confused at the thought of my disguise being so +easily penetrated, and the bandit went on, turning to his comrades-- + +"Put down your gun, Spalle, this gentleman is one of us, and--hawks do +not peck out hawks' eyes. Signore," he added, "you pass free. I had +the honour to serve in your _condotta_ during the Siena war, and +doubtless you remember Piero Luigi?" + +"I do," I said, and the memory of a bag of florins which accompanied +this same Luigi on his disappearance one fine day came to my mind. I +had not however seen the man for three years, but he was apparently of +those who do not forget faces. As it turned out, however, he had seen +me very recently without my knowing it. + +"It is a pleasure to think I am not forgotten, and in a way, +Excellency, you have paid your footing." The rascal was alluding to my +stolen florins. "To think," he continued, "that you should have joined +us! But I suppose it was the dice, and, to be sure, the rubies were +worth ten thousand. You should have realised at once and vanished; but +experience will come, and mayhap another chance. I saw the trial, +Excellency, and we do not war with the profession, least of all with a +new recruit. You are free to pass, or, if you prefer it, to accept our +hospitality for a while." + +I declined the proffered invitation with a brief thanks, and went on, +my blood boiling at the impertinence of the scoundrel who so +familiarly claimed me as one of his own kind. Innocent myself, I was +tasting to the dregs all the humiliation of the guilty, and it was +only perhaps a lucky chance that saved me from the rope, or the still +worse fate of the galleys at Pisa. Turn which way I would, my own +country would never be a country for me again. I was cut out from my +order, my infamy would be known wherever my name was heard, and my +associates would henceforth have to be the vilest of mankind. Had I +committed a murder, or even an act of treachery in war, that could +have been wiped out; but to have sunk to the condition of a common +thief, this was ignominy beyond repair. I therefore resolved, as soon +as I pushed matters to a conclusion with D'Entrangues, that I should +leave Italy and seek a new life in the strange countries beyond the +seas which Messer Columbus, the navigator, had discovered, and there, +my past being unknown, perhaps find a future of peace or the rest +which fears no disturbing from this world. + +My original idea had been to seek the dominions of the Turk, but they +were too close to my shame; even the New World was hardly far enough. +So I planned, and so doubtless would I have acted had not +circumstances worked to give me back what I lost, as I thought +hopelessly, and to bring home to my mind the certainty of that tender +mercy of God, of which we on earth take too little account. + +It was late in the evening before I halted and ate my dinner under an +overhanging rock, sheltered from the north wind by a clump of pines. +When I finished I rolled myself up in my cloak, and fatigue, together +with a good conscience, combined to send me to a sleep as sound as it +was refreshing. I was up before the sun and continued my way, +determined to reach Florence by evening. I took no particular notice +of the view, where I could see to my right the Prato Magno, and to my +left all the valley of the Greve; but kept my eyes before me, intent +on my thoughts. + +At length, when passing Impruneta, where the black virgin is, Florence +came in sight. There was a slight haze which prevented me from seeing +as clearly as I could wish; but I plainly made out the houses on the +banks of the Arno, Arnolfo's Tower, the Palace of the Signory, the +Cathedral, the Bargello, and the unfinished Pitti Palace, whilst +beyond rose the convent-topped hill of Senario, where the Servites +have their monastery. + +As I looked, there was little of admiration in my heart, although the +scene was fair enough; but I could give no mind to anything beyond the +fact that I was at last within measurable distance of D'Entrangues, +and that in a few hours my hand was like to be at his throat. + +With these thoughts there somehow mingled up the face of Madame, and +the scene of our last meeting. I put this aside, however, with a +strong hand, and determined to think no more of her, although no such +recollection could be anything but pleasant and sweet. Until I met her +I had managed well enough without womankind, and for the future I +would leave bright eyes alone. Yet I knew I was the better man for +holding the privilege of her friendship. However, she had passed out +of my life, and across the seas I would have other things to think of +than the memory of my platonic friendship with Doris D'Entrangues. + +It was close upon sunset when I entered the San Piero Gate, and found +myself in Florence, and in a difficulty at the same time, in +consequence of my wearing a sword. I luckily, however, remembered that +La Palisse, the French leader, was then in the city, and explaining +that I was from the army at Arezzo with a message to him, inquired +particularly his abode, which I was told was in the palace of the +exiled Medici in the Via Larga. It so happened that La Palisse was in +constant communication with Tremouille, and this and my confident +bearing imposed upon the guards. I supplemented my argument with a +couple of crowns, and they let me pass without further parley. It will +thus be seen that whatever the regulations may have been, they were +easily broken. Indeed I found later on that they were, even at that +time, a dead letter, and that the zeal of the guards was merely +inspired by the prospect of making something out of me, which they did +on this occasion. I knew Florence fairly well, having been there under +circumstances very different to the present; but as I hurried along +the crowded streets, I began to feel I was somewhat uncertain as to +whither the roads led. I judged it prudent, however, not to make +inquiries, but kept my eyes on the sharp look-out for an hostel +suitable to my purse, which was diminishing at a fearful rate. I +stopped for a while at a street stall to satisfy my hunger with a cake +of wheat and a glass of milk, a wholesome but unpalatable beverage, +and entered into conversation with the stall-keeper. It came out that +I was in a difficulty about a lodging, and the man very civilly told +me where one could be procured, and added to his kindness, seeing I +was apparently a stranger to the place, by directing his son, a small +bare-legged urchin, to guide me to the house, which he said was an old +palace of the Albizzi, that had passed into the hands of the banker +Nobili, and was rented out in tenements. + +Heaven only knows through what bye-lanes and alleys the imp led me, +chattering like an ape the whilst; but at last we reached the house +which lay in the street di Pucci. An arrangement was soon entered into +with the person in charge, and I paid in advance for two weeks the +small rent asked for the room I took. I selected the room, because +there was in it some furniture, such as a bed, a table and a couple of +chairs, which, I was informed with some emphasis, had been seized from +the last tenant in default of rent. I sent the boy away rejoicing, and +was surprised to find that the housekeeper did not depart as well; but +this worthy soon made it clear to me that a further payment was +requisite on account of the furniture. I was too tired to haggle, so +paid him the three broad pieces he wanted, and bid him get me some +candles. He returned after a little delay with what I needed, and I +may say at once that under a rough exterior I found this man, with all +his faults, was capable on occasions of displaying true kindliness of +heart. + +I would like to pay him this tribute, for subsequently, as will be +seen, we had a grave difference of opinion which ended in disaster for +him. At the time this happened I could not but condemn him strongly, +for in order to further a plot in which he was engaged, he tried to +induce me to crime, and when, by a happy chance, I was able to +frustrate his design, joined in an attempt to murder me. I fully +believe, however, now that I can look back on affairs coolly, that, in +common with others of his age, he thought it no wrong to adopt any +means to further a political plot, whilst in the every day observances +of life he displayed, in an underhand manner, much virtue. + +When he was gone I sat down to count my money, and found I had but ten +crowns in all the world. With prudence however this would last some +time. Still it was gall and wormwood to me to have to weigh each item +of my disbursement. It would be necessary as well to renew my attire, +which, with the exception of the leather buff coat, was almost ruined +by the hard wear it had been exposed to on my journey. I sat down to +rest, but now that I had reached Florence a reaction set in, and +assailed by a full sense of my position I gave way to despair. In a +little time I became more composed; but it was impossible to keep +still with the fire in my heart, and I sallied into the street, taking +care to note landmarks, so as to find my way back. In this manner I +must have gone for about a quarter of a mile, when I was brought to a +standstill by the coming of a gay party down the street, in the +direction opposite to mine, all marching by the light of many torches, +to the music of a band. The musicians led the procession, which was +flanked on each side by a number of flambeaux bearers, and a retinue +of servants, all bearing swords despite the law. + +The merry-makers walked in pairs, each lady resting her fingers +on her cavalier's arm, and all laughing and talking with the utmost +good-humour. I was compelled to draw myself to the wall to admit of +their passing, and whilst thus giving them the road, the light fell +brightly on me, and I became an object of alarm to some of the fair, +who gave utterance to pretty little exclamations of terror, with the +result that I came in for haughty looks from the gallants. + +In the middle of the promenaders were two ladies, who, apparently not +having partners of the opposite sex, had linked themselves together, +and the attention of the taller of these was bestowed upon me for a +moment, and it was not flattering. As she wore a mask, I could see +little of her face beyond the half contemptuous look in her eyes which +were dark as night, and a short curl of the upper lip, with which she +no doubt intended to express the same sentiment as her glance. I +waited calmly until the whole party passed on, admiring the grace of +the demoiselle who had favoured me with her scornful survey. I watched +them until they turned off into another street, and then went on, idly +wondering who the people were, and more especially the dark-eyed lady. + +The street behind me was in gloom, a few yards in front of me a lamp +hanging from a wall threw a dim radiance; beyond that there was gloom +again. Through the darkness before me I heard the sound of hurrying +feet, coming in my direction, and almost before I was aware of it, the +newcomer and I fell into the circle of the light, and met face to +face. + +It was D'Entrangues! He knew me as if by instinct. + +"You!" he exclaimed, and on the instant his sword was out. I said +nothing. I was blind, mad with anger. My whole soul hungered for his +life as I thrust at him, and in doing so slipped my foot over the edge +of the narrow pavement and fell heavily. He was on me at once; +something flashed in his left hand, and I felt a stinging sensation +all over my side. He did not wait to see the result of his blow. +Perhaps he made too sure, and springing over me, ran into the darkness +beyond. I scrambled up at once, and made an attempt to follow; but my +brain began to reel, and I was compelled to lean against the wall to +support myself. + +The clash of steel had however aroused some of the inhabitants, and +hearing footsteps approaching I pulled myself together with an effort, +and making across the road, turned back to my lodging. Here again I +felt too weak to proceed without help, and sank to the ground, knowing +I was bleeding freely. By this time two or three men came up, and +after surveying the spot under the street-lamp, crossed over in my +direction. The rays of a lantern held by one of them discovered me, +and they hastened up. I begged the favour of their assistance to my +abode, saying I had been stabbed, and this the worthy citizens readily +accorded; and not content with that, when I reached my room, gave me +all help in dressing my injury. The dagger, which I had to extract, +had gone through the folds of my cloak, but was turned by a steel +buckle on the strap of my buff coat, and had cut through the coat and +down my side, inflicting an ugly flesh wound. This in itself was not +dangerous; but I had lost much blood, and when the kind citizens had +gone, in making an attempt to rise from my chair, I had only just time +to reach my bed before I became unconscious. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + BERNABO CECI. + + +I cannot say for what time I lay thus bereft of sense; but on coming +to myself I saw the candle in my room was all but spent, and the wick +flaring in a long flame. I looked to see if my wound had broken out +a-bleeding afresh, and was glad to find this was not the case, and +that the bandages were in their position. The small effort, however, +nearly set me off once more. The room swam round, the bright flame of +the candle dwindled down to a little star, no bigger than a pin point, +and then began slowly to increase in size as the faintness passed off, +and I was able to see clearly again. Any attempt to move gave me +agony, and, closing my eyes, I lay still. I heard the candle expire +with a splutter, and leave me in darkness. Then I began to get +light-headed, and unable to control my thoughts. Somehow my mind +travelled back to the days of my childhood, and the figure of the only +living relative I can remember, my father, came before me, standing +just as he was wont to stand, when about to give me a lesson in the +exercise of the sword, and repeating a warning he never ceased to din +into my ears. "Learning," he said, "is of little use to a gentleman. +You need not know more of books than a Savelli should, but in +horsemanship, and in the use of the sword----" he finished with a +gesture more expressive than words. And truly old Ercole di Savelli +was never a bookworm, although he ended a stormy life in his bed. + +He was the son of that Baptista di Savelli, who was ruined with the +Prefetti di Vico, and other noble houses during the time of Eugene IV. +Such estates as Baptista had, were transferred with the person of his +sister Olympia, who married into the Chigi, to that family, and with +them the custodianship of the Conclaves. Baptista di Savelli left his +son nothing but a few acres. The latter tried to woo Fortune in the +Spanish war, but did not obtain her favours. He returned to Italy, and +poor as Job though he was, hesitated not to marry for love, and engage +in a lawsuit with Amilcar Chigi. What between the one and the other, +Ercole was ruined in a hand turn. His wife died in giving birth to me, +and disgusted with the world, he retired to a small estate near Colza +in the Bergamasque. There he devoted himself to a pastoral life, and +to bringing me up as a soldier, until, one fine day, having contracted +a fever, he received absolution and died like a gentleman and a +Christian. + +I followed the profession for which I was intended, joining the levy +of the Duke of Urbino, and sharing in all the ups and downs of the +times, until Fortune did me a good turn at Fornovo. Subsequently +things went well with me, and although I had to mortgage my narrow +lands, to raise and provide equipment for the men, with whom I joined +Tremouille, I was in expectation of a full reward, when I was so +suddenly stricken down. + +Thinking of these things in the dark, tormented by a devouring thirst, +which I was unable to quench, haunted by the impression that my last +hour was come, and that I should die here like a dog, without even the +last rites of the church, I fell into a frenzy, and began to shout +aloud, and rave as in a delirium. D'Entrangues came before me, wearing +a smile of triumph, and I strove impotently to reach. Then the whole +room seemed to be full of my enemy, from every corner I could see the +white face, the red hair, and the smile of successful malice. The +figures, each one exactly like the other, floated over me, stood by my +side, sometimes brought their faces within an inch of mine, until I +imagined I felt a flame-like breath beating on me. Finally they +flitted backwards and forwards, rapidly and more rapidly, until there +was nothing but a mass of moving shadow around me, which gradually +resolved itself again into a single form. I strove to reach for my +sword to strike at it, but my arms were paralysed. So through the +livelong night the phantom stood at the foot of my bed, until the +white morning came in at my window, and I fell into a sleep. + +When I awoke, I found the old intendant of the building bending over +me. The fever had abated but the thirst still remained. "Water," I +gasped through my parched lips, and he gave me to drink. + +To cut a long story short, I arranged with this man for such +attendance as I should want, and to do him justice Ceci--for that was +his name--performed his part of the contract, getting me my food, +attending to the dressing of my wound, to which he applied a most +soothing salve, and such other offices a helpless person must expect. +He did not trouble me much with his presence during the earlier part +of my illness, but came as occasion required him, and, when he had +performed his work, left me to my reflections. + +I may note here that I never again saw the people who helped me when I +was wounded. Having assisted me to my lodging, and aided me to dress +my hurt, as I have said, they departed, and apparently gave me no +further thought. This I am persuaded was not due to unkindly feeling, +but to prudence, and a wish to avoid being mixed up in an affair such +as mine appeared to be; for the times were such, that it was better +for a man's head to be unknown to the Magnifici Signori of Florence. + +Subsequently, when things changed with me, I caused public cry to be +made, requesting the worthy citizens to come forward; but my attempt +was of no avail, beyond producing a half-dozen or so of rascal +impostors, who swore to helping me, under circumstances that never +occurred, on the off chance of hitting a nail on the head, and +obtaining a reward. But this was long after my illness, and the block +in the Bargello may have, since that time, been a resting place for +the heads of the good Samaritans for all I can say. I took a longer +time in mending than I thought I should, for an inflammation set in, +the fever came back, and when that was passed I recovered strength but +slowly. It was at this time, however, that I discovered the advantage +of reading, having up to now borne only too well in mind my father's +saying on that subject. + +I began with Poliziano's Orfeo, a poor affair, and then procured, to +my delight, a translation of Plutarch's Lives. Both these books were +obtained with the greatest difficulty, so old Ceci, the attendant +said, from the library of a great Florentine noble, in which a nephew +of his was employed in copying manuscripts, and the old man charged me +an entire double florin for the use of the latter alone; an +expenditure I grudged at first; but which I would have willingly paid +twice over before I finished the volume. I inquired the name of the +nobleman; but Ceci was not inclined to tell me, and I gathered that +the owner was probably unaware that his books were taking an airing, +and enabling his library-scribe to turn a dishonest penny. On the +binding of the Plutarch was pricked a coat-of-arms, a cross azure on a +field argent, with four nails azure; but I could not, for the life of +me, remember this device, although I had served in every part of Italy +except Rome. Finally it came to my mind, that the bearings, no doubt, +belonged to some merchant prince of Florence, and would therefore be +unlikely to see anything more of fighting than a street riot, and +therefore I dismissed the subject. + +I did not neglect, whilst lying in enforced idleness, to take such +steps as I could to discover the whereabouts of D'Entrangues, and +specially instructed old Ceci to make inquiries of the followers of La +Palisse. He brought me news in a couple of days, that the Frenchman +had left Florence a fortnight ago, and it was understood he was going +to join the army of Cesare Borgia, that cursed serpent who was lifting +his head so high in the Romagna. This was ill news indeed, for I had +been lying helpless for close upon a month; but I was on the mend at +last, and resolved to follow him as soon as I had strength to travel. + +During my illness I had frequently thought of madame, and with the +thoughts of her, there mingled recollections of the dark eyes of the +lady who had looked at me through her mask, on the night I was +stabbed. I could think of madame in no way but with a kindly feeling; +but strange as it may seem, any recollection of the other made my +heart beat, and I would have given much even to have obtained another +glance at her. In the meantime, however, my first business was to try +and replenish my funds, for my supplies were almost exhausted by the +drain made upon them during my illness. + +Old Ceci, the intendant, had in his way formed a sort of attachment +for me, and now that I was better, generally spent an hour or so with +me daily in converse. One day I let out some hint of my condition, and +Ceci, after a little beating about the bush, approached me with a +proposal. + +"Signore," he said, "there are those in Florence who would like things +changed. We want our Medici back; but we want also a few good swords, +and I could tell you of a way to fill your purse." + +"Say on," I replied, and the old man having first bound me to secrecy, +informed me that certain notables in Florence wanted a good sword or +two, to rid them of a great political opponent, in order to pave the +way for the return of the Medici; and without mentioning names in any +way, which, he said, would be given to me later, proposed that I +should undertake the task. + +I realised at once that his suggestion meant nothing short of +assassination, and saw that my old acquaintance was apparently up to +the ears in a political plot. My first idea was to spurn the +suggestion with indignation; but reflecting that it would be better to +know more, and by this means, if possible, save a man from being +murdered in cold blood; I affected to treat the matter seriously, and +replied that I was as yet unfit for active work; but that as soon as I +was better I would discuss the subject again. He then departed. + +Perhaps the time will come when the minds of men will shrink with +horror from crime, even for the sake of a good object, and however +much I loathed the proposal made to me, I could not but recollect that +the noblest names of Milan were concerned in the Olgiati conspiracy, +and that a Pontiff had supported the Pazzi attempt on the Medici. This +being so, there was excuse for Ceci and his leaders, whoever they +were; but my whole soul was wrath in me at the thought that I had been +deemed capable of doing the business of a common bravo, and if it were +not for the reason stated above, I would have flung the old +conspirator out of the room. This insult also had to go down +indirectly to D'Entrangues, and as I grew better, my desire to settle +with him rose to fever-heat. The question, however, was my resources. +Turn which way I would, there seemed to be no way of replenishing +them. The idea presented itself to me to join the Borgia, who with all +his faults was ever ready to take a long sword into his pay. But the +man was so great a monster of iniquity, that, even to gratify my +vengeance, I could not bring myself to accept the gold of St. +Valentino. + +There were others to whom I could apply, such as Malatesta or De la +Rovere; but amongst them I would be known, and the burden of my shame +too great to bear. After all, it would perhaps be better to seek to +fill my purse in Florence, and let my vengeance sleep for a while. It +would be all the sweeter when it came. + +With these ideas in my head, I was sitting one afternoon at the little +window of my room, putting a finishing touch to the edge of the +dagger, which D'Entrangues had left with, or rather in me, and +congratulating myself that the blade was not a poisoned one, when I +heard, as from a distance a hum of voices, which gradually swelled +into a great roar, and above this the clanging of a bell with a +peculiar discordant note. Almost at the same time old Ceci bustled +into my room, evidently in a state of high excitement, and called +out-- + +"Messer Donati--Messer Donati! It is to be war--war!" + +I should add here that I had judged it prudent to take another name on +entering Florence, and adopted the first one that struck me, although +I afterwards thought that Donati was not quite the name to win favour +with the Florentines, amongst whom the memory of Messer Corso was +still green, although so many years had passed since he was done with. +Whether I let my own name out or not during my illness I am unable to +say; at any rate, Ceci never gave me any such hint. The news the old +man brought was not unexpected by me, yet I caught a touch of his +excitement and answered-- + +"War--where? Tell me." + +"It is this way, signore; Naples has risen, and the Great Captain has +driven D'Aubigny out of Calabria, all the Romagna has gone from Cesare +as that," he waved his hand as if throwing a feather in the air. + +"The Holy Father has cast his interdict on Florence, and Pisa is +burning the Val di Nievole." + +"The devil!" I exclaimed, "this is more than I thought. The interdict +is bad, Messer Ceci." + +He grinned as he answered, "Bad for the Pope. Medici or no Medici we +will not have a priest interfering in Florence." + +"I see," I said, "you are Florentine first, and conspirator +afterwards; but how do the French stand?" + +"With us, for we pay. It is said, however, that things are uncertain +with them, that Monsignore d'Amboise, who is now Cardinal of Rouen, +has gone to Rome, and that Tremouille is awaiting the king." + +"The king! Louis is at Maçon." + +"Yes, Louis himself, and the Lord knows how many barons besides, with +pedigrees as long as their swords, who will eat up our corn, and +pillage our vineyards from the Alps to the Adriatic. But I came here +to ask, signore, if you will come with me to see. It is hurry and make +haste for I cannot wait. The Carroccio has left St. John's." + +I had almost recovered my full strength, and was accustomed to walk +out daily at dusk in order to avoid observation, whilst at the same +time I could by doing so exercise my muscles; yet at first I felt +inclined to decline Ceci's invitation, alleging weakness as my excuse, +for my anger was still warm against him on account of his proposals to +me. Reflecting, however, that if I offended him, it would probably +fatally injure any prospect I had of saving the person whom the +conspirators intended to kill, I thought it best to affect a +friendliness I did not feel, and changing my mind in regard to +accompanying him, slipped on my sword, and followed the old man +downstairs. We hastened as fast as we could to the great square. The +people were swarming out of the houses, and the streets were full of a +hurrying throng, all directing their steps to the point, whence we +could hear the bellowing of the mob, echoed with answering cheers by +those making towards the place of assembly. Around us there was a +murmur like that of millions of bees, as men, women, and children, +jostled their way to the Palace of the Signory. My companion, who +stopped every now and again to open his jaws as wide as the mouth of a +saddle-bag, and give forth a yell, hustled along at a great pace, and +I made after him with scarcely less speed. + +By good fortune, and a considerable amount of pushing, we made our way +through the press, which appeared to me to be composed entirely of +elbows, and at last reached the market-place. Here the crowd behind us +slowly drove us forwards, and finally gave us the advantage of a good +position. The square was lined with men-at-arms and stout citizens, +with boar-spears in their hands. + +All at once there went up a shout louder than ever, the crowd swayed +backwards and forwards, then opened out, and admitted the Carroccio or +war-car in Florence. It was painted red, and drawn by oxen housed in +red trappings. The great beasts had dragged the car slowly from the +chapel of St. John's, where it stood in times of peace, and laboured +along under its weight. From the car itself projected two poles on +which hung the banner of the Commonwealth, a red giglio on a white +field. Immediately behind this came another car, bearing the +Martinello or war-bell, which was incessantly clanging out its angry +notes. It was to ring now for a full month, without ceasing. + +Around the cars were the principal nobles of the city, and the oxen +being guided to the "bankrupt stone," were there unharnessed. Pietro +Soderini, the brother of his eminence of Volterra, who was then +Gonfaloniere for life, raised his hand. In a moment there was silence, +and the vast audience listened to the brief oration that fell from the +lips of their chief magistrate. He painted in stirring words the +dangers of the times; he called to the people to forget party hatreds +in the face of the common crisis; he appealed to their past, and then +concluded: "Therefore," said he, "for the safety of the State, have we +to whom that safety is entrusted put our hope in God, and our hands to +the sword. Citizens, we give to our enemies, to Rome, and to Spain, +war, red war--and God defend the right!" With that, he drew off his +glove of mail and flung it on the pavement, where it fell with a +sudden crash. + +The silence of the crowd continued for a little, and then, from forty +thousand throats rang out cheer after cheer, as the sturdy citizens +roared out their approval of the gage thrown down. + +In the midst of all this some partisan of the Medici, hysterically +excited, raised a shout of _Palle_! _Palle!_ + +"Blood of St. John!" exclaimed Ceci, "who is that fool? He will die." + +It was the well-known cry of the exiled Medici, and it drove the crowd +to madness. Instantly there was an answering yell. + +"_Popolo_! _Popolo!_ Death to tyrants!" I cannot tell what happened +exactly; but in the distance, I saw a man being tossed and torn by the +mob. For a moment, his white face rose above the sea of heads, with +all the despair in it that the face of a drowning man has, when it +rises for the last time above the waves; then it sank back, and +something mangled and shapeless was flung out into the piazza, where +it lay very still. I stood awestruck by this vengeance. + +"Yet the Medici _will_ come back, signore!" + +Ceci whispered this in my ear, as he stood with his hand on my +shoulder. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + THE GARDEN OF ST. MICHAEL. + + +On our way back Ceci was somehow separated from me, whether by +accident or design, I cannot say. I did not quite regret this, as I +had made up my mind to see as little as possible of him for the +future, thinking he had repaid himself for his kindness, by the +proposals he had made to me. Indeed, I may say I never sought his +society, although, until he showed his hand, his visits and +conversation gave me some pleasure, for notwithstanding his position, +he was a well-informed man, who, in the earlier part of his life, must +have seen better days, and perhaps hoped to see them again, if his +plot succeeded. The words he had let drop, to the effect that the +Medici would come back, had given me a hint as to what that plot was. +It was evident that my old friend was an active member of the Bigi, or +Grey Party in Florence, that were then working secretly for the +restoration of Lorenzo's sons. It seemed clear too, that the attempt +to be made, was to be directed against some very eminent member of the +State--perhaps the Gonfaloniere himself, and I began to wonder if it +was not my duty to lay the information I had before the Signory. I +could not, however, reconcile this with my promise of silence, and +therefore my tongue was tied. Still I could not sit tamely by, and see +a man murdered in cold blood, and I decided therefore, to remain in +Florence somehow, and if possible avert the crime, although it would +interfere, no doubt, with my own business. But one cannot always be +thinking of one's self. Perhaps also, though not quite conscious of it +then, I had some idea of again meeting the unknown lady of the gala +procession, in whom, in spite of myself, I felt I was taking too great +an interest. + +During the night I had but little sleep, for the affair of the mad +partisan of the Medici, and the declaration of war, had roused the +citizens to fever heat, and all night long, crowds thronged the +streets, their hoarse shouts of _Popolo_! _Popolo!_ mingling with the +incessant clanging of the war-bell, which itself was loud enough to +wake the dead. The next day, however, I resolved to take the bull by +the horns, and with a view to fill my purse, determined to present +myself before La Palisse, and offer him my sword. I sallied out, +therefore, finding the streets fairly empty, the all-night indignation +meeting of the Florentines having wearied them a little. Still, +however, there were knots of people here and there, all in a more or +less excited condition. I was in no particular hurry, and taking a +lesson from the snail, went at a leisurely pace, and eventually +reached the headquarters of La Palisse, which were in the Medicean +palace, in the Via Larga. The courtyard and entrance-hall were full of +soldiers, and evidently active preparations for the campaign were in +progress, for there was a continuous stream of people going in and +out. No one took any notice of me, and holding my cap in one hand, and +straightening the feather on it with the fingers of the other, I +advanced unquestioned through the crowded rooms. In this manner I +proceeded until I came to a gallery, on one flank of which there was a +series of windows overlooking the street; at the end of the gallery +hung a purple curtain, covering, as it happened, an open door. On the +curtain itself was embroidered a crimson shield, bearing the _palle_ +of the Medici. Before this I was stopped by a young officer, who asked +me my business, and I replied it was with La Palisse himself. + +"Impossible!" he replied; "you cannot see the General." + +"Why not, signore?" + +"Tush, man! You look old enough to understand that orders are orders." + +"What is it, De Brienne?" a sharp voice called out from within. The +officer lifted the curtain, and went inside. I was determined to gain +an interview with the great man, and had therefore said my business +was of importance. The leanness of my purse is my excuse for the +subterfuge, which I subsequently regretted, as will be seen further +on. Shortly after De Brienne came out. "Well, messer--messer----" + +"Donati," I said. + +"Well, Donati, the General will see you. You may enter." + +I accordingly did so, and found myself in the presence of a short, +thick-set man, seated at a small table, on which was spread a map, +over which he was looking intently. In a corner of the room lay his +helmet and sword, and he himself was in half-mail, wearing a Milanese +corselet, on which was emblazoned the red dragon of his house. As his +head was bent over the paper, I could not at first make out his +features, and remained standing patiently. Suddenly he lifted his +face, and looked at me with a quick "Well--your business, sir?" + +I was accustomed to strange sights, but for the moment was startled, +so horribly disfigured was the man. The sight of one eye was +completely gone, and half his face looked as if a red-hot gridiron had +been pressed against it. The other eye was intact, and twinkled +ferociously under its bushy grey eyebrow. I recovered myself quickly, +and made my request in as few words as possible. He became enraged as +I finished. "Bah!" he said, "I thought your business was of +importance. I can do nothing for you, my list is full. You have gained +admission to me under a pretence--go!" and he resumed his study of the +map. I would have urged the matter, but all my pride was aroused at +his words, and so, with a short good-day, I turned on my heel and +walked out. Passing through the gallery, I saw De Brienne, leaning +against an open window, talking to another young officer. They both +looked at me, and burst into a loud laugh. At any other time I might +have treated this with contempt, but I was sore all over at my +reception, and approaching the two said, "You seem amused, +gentlemen--it is not well to laugh at distress." + +They stopped their laughter, staring haughtily at me, and De Brienne +said, "Your way, signore, lies before you," and he pointed down the +corridor. + +"Perhaps the Signor de Brienne would care to accompany me--unless," +and I looked him steadily in the face. + +"Unless what?" De Brienne flushed angrily. + +At this moment we heard a hasty footstep on the marble floor, and La +Palisse advanced. "Still here," he said to me, "did I not tell you to +begone?" + +"My business is with the Signor de Brienne," I replied stiffly, for my +blood was hot within me. + +"I am quite prepared," began De Brienne, but the free-captain +interposed. + +"Not in the least. I cannot allow my officers to go fighting with +every _croque-mort_, who comes here with a long sword and a lying +story. Look at him, De Brienne--every inch a bravo! Harkee, Donati! +Begone at once. Not another word, or by God, I will have you hanged +from the nearest window!" + +It did not require me to carry my perception in my right hand, to be +aware that La Palisse was capable of fulfilling his threat, and +although I was inclined to draw on him there and then, I knew what the +ultimate results would be. So swallowing my pride as best I could, and +regretting the ill-humour which had subjected me to this insult, I +stalked into the street. + +I made my way to my ordinary, and sat there to cool, which took some +time. I was able to see, that the rebuff I received was due in great +part to my own mismanagement; also that there was no hope for me from +La Palisse, and that my steps must turn elsewhere if I wished my purse +to show a full-fed appearance. I dined sparingly, drinking but a half +measure of Chianti, which I mixed with water, and it made but a thin +fluid. When I finished my slender repast, there was nothing left but +to kill time. It was useless to go back to my lodging; for want of +funds had compelled me to discontinue, until better times, my newly +acquired habit of reading, and Ceci, despite the kindness he had shown +me, was precise in the exaction of payment for offices performed by +him. No more indeed could be expected from a huckstering mind such as +his, inherited no doubt from a line of bargaining citizens, whose +hearts were in their bales of wool. So I strolled towards the garden +of St. Michael, passing on the way the piazzi, where there were still +numbers assembled, and wondering at the implacable hatred of the +Florentines towards their noblest blood, a hatred they carried so far, +as to build the walls of the Palace of the Signory obliquely, rather +than they should touch the spot where the Uberti once dwelt. And this +set me reflecting on the unreasoning stupidity of the _canaille_, in +their enmity towards gentle blood. Perhaps I was a little influenced +in these thoughts, from the fact that the Uberti were connected by +marriage with the Savelli, a daughter of Maso degli Uberti having +wedded that Baptista di Savelli who upheld by force of arms his right +to attend the Conclave of Cardinals. It was sad to think that of the +Uberti not one was left, and of the Savelli--I alone. I will not +include the Chigi, for they come through the female line, and although +Amilcar Chigi, the son of my father's old enemy, subsequently made +advances of friendship towards me, I felt bound to explain to him that +I was the head of the house, despite the broad lands his father got +with his mother Olympia, by an unjust decree of the Chamber of Lies. +This, however, is a family affair, which does not concern the +narration in hand. Having reached the garden, I sat myself to rest on +a stone seat, set against a wall overhung by a large tree. At the +further end of the walk were two ladies in earnest conversation. Their +backs were to me at first, but on arriving at the end of the walk, +they turned slowly round, and came towards me. As they approached, I +was almost sure they were the two I had seen in the gala procession, +and my doubts were soon at rest, for, on passing, they glanced at me +with idle curiosity, and in a moment I recognised them by their air +and gait. On this occasion they wore no masks, and I saw they were +both young and passing fair. The face of the shorter of the two, whose +figure had a matronly cast, was set in a mass of light hair, and +looked brimful of good-humour. The other, who, in marked contrast to +her companion, had dark hair and dark eyes, possessed a countenance of +exceeding beauty, marred perhaps by its expression of pride. Be that +as it may, my blood began to tingle as I saw her, and an indefinite +thought of what might have been rose into my mind. When they had gone +a few yards, the one, whom I took to be a married woman, said +something to her friend, and glanced over her shoulder; but the other +appeared to reprove the remark, increasing as she did so the pride of +her carriage. I wondered to myself that two ladies, should be out +unattended, in so sequestered a spot, at a time too when the city was +so full of excitement, and watched them as they turned the corner of +the walk, and went out of sight beyond the trees. I began in a useless +manner to speculate who they were, and to weave together a little +romance in my heart, when I was startled by a shriek, and the next +moment the fair-haired lady came running round the corner of the road, +crying for help. It was not fifty yards, and in less time than I take +to write this, I whipped out my sword, and was hurrying to the spot. I +saw, when I reached, the taller lady struggling in the arms of an +ill-looking ruffian. She called out on my coming, and the man, +loosening his hold, was about to make off, when, unwilling to soil my +sword with the blood of a low-born scoundrel, I struck at him with my +fist, and the cross handle of the sword clenched in my hand, inflicted +an ugly gash on his forehead, besides bringing him down. I stood with +the point of my sword over him, and the affrighted women behind me. + +"Hold, signore!" he cried, "enough! I yield--what! Would you draw on a +friend?" + +"A friend?" I said in astonishment, as he slowly rose to his feet. + +"Yes, Signor di Savelli, were you on Monte San Michele now, you would +sing a different tune." + +"Piero Luigi, then it is you," I said; "well, scoundrel, I am not on +Monte San Michele, but you are here, and will shortly be before Messer +the Gonfaloniere, unless you restore at once what you have doubtless +robbed from these ladies and beg their pardon. Stop! if you attempt to +move, I will spit you like a lark." + +"I have taken nothing," he said, "let me go; I am punished enough." + +"That is true, sir," said one of the ladies, "and we pray you let the +man go." + +"Not till he has begged your pardon," I replied. + +Luigi did as he was bid, and humbly apologised; but as he left, he +discharged a Parthian shot: "Ah, ladies! I sought but a kiss. I am but +a poor thief--a crow--but the Signor di Savelli is no better, though +he flies with hawk's wings." + +I took no notice of the remark; and, lifting my cap, begged permission +to see the ladies to a place of safety. + +"We thank you for your kindness, sir," said the shorter and elder of +the two, "but I see our servants approaching, and we will not +therefore trespass on you. Believe me, however, we are grateful--my +cousin and I." + +Even as she spoke her lackeys came up, and one of them, in an alarmed +tone, asked what was the matter, and turned on me fiercely. + +"Be quiet, Gian," said the lady who had just spoken, "it is we who +have to thank Signor di Savelli for rescuing us." + +"Your pardon, signore; but we heard the ladies cry out, and seeing you +here----" + +"Where you should have been," I interrupted, "you lag too far behind +your mistress." + +The dark-haired girl, who had up to now not spoken, but, with her face +very pale, was playing with a bracelet on her wrist, now looked up. + +"I think we had better get back, we will not trouble this--this +gentleman further. He has already done too much for us." + +She dropped me a proud little curtsey, and turned away, but her +friend frankly held out her hand. "Believe me, Signor di Savelli--I +heard you so called--my cousin Angiola and I are both very grateful. +She is a good deal upset by what has happened, and I speak for her. +My husband," she went on hurriedly, "has much influence, and if any +word----" + +She stopped a little helplessly, and seeing she had observed my +appearance, and anxious to end the affair, I cut in-- + +"Madam, I did nothing but drive off a cur--you thank me too much. Good +day!" + +I stood cap in hand until they turned the elbow of the walk, and then +retraced my steps to my lodging. As I went back, I could not help +railing at my luck. I was enabled to do a service, which, for no +reason I could assign, I would rather have done to this particular +woman than any other--a service which should have made her look kindly +at me, and yet by a cruel stroke she was made to think me nothing else +but a thief, for Luigi's charge was definite, and it was clear I knew +him. My name was also known to her, and perhaps the rest of my story, +as it was understood by the public, would be told to her, and then, +adieu to my little romance, if it was not adieu already. Then again +what business had I to have any such thoughts? I had yet to learn that +these things come unbidden, and when they come, take no denial. +Thinking in this way as I walked on, I was surprised to find I had +reached the old Albizzi Palace. This building, like all the other +houses of the nobles of Florence, was fortified with braccia or +towers, joined to each other by bridges. These towers formed refuges +during interurban wars, and stood many a siege from the people. The +Albizzi Palace had four such braccia, but the two towards the Ultrarno +quarter had been half demolished in some forgotten riot, and never +restored. The others were however intact, although the bridge between +them had long since given way. It was in one of these that I had my +abode, and reaching it about sundown, began to slowly ascend the dark +stairs which led to my chamber. Occasionally I stopped and rested, and +it was during one of these rests that I looked up to the landing above +me. It was still in light; for the setting sun shone through a giglio +shaped window in the western wall. As I glanced up, a figure suddenly +appeared at the head of the stairway, and leaning one hand on the +balustrade, peered down into the dim light below it. I recognised the +extraordinary dress at once, and a moment's survey of the face assured +me it was my host of the hovel, he who had so strangely disappeared +with the girl, when I fought with Brico at Perugia. + +"A good day to you, friend!" I called out, "and well met." + +"Who calls? Who is there?" he answered. + +"One moment, let me climb up these stairs," and I made my way to the +landing, and held out my hand. + +He took it in silence, but his grip was warm. + +"Signore," he said after a moment, "I do not know your name; but +whoever you are, Mathew Corte owes you much, and will some day show +himself grateful." + +"My name," I said, "for the present is Donati, and as for gratitude +there is no need to speak of it." + +As he mentioned his name, I remembered that there was a madman so +called, who had come into notoriety years ago, by asserting that he +had discovered the secret of prolonging life to a hundred and twenty +years. He had, I heard, written a book in which this was fully +described, and presented it to the Cibo pope, with the inscription, +_videbis dies Petri et ultra_. Long after, I heard Cardinal Bembo +tell, in his witty way, how this same Corte presented his book to +three successive popes, ending with Innocent of Genoa, adding that he +took care on each occasion to substitute a new title-page and +dedication. "But," the cardinal was wont to add, "it is against the +canon, for our Lord the Pope to go in any matter, even in life, beyond +the Holy Apostle, and therefore, no doubt, the worthy doctor's +prescriptions were not followed. Such are the sacrifices the church +has to make." + +"How long have you been here?" I asked. + +"Some days." + +"And we have never met!" + +"Ah! The place is like a rabbit-warren. There are hundreds here. But +it is odd that I have never seen you." + +"Not so very odd when I come to think of it," and I looked down at my +shabby attire. "It is generally late when I go out." + +He held out one leg, clothed in its fantastic dress. + +"I too am on the rocks," and he laughed bitterly, "and feed with the +goats." + +Wishing to change the subject, I inquired about the girl. He turned +away to the window, and when he looked back the man's eyes were full +of tears. + +"Would you care to see?" he asked, with a shake in his voice. + +I bowed gravely, and he conducted me upstairs, fully two flights +beyond my room, and then stopped on a small landing. Through the +half-open door that faced us, a little dog came out, and looked +wistfully at Corte. He stooped to stroke it, and then rising, passed +into the room. When he had gone beyond the door, he looked back at me, +saying "enter." + +I did so with gentle footsteps, and he pointed to a bed in the corner +of the room, on which was the figure of a woman, lying so still and +motionless, that she might have been an image of wax. Her plentiful +brown hair was spread over the pillow, and out of this frame, the +pinched white face, with all its traces of past beauty, looked out in +a pitiful silence. One thin hand was turned palm downwards on the +coverlet, and, as we stood, the fingers began to work convulsively. + +Corte bent over her forehead and touched it with his lips. "Little +one," he said, "do you sleep?" + +The girl opened her sightless eyes, and a faint smile, that lightened +her face, making it wondrous beautiful, passed over her countenance. + +"Not yet." She spoke so low I could hardly catch the words, "but I +shall sleep soon." + +I knew what she meant, for in her face was already that look which +comes to those who are going away. Corte was however unable to judge. +"She is better," he said, "I will give her some more wine--all that +she needs is strength--my little one." With this he turned to a +cupboard, and opening it, took thenceforth a bottle of wine; with +shaking fingers he tried to fill a glass; but the bottle was empty. + +"I forgot," he said, and looked hopelessly around him. There was that +in the man's face which made me read it as an open book. + +"Stay here," I whispered, "I will be back soon--very soon." + +He looked at me in a dazed sort of manner, but I waited for no reply, +and, slipping out of the room, ran as fast as I could downstairs, and +through the darkening streets to the nearest inn. Calling the landlord +I asked him what was his best wine. + +"My best wine, signore! All my wines are good. There is Chianti from +our own Tuscan grape, Lacryma Christi from Naples, Barolo from +Piedmont, Roman Orvieto and White Vernaccia of the same brand that the +Cardinal Ippolite d'Este----" + +"Fool," I interrupted, "answer my question. What is your best wine? +Have you any of the wines of France?" + +"Wines of France!" he exclaimed, "_Corpo di Bacco!_ Does not your +excellency know that La Palisse and his French cut-throats have been +here for a month? Think you there is a bottle of red Roussilon or +Armagnac left in Florence? There lie, however, in my cellar, two +flagons of Burgundy." + +"Fetch one at once--run, man!" and I flung him a crown. + +After a short delay, which seemed ages to me, messer the padrone +reappeared with the flagon of Burgundy under his arm, and seizing it +from him, I ran back to the Albizzi Palace, and hurried up the stairs +to the room occupied by Corte. Although I had been away barely half an +hour, that was sufficient time to make a change for the worse in the +sick girl, and I became aware that the end had begun. We tried to +force a little of the wine between her lips; but she could not +swallow, and now instead of lying still, kept tossing her head from +side to side. Corte was undone. He could do nothing but stand at the +head of the bed, in mute despair, as he watched the parting soul sob +its way out. + +I went towards him: "Shall I send the intendant for a priest?" + +If ever words changed the countenance of a man, mine did. His eyes +fairly blazed with anger, and he hissed out, "No, signore--this is a +priest's work--pray if you like, but no priest comes here." + +I had, as all other men have, frequently called upon God, sometimes in +idle blasphemy; but never on an occasion so serious as this. Pray if I +liked! I had forgotten what real prayer was. Impelled by a power I +could not resist, I knelt down and tried to form some words to reach +the Most High. But they would not come, I could only feel them, and I +rose again and took my stand by the dying girl. + +She began to talk now in a rambling manner, and with that strength +which comes at the point of death from somewhere; her voice was clear, +but with a metallic ring. It is not for me to repeat the last words of +one who is now with her God; but I gathered from them a story of +trusting love, of infamous wrong and dastardly crime. And Corte shook +like a branch in the wind, as the words came thick and fast from the +lips of his dying child. After a while she became still once again. So +still that we thought she had passed away; but she revived on a +sudden, and called out: + +"Father--I cannot see--I am blind--stoop down and let me whisper." + +"I am here, little one--close--quite close to you." + +"Tell him--I--forgive. You must forgive too--promise." + +Corte pressed his lips to her damp forehead, but spoke no word. + +"It is bright again--they are calling me--mother! Hold me up--I cannot +breathe." + +Corte sank on his knees with his head between his hands, and passing +my arm round the poor creature I lifted her up, and the spirit +passed. In the room there was now a silence which was broken by a +heart-rending sob from Corte. He staggered to his feet with despair on +his face. + +"She said forgive!" he exclaimed. "Man, you have seen an angel die. +This is the work of a priest, of a pontiff, of him who calls himself +Vicar of Christ! Go now, and leave me with my dead." + +I took his hand, and pressing it, turned to the door. As I closed it +behind me, I saw Corte bending over the still face of his child, and +the little dog, throwing up its head, howled piteously. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + TEMPTATION. + + +I had looked upon death before; I had seen the plague strike down its +victims in an hour; I had been in the hell of a sacked town, when men, +women, and children, were given to the sword. On the breach at Arx +Sismundea, dead, dying and wounded, were piled breast high, when we +stormed our way, through the fog of battle, into Malatesta's +stronghold. Stricken down at San Miniato, I saw, in the dim night, the +death hunters at their fearful trade, and heard the dull blows of +their daggers, as they murdered some helpless wretch, sometimes for +the prize of a tag of gold lace, sometimes for the sheer pleasure of +slaughter. Lying unable to move, by good luck concealed in a hollow, +amidst grass which stood a yard high, I saw a man killed not ten feet +from me. He rose to his elbow as the fiends approached, and called for +water. But it was not water he got. How he struggled! He cried for +mercy, and I can still see the wretches as they held him down. A +foul-looking hag placed her knees on his chest, she looked towards the +sky for a moment, as if invoking a spirit to a sacrifice, and the +moonlight shone on a face that was hardly human. Then she stooped +down, and with a relentless hand, plunged the knife she held into her +victim's throat. But all this, which should have hardened my heart, +did not affect me as the scene I had just quitted. After all, what I +had passed through was done when the blood was high with excitement. +Here, however, was another thing. I had watched the end of a being +beautiful and pure, who was born to adorn life, and yet what was her +story? Fallen into the hands of an incarnate devil, outraged, and then +cast forth blinded, to die like a reptile! It was too horrible! Surely +God must have slept whilst this was done. Surely the after life ought +to be to her, in an inverse proportion to her sufferings on earth. But +why any such infliction on one so helpless? Mystery of mysteries, and +I cannot solve it. And yet she was able to forgive. At the last she +could condone. What were my wrongs to those she had endured? After all +I had health, strength, and the world was wide. Why waste my time in +running after the morbid shadow of revenge? If I got it, would it +satisfy? Would it heal my wounds! Thinking in this way, I called to +mind a sermon of the Prior of St. Mark's--I heard when last in +Florence. I came in the suite of Paolo Vitelli ag Citta del Castello, +and at the time Savonarola had left the Duomo, and was preaching at +St. Mark's. His subject was forgiveness, and his text, "Vengeance is +mine, saith the Lord," came back to me with a vivid force. I rose from +my seat and paced the room, my whole soul was on the cross; I had all +but resolved to forego my scheme of revenge, when I heard a knock at +the door. At first I did not answer, but it was repeated. + +"Come in," I cried, and Ceci entered. In the state in which I was in, +I had half a mind to bid him begone there and then, and only +controlled myself with an effort. I could see however that, in his +way, he had formed a friendly feeling towards me, and remembering my +plans, forced myself to greet him with civility, and offering him a +seat began the conversation. + +"That was a strange finish to the Gonfaloniere's speech," I said, in +allusion to the death of the man at the hands of the mob. + +"He was a fool, and deserved to die." + +"Do you know his name?" + +Ceci hesitated for a moment, and I saw he was lying when he said "No." + +"I gather," I added, "that you are of the Bigi, the party that favours +the return of the Medici." + +"Signore, I spoke words in my excitement that may well be buried. An +old tongue like mine should have known to be still; but it is not that +I have come to speak of. Do you know we have a death in the house?" + +"That would be no new thing to you." + +"True," he said, stroking his white beard, "they die here like rats in +their holes." + +"I suppose so; but as a matter of fact I did know there was a death, +and a very sad one. I know Mathew Corte, but how have you found out so +soon?" + +"It is simple. I came back but a few minutes ago, and although it was +late, thought I might call for the rent of the room Corte occupies, as +he has not paid anything as yet. When I came in, Corte simply pointed +to the body of his daughter, that was all the reply I got. She was +very ill when she came; I wonder indeed she lived so long. Of course I +did not press him, and if it is a loss, Messer Nobili is rich enough +to bear this. But it is dreadful the way these people owe." + +I winced a little, thinking of my own diminished purse, and Ceci +continued: "I thought I would come and see you as I went down. It is +on my way. The body must be removed to-morrow." + +"You will find some difficulty in persuading him to give it a +Christian burial." + +"How! Is he a heretic, or a pagan--if so!" + +"I did not say that. I believe the man to be mad." + +"I will see him to-morrow," said Ceci. "I think he will yield to +reason. Poor child! She might have been saved." + +"Saved!" + +"Yes, when they first came, I begged Corte to let me call the Doctor +Maffeo. He would not however listen to the idea. Then I told him what +to do, being a family man, who has had children to look after. All +gone into the world now, and never even a message for Bernabo Ceci." + +"I thought the case hopeless when I saw it." + +"When you saw it, perhaps; but, signore, not at first. See! the sun is +not in the Lion, and medicines should have been freely given. I would +have placed the diaphragm of a sheep on her chest, had her bled, and +administered theriaca of Venice; if that failed, there is bezoar." + +"Messer Ceci, you are as learned as a doctor yourself." + +"I have had experience, signore," he answered, as he rose to go. "Yes, +do I not know? The life of my poor wife was saved twice by this +treatment, and on the third occasion, if it were not for the poison +which originated internally within her, as Messer Maffeo stated in a +learned discourse he read to the Academy, she would have been saved +again. A good night, Signor Donati, and peace to dreams--remember, it +should have been as I said--either theriaca or bezoar--or both +combined--a good night!" + +He went out, and down the stairs, with the step of a young man, and I +marvelled at the contradictory nature, which could show the kindness +it had towards affliction, and at the same time coldly plan to remove +a fellow-creature from the world, as one removes a bud from a tree, +with a touch of the knife. But Ceci's words had also reminded me again +of Corte's need. I stood at the door listening until his footsteps +died away, and knew he was gone for the night. Then I pulled out my +purse, and looked at its contents; there were two gold crowns left, +and a few pauls. I hesitated for a little; but the need of the man +upstairs was greater than mine. Drawing off my boots so that there may +be no sound, I stole up softly, like a thief, and gained the landing +of Corte's room. The door was partly open, and I stood before it for a +short while, half afraid to enter. Plucking up heart, I crept in +gently. The dead girl lay with her hands crossed on her bosom, still +as if cut out of marble, and on her face was fixed a sad little smile. +Corte sat on a stool near the table; his head was buried between his +hands, and he had given way to silent despair. The dog lay asleep in a +corner. I meant to have proffered the gold I had with me, as a loan to +Corte; but I did not dare to address him in his grief. So placing the +coins quietly on the table in such a manner that when he raised his +head he must see them, I withdrew as noiselessly as I came, and +reached my room without attracting any attention. It was not until the +small hours of the morning that I sought my couch, for my mind kept +working on the thoughts which agitated me after witnessing the death +of Corte's daughter. At the same time, I was able to see that this +consideration of the suffering of others was of the greatest benefit +to me. It took me out of myself. It showed me that my own were not the +only sorrows in the world, and that there might yet be others who had +reached a deep of misery as far below that of Corte, as his was below +mine. This led me on to consider my own position, and I began to think +there was some mysterious power that was preventing me carrying out my +plan of reprisal against D'Entrangues. I had come to Florence red-hot +on his track. At our very first meeting he had won the hazard, and the +long illness that followed gave him chance to put a distance between +us; then my resources diminished whilst yet nothing was done; then +came the doubts as to whether I was justified in my action; and +finally, and not least, there was in me a haunting desire to see +Angiola, as I called her to myself, once again. I was pulled by +different strings. There was that I called conscience, urging me to +give up my schemes of revenge; there was the wild animal in me, +telling me to go on; there was a feeling towards a woman, which I had +honestly never experienced before, which, despite my struggles against +its apparently hopeless folly, was entirely overmastering me, until I +did not know which way to turn, and to escape from it all decided to +leave Florence at once; and then altered my mind again, when I thought +of the plot I wished to thwart, and determined to make a last effort +to do this, and, if possible, to see Angiola once more before I left. +At last I went to sleep, waking very late in the morning. So sound was +my slumber, that when I awoke I thought at first that the events of +the night were nothing more than a dream; but they soon forced +themselves on me in their reality, and the fact was emphasised, by the +sight of the odd pauls, which were now my all, lying on the table. I +gathered these up, and proceeded in search of Ceci to ask if he had +made any arrangements for the burial; but he was nowhere to be found; +and, as I could not bring myself to see Corte then, I resolved to +breakfast on fresh air, a diet which however wholesome, was, I found, +certainly not satisfying. I went to the Oricellari Gardens, which were +at that time the property of the Rucellai. Here, within the city +walls, one found a forest, and under the shade of the huge trees, a +more miserable being than myself could have spent pleasant hours, and +perhaps gained contentment of mind by observing the beauties of +nature. It was here that, after the death of Il Magnifico, the +Platonic Academy moved its sittings. But the gentlemen who composed it +discussed their philosophy with a good dinner, and even the +unfortunate who wishes to gain peace of mind in sylvan shades, should +have a full belt. This fact obtruded itself more and more strongly on +me, and I could obtain little relief by the expedient of tightening my +sword-belt by a hole or so. Therefore, in despair, I left the beauties +of nature to be so good as to look after themselves, and disbursed a +half-paul in something to eat; after which I felt able to face the +prospect of future starvation with a more serene mind. On return to my +lodging I found Ceci was not yet come back, and still thinking it +would be an intrusion to make inquiry after Corte, disposed of my time +by repairing my attire as best I might, and watching the pigeons on +the eaves of the roof opposite my window, with a little envy in my +heart at their simple happiness, and a doubt if, after all, man was so +fortunate in possessing a soul, and being cast after the image of his +Maker. If our faith is to be believed there is nothing for man but +heaven or hell, and perhaps the worst form of hell-torment would be to +be born again in the lowest form of a dumb brute, with the faculty of +fully appreciating all that the highest of mankind can. Picture to +oneself a Raphael, who has slipped into the abyss, and is sent back to +earth again, an obscene animal, with all the grasp of the beautiful he +had in life. I do not know any punishment that would be more cruel. +On the other hand, there has never appeared to me any definite +realisation of the joys of heaven. It is no doubt their vagueness that +is their charm. Be these things as they may, all speculation into the +future is useless, and I have found my comfort in a simple faith in +our religion, which has served me through this life, and will, I +trust, do the same office in the next. + +Thus reflecting, I passed the day quietly, and in the afternoon Ceci +came to tell me all was ready for the burial. He gave me to understand +that Corte had listened to reason in the matter of a priest, although +I never knew what arguments he had used to effect this. The funeral +was much as other pauper burials, and when it was over we walked back +together. On our return a man accosted Ceci, who, he said, was his +nephew, and they went off together on some business. Had I only known +what I was to be indebted to this gentleman for, shortly, I should +have observed him with greater attention. As it happened I gave him +but a passing glance, catching a glimpse of a pale face, with strong, +clear-cut features, and keen, bright eyes. Corte and I were now alone, +and, respecting his grief, I said no word, nor did he speak, as we +threaded our way back. Near St. Mark's, Corte suddenly seized my hand, +raised it to his lips, and then turning, fled down a side street and +was lost to view. I attempted to follow, fearing that sorrow had +totally unhinged his mind, already a little off its balance, and that +he would come to injury. My attempt however was without avail, and I +returned home to disprove the proverb which falsely says that he who +sleeps, dines. + +The next day I was again favoured with a visit from Ceci, and after +some allusion to the funeral, he once more broached the subject on +which he had sounded me before, and asked for a definite reply. I gave +it to him without hesitation. + +"Messer Ceci," I said, "whatever my condition may be, you are in error +if you think I am a bravo. In short your proposal is an insult, and +you owe it to my consideration for your years that I do not fling you +out of the room. I have promised you secrecy, and therefore cannot do +as I would, and that is, lay the matter before the Signory; but I tell +you plainly that if I can I will upset your plan, and now you had +better leave me." + +I had by this thrown everything into the fire; but it was not possible +to control myself longer. As for Ceci, he sat for a moment, his eyes +staring out of his head with rage, and his white beard fairly +bristling. He rose from his seat. + +"So, Signor' Donati, this is your answer, is it? Look to yourself, +most noble excellency, for those I serve have a long reach. There is, +however, another thing we have to settle before I go. I shall be +obliged by your paying me the sum of three crowns for rent, and other +services due to the excellent Messer Nobili." + +I was overcome with shame, for I had not the money. + +"You can take this furniture," I said, "it will pay my dues." + +Ceci smiled grimly. + +"I do not wish to be hard on you, and you know the punishment for +debt. I will take the furniture back for two pieces, although it has +deteriorated by wear and tear to the value of a florin, and you will +still owe one piece. See, signore," and he suddenly changed his tone, +"pocket your pride, as many a better man than you has done to fill his +purse. It is but a stroke of your sword we want, and here are ten gold +crowns." + +"Begone!" I cried in a rage, and starting up laid my hand on my sword. +Ceci instantly drew a dagger from his girdle and faced me with the +highest courage. We stood before each other for a second, and then +with a laugh he put back his poniard. + +"I will give you time," he said. "A whole week--and now leave you to +cool. Adieu, most noble excellency!" + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + THE MARZOCCO INN. + + +I tried every possible means I could think of to obtain employment, to +no avail, and, in the intervals of my fruitless search for work, +haunted the streets and gardens, with the hope of obtaining another +glimpse of Angiola, but without any success. Inch by inch my resources +diminished, until they became so small that a blind beggar would have +hardly thanked me for the gift of them. I lived in constant dread of +Ceci reappearing to demand the sum I owed for my rent, but he did not +come. He was evidently giving me time, starving me out to surrender to +his terms. I used to see him as I went in and out, sitting in his +office like a spider, yet he never even lifted his head as I passed. I +hated, almost feared, going by that door. Bitterly did I regret not +having left Florence when I was able. It was now impossible to do so, +unless as a defaulter, and the weight of that paltry debt oppressed +me, as if a cannon-ball were slung around my neck. I could not leave +until I paid it, and of doing this there seemed no prospect. I had +parted with my cloak for money to buy food, but the last copper of +that was gone, and I was now penniless. For two days I had not eaten +anything but a morsel of bread, and on the morning of the third day I +rose desperate with hunger, and prepared to go any lengths to satisfy +it. I ate my self-esteem and made another attempt to see La Palisse, +but was denied admittance, and when I came back I actually hesitated +before the door of Ceci's office, and almost made up my mind to yield, +and say I would do his business for him. It required an effort, so low +had I sunk, to rouse my pride. At last it flared up, and with a cheek +hot at my weakness, I sought my chamber and there passed the day. The +pigeons that lived under the eaves opposite my window, and to whose +soft cooing I so often listened with pleasure before, now aroused +other thoughts within me. If I could only lure one within reach! But +it was impossible, and I glared at them as they fluttered and flirted +with each other, with the hungry eyes of a cat baulked of her prey. At +last I gave it up, and with a curse flung myself on my bed. Fool that +I was! Five-and-thirty years should have brought me wisdom. I had +stayed on in Florence, allowed my chances of revenge to get more +distant, in fact, reached a stage of mind when I was doubtful if I +could rightly exact vengeance, drifted into abject poverty, and worse +than that, was continually thinking of a woman, who, when I had +rendered her a service, treated me with contempt, who had no doubt +forgotten me by this time, amidst her duties, if she had any, and her +pleasures, of which I doubt not she had store. So the evening came +amidst my reflections and self-reproaches, and, it being dusk, I +decided to go forth again, and snatch a purse, if necessary, to obtain +food. As I rose, an impulse I could not control made me unfasten my +money-belt, and search if by chance there was a coin within it. Of +course there was not a brown copper, but my fingers, in running up the +belt, touched something hard, and I pulled forth, attached to its tag +of red ribbon, my cross of St. Lazare, which, it will be remembered, I +had placed therein for safety the night I was imprisoned in the Villa +Accolti. I had clean forgot it in my troubles, and now it lay in my +open palm, with the diamonds in it winking in my face. My whole frame +trembled with excitement. Here was the means of freeing myself from +debt at once, and of obtaining funds to quit Florence, nay Europe. At +the lowest computation its worth could have been no less than forty +crowns, and this at present was wealth to me. What with the effects of +the want of food, and the sudden discovery of the cross, I began to +feel weak all over, and flinging the badge on the table, sank down +into a chair before it to compose myself. The room was almost dark, +and I sat staring at the jewels and at the diamonds on it, which +sparkled through the gloom. That little trinket was linked with the +one great event of my life. All the past came vividly before my +excited brain. I was again in that desperate retreat of Charles of +France up the valley of the Taro, with the army of the League in full +cry behind us. The old boar Trevulzio commanded the rear guard, +disputed every inch of the road, and now and again stood boldly at +bay, and gave a taste of his tusks to the Duke of Bari, and the fine +gentlemen of Venice. It was at this moment that Roderigo Gonsaga made +his dash for the heights above the junction of the Ceno and the Taro. +Trevulzio saw the movement; he was powerless to help, and knew that if +it succeeded all was lost. At the time I was at his bridle hand. + +"Ride for your life," he said, "and tell the king--that." He pointed +to the black line of the infantry of Spain moving towards the heights. +I was off at once, waiting no second bidding. + +I found Charles mounted on Savoy, his one-eyed black charger, one of +the finest horses I have ever seen. The king grasped the situation at +a glance. He gave a sharp order, closed his vizor with a snap, and in +five minutes, a thousand lances followed him down the long slope, up +which the Spaniards were advancing. It was an absolutely silent +charge. Not a cheer went up, and the only sound was the thunder of the +horses' hoofs, and the clink of mail as we sped on after the king. +Then there was a sullen crash, and a sea of struggling men and horses. +The veteran troops of the Great Captain maintained their high +reputation, fighting like dragons to the end. + +Charles, whose horse had carried him far in advance of us all, was in +great danger. His helmet had fallen or been struck off, and he was +recognised. Gonsaga, seeing all was lost, made a despairing rush at +the king with a half-dozen men at his back, and had it not been for +the way Savoy kicked and plunged, would have surely slain him. Urging +my horse to its utmost speed, I reached Charles just in time to ward +off a furious blow aimed by the Spaniard at the king, and fading full +tilt against him, brought down both horse and man. The next moment +others came up, and we were safe. Philip de Comines reproached the +king respectfully for running himself into peril; but Charles, wiping +his sword on the mane of his charger, said with a laugh: + +"All is well that ends well, my Lord of Argenton; but it is thanks to +this good sword here," and he turned to me, "that our cousin of +Orleans must exercise his patience yet a little longer. Come closer, +sir." + +I dismounted and approached helmet in hand. The king detached the +Cross of St. Lazare he wore, and bending from the saddle, slipped the +loop of the ribbon round my neck. + +"Wear this for the sake of France," he said with a gracious smile. + +And now the patience of Orleans had come to its end, and Louis XII. +was king, and of my hopes and dreams, all that remained was the cross +of the order blinking at me. + +It had to go, and there was no help for it. With an effort I rose and, +thrusting the cross into my pocket, hurried into the street. My way +led to the ward of San Spirito, and it took me some little time to +reach the place where I meant to dispose of the jewel. When I reached +it, I was so overcome with weakness that I had to halt for a moment to +rest. It was during that halt, that hesitation of a minute, that my +courage came back to me, and I pulled forth the cross and held it in +my cold fingers with a heart tossed by conflicting emotions. I could +not do it. Death would be preferable. Well, I had faced death before, +and there was no reason why I should not do so again with an equal +mind. The Arno was deep enough to hold me, and God would perhaps be +kinder in the next world than in this. I placed the cross back slowly, +my honour was still white, and death that was coming would give me a +full quittance for all my troubles. I turned my back on the +pawnbroker's, and went towards the Arno; but I had miscalculated my +strength, and near Santa Felicita I felt a sudden giddiness and sank +downwards on the pavement. I struggled to rise, but the faintness +increased, and dragging myself close to the wall I leaned against it +in a sitting posture, and a kind of stupor fell upon me, through which +I still felt the intolerable pangs of hunger. In a little time I felt +better, and as I saw the flash of torches, and heard voices in +laughing conversation, I made an effort to rise, gaining my feet just +as two ladies, with their attendants, came opposite to me, and then I +staggered back again. + +"Poor man! He is hurt." + +"I am starving," I said in the bitterness of my agony, and the next +moment could have killed myself, for I recognised the ladies whom I +had rescued from Luigi in the Garden of St. Michael. I had my desire +and had seen her again; but how? + +Madonna Angiola made a hurried search for her purse, and not finding +it, with a hasty movement tore something off a bracelet, and thrust it +into my hand. Before I could recover from my astonishment they had +gone on, and although I called after them, they did not stop. The +shame of having received charity, and from her, was all but +unbearable; but with it I felt the hand of hunger knocking at me in a +manner that would take no denial. My courage was gone, and urged by +the fierce pangs of my hunger, I resolved to utilise the gift, and +obtain some food to give me strength to die. I smile as I think of +this now. Then it was no laughing matter. I plucked myself up +sufficiently to go back to the pawnshop. Entering it, I placed the +article, which I judged to be a jewel, but which I had not even +examined, before the man in attendance, and asked for an advance +thereon. + +"It is one of the gold tari of Amain," he said, poising it on his +finger, "and of full weight. Do you wish to sell it?" + +"No," I replied, "I merely wish to pledge it." + +"I will give you two crowns," he pushed the money to me, and with it a +receipt. I gathered these up, and staggered rather than walked to the +Marzocco Inn, which lay hard by. There were half-a-dozen people +supping there; but I had no eyes for them, all I could think of was +the pasty, the roll of white bread, and the ruby Chianti, which I +ordered. It is a common belief, that those who have not eaten food for +any length of time, are unable to do so when it is placed before them +at first. Whether I am constitutionally stronger than the generality +of men, I do not know, all I can say is, that I formed an exception to +the rule, if a true one, and demolished my supper, gaining strength +with every mouthful, and feeling my chilled blood warmer with every +drop I drank of my goblet of wine, My courage came back to me, and I +banished all thoughts of the Arno. At last I was done, and leaning +back in my seat, viewed with complacency the huge orifice I had made +in a most excellent pasty, and the whiles slowly sipped my wine. That +feeling of sleepy comfort, which attends like a good angel on a full +meal, possessed me, my sorrows had for the moment taken themselves +off, and I grieve to say I did not even bestow a thought on her, to +whose charity I was indebted practically for my life. I sat for the +moment, lapped in a dreamy comfort, forgetful of all things. I dozed +for about half an hour, and opened my eyes with my head clear again, +and my pulse beating firmly. I had, somewhat recklessly, it is true, +enjoyed a crown's worth of happiness, there was another fat crown +still in my pouch; with care it would last some days, and during that +time luck might turn. With these thoughts running in my head, I let my +eyes wander over the room. It was now somewhat late, and only the +night-birds were left. Of these, a party of five was seated at a table +a little removed from me, and were conversing in low tones. It needed +but a glance to see they were not honest men, and from the suspicious +manner in which they looked around them, I gathered they were here for +no good purpose. One of the party rested his eyes on me, and then +whispered to a companion, who was seated with his face from me. I +caught the answer, which was given in somewhat loud tones. "Even if he +does, what does it matter? Cannot a few gentlemen enjoy a glass in +peace at their ordinary? If he gives trouble we can quiet him." + +Could it be? Yes, it was no other than the ancient Brico, who had, I +perceived, got out of the clutches of his friends, the catchpolls of +Montevarchi. I made certain, therefore, I would have business shortly, +and leaning back again, pretended to doze, keeping my ears very wide +open, and holding a watch on the scoundrels from the tail of my eye. + +"He tarries late," said one, "perhaps your information is wrong." + +"I have it from a sure hand, from the younger Ceci. Buonoccorsi and he +will both be here. The former, however, as you know, we do not want." + +I almost started at these words. Was it possible that I had stumbled +on the bravos who were engaged in Ceci's plot? If so, stranger thing +never happened to me, and chance was probably throwing in my way what +otherwise I would never have been able to discover. Even as the last +speaker finished his sentence, two persons, evidently of consequence, +and a woman entered the inn, and set themselves down at a table close +to mine. The men both wore masks, but the lady did not, and let her +glance run with a free look on us all. One of her two companions, a +very stout man, put down his mask, disclosing a jolly rubicund face, +and roared out for a flagon of wine. The other, still keeping his +features covered, engaged in lively badinage with his fair friend, and +as he moved his hand slightly, I caught the flash of a valuable ring. + +The five at the table all had their heads together now, and I saw the +one nearest to me stealthily draw his sword. With an apparently +careless movement I so placed my own weapon as to be at hand on the +moment. Presently Brico arose, and swaggering across the room with a +glass in his hand, deliberately stopped before the lady, and drained +it to her health. She laughed back her appreciation, and Brico called +out, "Blood of a King! Madonna, but you waste yourself with His +Corpulence there," and he jerked his hand towards the stout man, who +sat speechless, his cheeks purple with rage. "Come and join us good +fellows here," he added, and attempted to pass his arm around her +waist; but the masked stranger flashed out his rapier, and Brico +only escaped being skewered by an agile retreat. This was, however, +the signal for an instant assault, and with a shout of "A +Medici--_palle_--_palle_," those at the table rushed on the smaller +party. As they rose, I jumped up, and pushed my table with great +violence in their direction. Two of the men fell over it, and this +gave me time to draw my sword and join the weaker party. The lady +rushed out with a scream, and the stout gentleman bellowing lustily +for help followed suit, and made his exit, no attempt being made to +hinder him, the attack being solely directed against the masked man, +who with his back to the wall, and the table between himself and his +assailants, defended himself with great spirit and skill. + +Slashing one of the ruffians across the face, which put him out of the +fight, I ranged alongside of the stranger, and a very pretty set-to +ensued. At this juncture the innkeeper entered with half-a-dozen +others, and kept dancing about, adjuring us to stop, but offering no +help. I made for Brico, but could not reach him, having to engage with +a better swordsman than I had met for many a day; but I saw we were +now three to two, for the ancient was more bent on executing +flourishes with his sword, and in cheering on the attack, than on real +business. My opponent was a left-handed man, so anything like a +time-thrust was out of the question. He played the usual game of +left-handed men, namely, a cut over, and disengagement in tierce, but +remising, I forced him to a straight riposte, and pinked him through +the ribs. He fell with a howl, just as my companion ran his man +through. We were now two to two, if Brico was included, but the others +waited for no more and fled, no attempt being made to stay them by the +host. The innkeeper, however, began to make a great to-do; but the +stranger thrust his purse in his hand, and lifting his mask spoke a +few words in mine host's ear. The effect was magical, and the padrone +was now all civility. We had a look at the two men who were down, the +one who was slashed across the face being nowhere to be seen. They +were both quite dead, and an ill-looking pair of corpses did they +make. + +"Have these carrion removed, padrone--and beware how you say a word of +what has happened, signore," and the masked man held his hand out to +me, "I thank you heartily, and you will find I have a long memory. Do +me the favour to accompany me to my house." + +I had no reason to refuse, and bowing my acknowledgments, we left the +inn. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI. + + +As we reached the street, I expressed the hope that the lady and her +stout companion were in safety. The stranger laughed: "Oh, +Buonoccorsi, he and La Sirani are no doubt shivering in security by +this time; but let us hasten, for although we have barely more than a +couple of cross-bow shots to go, our bravos may return and have better +luck. St. John! but it was a narrow affair." + +Our way led back by Santa Felicita, past the Ponte Vecchio, and at +length we came to a halt before a small side door, let into, what +seemed to me, nothing but a vast blank wall. My new friend opened this +door noiselessly, with a key he drew from his pocket, and invited me +to enter. Pleading ignorance of the way, however, I gave him the pass, +and followed him up a narrow and very dark stairway, which opened into +a long gallery, likewise in semidarkness. Up this gallery we went, +then there was another small passage, and lifting a curtain at the end +of this, we stepped past an open door into a large room, evidently a +study, for it was filled with books all but the side near the passage, +which was covered by a heavy tapestry. In the middle of the room was a +large table, littered with papers in much confusion, and eight tall +candles burning in a pair of grotesque candelabra, threw a bright but +soft light over the chamber. + +"Sit you down there," said my host, pointing to a chair, "and we will +have something to drink. _Diavolo!_ You are wounded! Why did you not +say?" + +I looked at my left arm, and sure enough the coat-sleeve was red, with +an enlargening patch. It was only a trifle, however, as we found on +examination; but my companion, who still kept his mask on, insisted on +bandaging it, which he did with deft fingers, and then turning to a +curiously inlaid cabinet let into the wall, brought thenceforth a +flagon of green crystal and two long-stemmed Venetian glasses. + +Whilst he was thus engaged my eyes rested on a book on the table, and +I saw at a glance that it was the copy of Plutarch's Lives which Ceci +had lent me on payment, so that it was most probable that I was in the +presence of the noble, against whom the Medici plot was directed, and +in whose library the intendant's nephew was employed, partly I guessed +as a spy. My hand was on the book as my host placed the glasses on the +table, and observing the movement, he said with a smile: + +"I see, Signore, you not only carry a sharp sword; but know a book as +well." + +"As for books, Signore," I answered, "I know but little of them. This +one, however, I thought I had seen before." + +"Indeed," he said, "that is odd, for I believe this is the only +rendering of Plutarch into Italian which is in existence. Strange, +too, as for over a week I could not find it anywhere." + +"Very," I answered shortly, and my host, pouring out a glass for me, +helped himself, and settling comfortably in a chair opposite to me, +slowly removed his mask and laid it aside. I saw before me, a man in +the prime of life, of middle height and slender figure, with however a +great dignity of carriage. His head, covered with short dark hair, was +small, but well-shaped, his dark eyes sparkled with intelligence, and +a slightly aquiline nose curved over a pair of thin, sarcastic lips, +which were however now smiling at me with as much good-humour as they +could express. + +"Books," he said, "are the delight of my life, without them all would +be stale. Here," and he held up a volume, "is a priceless treasure. It +is a manuscript copy of Cicero's De Gloria. I obtained it from my +friend, poor Angelo Poliziano." + +"I am afraid," I said, "I could only look at it, for I have not +studied the ancients." + +He laid down the book: "Of a truth, men were giants in those days--but +hark! That is too loud for a rat." At this moment we heard a distinct +rustling behind the tapestry, which hung on one side of the wall. My +host sprang up, and with his drawn rapier in his hand, lifted the +arras. I followed him; but we observed nothing but a door, which was +concealed behind the curtain. "This is a private door leading to the +corridor, and confound it--it is open. How the devil did this happen? +However, this will make things sure." He turned the key which was in +the lock, and removing it, placed it carefully aside in a drawer, and +his face was shaded a little with anxiety. This however he brushed off +like a fly, and resuming our seats, he poured out some more wine for +both of us, and said: + +"Signore, now that I observe you closely, it appears to me that your +sword, good as it is, has not helped you to fill your purse." + +"It was able to save your life, Messer--I know not your name," I +answered with a little heat, and rose as if to take my leave. He +laughed cheerfully, and putting his hand on my shoulder, pressed me +back into my chair. + +"Sit down, signore, I meant no offence, and my name is Niccolo +Machiavelli. Will you give me yours in return?" + +I was then before the Secretary of the Council of Ten, the crafty +politician who at that time held Florence in his hand, and with whose +name all Italy was full. I now understood Ceci's plot at once, but the +question was, should I give my right name? Sooner or later the +Secretary would find out, and I accordingly answered him as honestly +as possible. + +"I pass under the name of Donati, your excellency, will that do?" + +He leaned back reflectively. "I like confidence when I give it," he +said, "and yet perhaps it does not matter. You had no idea who I was +when you helped me?" he added with a quick look. + +"Not in the slightest." I did not feel justified in adding more. + +"Well, Signore Donati, I have work for which I want a brave man, and +if you care to accept it, I offer it to you." + +"Your excellency, I will plainly say that I hardly know where to turn +for employment, in fact, I am in such straits that I cannot afford to +look for a hair in any egg that may fall my way; at the same time your +business must be such as I can take with honour." + +"With honour of course," he smiled sarcastically, and then added, "I +suppose I can trust you?" + +"You need not give me the employment, signore, if you do not think you +can trust me--and pardon me--it is getting late." + +"Sit down, man, I did but try you, and you are the man I want. Where +do you lodge?" + +"In the Albizzi Palace, in the street di Pucci." + +"Could you leave Florence at a moment's notice?" + +"It is a matter of funds." + +"They will be provided." + +"Then, yes." + +"Enough! To-morrow a man will call on you, precisely at noontide, with +a letter. I want that letter delivered into the hands of the Cardinal +of Rouen at Rome. It is a secret matter, and if you fail in it you may +forfeit your life. If you succeed, his eminence will give you further +occupation. Do you accept?" + +"Yes." + +As I said this we again heard the creaking noise, and Machiavelli +jumped up as agilely as a panther, and sprung to the door behind the +arras. It was open; but no one was there. + +"_Maldetto!_" he exclaimed. "Signore, there are spies in my own +house--help me to tear down this tapestry." + +I did so, and in a few minutes we laid bare the side of the room, and +piled the tapestry in a heap against a bookshelf. + +"That is better," Machiavelli said, "you see--the spy, whoever he is, +must have a master key. There is no use going into the passage after +him; but for the present I fancy we are safe. I must have a bolt put +on and keep a watch. To resume business however. You say you accept, +and only need funds." + +"Exactly so." + +He pulled from a drawer a bag, which chinked with a pleasant sound to +my ears. + +"Here," he said, "are a hundred crowns. It is your fee for the task I +set you." + +"It is ample." + +"And now, Messer--Donati--farewell! You will always find a friend in +me. You know your way--I have left the side door open--and bear a +loose sword." + +"A word, your excellency." + +"Say on." + +"Prom what has happened to-night, I see plainly that the plotters +against your life have friends very near you. If they failed this time +they may not fail again. One of the men who made the attack to-night I +recognised. He is called Brico, formerly an ancient, perhaps still so, +in the army of Tremouille." + +"I will attend to the Signor Brico." + +"Yet a little more. If your excellency's movements are known it is +probably from within your own house. I would keep an eye on your +library scribe." + +"_Per Bacco!_ Signor Donati, but you know too much. I am more and more +your debtor." + +"The hundred crowns have repaid me," I replied as I took my departure, +having said all I dared say of the plot without breaking my pledge of +secrecy to Ceci. + +Now it happened that as I gained the corridor, I saw in the dim light +a figure retreating hastily before me; but with noiseless footsteps, +and having in mind the strange attempt to play the spy on us, I made +no doubt but that here was the culprit, and followed up. I saw the +figure turn at the end of the corridor and enter another gallery, then +another, and yet another, finally vanishing as it were against the +wall. Owing to my not knowing the way properly, and to the semi-gloom, +I was unable to follow fast enough to overtake the spy, who flitted +before me like a ghost, but in a very human hurry. When at length I +came up to the wall, I looked to see if there was a door of any kind; +but could discern nothing, and was so astonished that for a moment I +felt a little chilled, thinking that it may have been a spirit after +all. Fortifying myself, however, with the thought that if it was a +spirit, it seemed in no way anxious to meet me, I went to a closer +examination, and saw by the moonlight that I was before a door, +painted in exact imitation of the marble wall. This settled my doubts, +and putting my shoulder to it, I made a trial, with all my strength, +to force the passage, but in vain. I therefore gave up the matter, and +turned to find my way back. This was, however, easier said than done. +I could not find the gallery I wanted, and after groping about +hopelessly for a little time, thought that I had best give a shout, +which would no doubt summon some one to my aid. I was just about to +carry this into execution, when, on further reflection, it struck me +that I might be landed in other difficulties thereby, and that I might +make another try to free myself, without bringing the house about my +ears, and perhaps compromising the secretary, who had, I saw, an +active and enterprising enemy under his own roof. So I stilled my +tongue and made further exploration, with the result that I found +myself before a stairway, that led to the floor below me, and +determined to see where this would take me. Accordingly I descended as +softly as possible, and arrived in a few steps at a small landing, +covered by a carpet so thick, that I felt as if I was treading on the +softest of moss. At the end of the landing, and opposite to me, was a +half-opened door, the room inside being in light. Stepping noiselessly +up to the door I peered in, and saw a chamber furnished with the +utmost luxury, and apparently just vacated by its occupants. In a +corner of the room stood a harp, lying on a table close to a low +luxurious seat were some articles of dainty feminine embroidery; soft +silken curtains shrouded the walls, and the ceiling was painted, +apparently with some representation of the history of the house. A +white marble figure of Cupid held out at arm's length a lamp, whose +opal shade softened its bright light; and on a gilded triangle, set in +an alcove, swung a blue and scarlet macaw--a rare Eastern bird--who, +with his head tucked under his wing, slept in a position which would +be intolerable torture to any other created thing except a bird. It +was clear that I had invaded the private sitting-room of the ladies, +or lady of the household; and I was about to beat a hasty retreat, +when the screen of an inner room was swung aside, and I saw before me +my two unknowns of the Garden of St. Michael, and the giver of the +tari which had saved me from death. It was too late to go back now, as +the sound of my feet on the marble stairs would certainly reach, and +perhaps alarm them, tread I ever so softly; so I resolved to stay +where I was until they retired again, and then go back. This I judged +would be very shortly as it was late. I had not however sufficient +experience then, of the lengths to which those nocturnal confidences, +in which the fair sex indulge with each other, extend. In the meantime +I could not but admire the graceful figures before me, and especially +of her, who had given me the tari. Clad in a soft clinging robe, +clasped by a jewel at her throat, and a silver girdle round her waist, +with her pale proud features set in a mass of dark hair, she seemed to +me an embodiment of pure womanhood, and I thought how lucky the man +would be who could have such a companion to help him through life. I +guessed also that the other was the wife of Machiavelli, being aided +thereto by her statement, when I drove Luigi off, that her husband was +one who could help me much. At the same time I could not but feel some +pity in my heart for her, when I thought she was wedded to a man of a +character so contradictory as that of the Secretary, who could leave a +fair wife for the sake of indulging in low dissipation, and come back +after a narrow escape with his life, to bury himself in matters of +state, or in the perusal of the ancients. However there was no sign of +sorrow on her fair and mirthful face, as with all the teasing nature +of a kitten, she walked up to the macaw and stirred him up with her +white fingers, an attention he did not appear to relish, for he +ruffled his plume, and let forth an ear-piercing shriek. + +"Heavens!" she laughed, "how that bird screams! He is almost as cross +as you, Angiola." + +"Thanks," replied the other; "I do sympathise with the bird though, +for you never leave off teasing. It is enough to make a saint cross, +Marietta." + +"Well, I won't tease any more," and Marietta put her hand on her +friend's shoulder. "I am sure though it was he, and I will have that +last word." + +I wondered to whom the reference was made, as Angiola replied: "I +really do not care if it was; but there is a draught, and I must shut +this door." + +She came up so quickly that there was no time to retreat, and in a +moment I was discovered. + +She gave a little cry, and stepped back. + +"Who are you, sir? How dare you----!" + +I saw that the other was going to scream out, and burst forth: "Madam, +I implore you to be still. There is absolutely no danger. I have had +business with his excellency, and missed my way. Pardon the +intrusion," and I stood with my cap in my hand. + +"Well, sir," said the Lady Angiola, "as you have found out that you +have missed your way, had you not better turn back?" + +"Why, Angiola, it is the gentleman who rescued us in the gardens!" +called out Madonna Marietta, with a sudden recognition. + +"Who looks as if he were here now, to make up for it by cutting our +throats. According to you he should have been dying of starvation at +Santa Felicita." + +"Madam," I cut in, "I wish I had died of starvation rather than heard +this. I will however restore what I have received. If you can only +show me the way out of this house I shall be grateful, and I again +seek pardon for disturbing you." + +"I suppose you are speaking the truth. Come, give me that candle, +Marietta." + +The other handed her a candlestick, and refusing my proffer to bear +it, and with a curt request to walk in front, she directed and led me +along the interminable galleries until I recognised the corridor from +which I entered. I was again about to thank her, but she simply +pointed to the door. + +"Your way lies there, sir." + +I opened the door and stepped on to the stairway without another word. +In shutting the door behind me I glanced once more in her direction. +She was already on her way back, the single candle throwing its soft +light on her loose robes and graceful figure. + +I made my way down the stairs, at the end realising the sensation of +suddenly finding my foot meet the ground after the last step. I +thought there was yet another and was brought up with a nasty jerk. +Stepping out softly into the street, and holding my drawn sword in my +hand, I hurried towards my abode. When I had gone about fifty paces, I +heard the sound of a door opening and shutting behind me, but thinking +it was the wind playing with the door I had left unlocked, having no +key, I took no notice, and went on; but soon became aware I was being +followed. I stopped therefore, and deliberately faced round. The +footsteps behind me instantly ceased, and I could make out through the +moonlight, the shadowy figure of a man, stooping as if to search for +something. This was of course nothing but a pretence, and I had half a +mind to go back and question him. Reflecting, however, that it would +be wiser to avoid any further adventures for the night, and that after +all it was but one man, I went on, and my pursuer did likewise, but at +a greater distance than before, until finally apparently gave the +matter up seeing I was on my guard. Crossing the square of Santa +Felicita, however, I saw some one running swiftly a little ahead of +me, and then disappear behind the shelter of the small casino of the +Medici which stood there. I felt sure it was my shadower. He had +passed me by some short cut, and was now probably intending to bring +matters to a head. Keeping well in the middle of the road I went on, +and to my surprise saw nothing, but in a short time again became +conscious that I was dogged, and dropping into an artifice quickened +my pace to a run. The sound of rapid footsteps behind me, showed that +my curious friend was doing likewise, and not to deprive him of the +exercise, I kept up the pace, until we reached the street di Pucci and +were close to my lodging. Here I faced about and ran back full speed +at my pursuer, feeling sure that the burst I had given him would try +all his speed to get away. He so little calculated on my change of +front, that he ran on about twenty yards, before realising what was +the matter. Then he turned round and was about to make off, when I +reached him, and driving him against the wall held him there, with the +point of my sword at his breast. Imagine my surprise on seeing before +me the young man with whom Ceci had gone away on our return from the +funeral of Corte's daughter. He was doubtless also the spy of the +evening, and now, with a face white with either terror or anger +crouched against the wall, holding a dagger in his hand; but any +attempt to use it would have been useless. + +"Well," I said, "have you had enough of this?" and I emphasised the +question with a sharp prick. + +"Mercy!" he called out, thinking his last hour come, and scrabbled on +to the pavement. + +"Be off with you then!" I said, and assisted his departure with a +hearty kick as he rose. He needed no second bidding, but made off at a +good pace. + +When his figure mingled up with the haze, and was lost to view, I +proceeded on my way wondering a little at the incident. I could not +help connecting it with the affair in the Secretary's room--the man I +had chased up the endless galleries of his house, and the attempt at +murder in the Marzocco Inn. Why was I followed? I could not make this +out; but thankful that I had escaped with a whole skin, climbed up the +winding stairway of the tower which led to my chamber. Carefully +shutting the door, I lit my candle, and emptied out the contents of +the bag I had received from Machiavelli on to my bed so that the coins +might make no sound. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + THE LETTER TO D'AMBOISE. + + +I could have thrown my cap over the housetops, I could have shouted +for joy, as I saw the coins spread out before me. I stooped over them, +holding the candle aloft in one hand, whilst I ran the fingers of the +other through the clinking metal. There they lay! broad, shining +pieces of silver, flecked, here and again, with the mellower light of +gold. At one stroke, when my luck was apparently at its lowest ebb, it +had turned again, and was coming up in high tide. Not only this, I was +to go to Rome, the very place of all others where I was likely to meet +D'Entrangues; and I breathed an impious prayer, that good angels might +see he came to no hurt until we met, and even as I prayed the vision +of that dying woman who forgave with her last breath, came before me. +My hand shook so that I could barely hold the candle, and turning +away, I placed it on the table and went up to my window. Midnight was +long past and we were touching the morning. The only sound that broke +the stillness was the distant clang of the martinello, keeping up its +insistent beat; but the wind was from me, and the chime came softened +to my ears. Already the east was whitening, and the moon was sinking +to rest. All the old half-formed resolutions I had made, to let my +enemy's crime pass, to leave vengeance in the hands of God, came up +and fought with the fierce desire that the apparent opportunity of +meeting D'Entrangues again, had fanned into life. What had not that +man done to me? How could I forgive? We are all not framed in the same +way. A tender woman might condone what man would never pass over. Why +should I not be the instrument of God's punishment on that man? +Without Him nothing was possible, and if I succeeded in killing +D'Entrangues would it not mean that the deed had his sanction? On the +other hand, there were the words of Savonarola's text, and the +forgiveness I had seen with mine own eyes. Tossed by doubt, now +resolved, now wavering--at one time certain I was right to be my own +law, at another encompassed by a terrible fear of sin--I did what all +men have to do at some time or other: I sank down on my knees, and +wrestled with the temptation. I do not know what words of prayer I +used, or how long I was there; but I can say this, that when I rose, +my mind was at rest, and I had won a fight with myself. I would leave +D'Entrangues to the justice of God. And for my honour? I would win it +back again, not in distant lands, but here--here, where it was taken +from me, and then--what a fool I was! When my shield was white once +more, I would sheathe my sword, rebuild our old castle in the Sabine +Hills, and there, perhaps--oh! I dreamed mad things when that peace +fell upon me. But there was such a prosaic matter as sleep, and I had +work for the morrow, so I pulled myself together, and with a mind more +comfortable than for many a day, swept the coins into the bag, saw +again to the fastening of the door, and, seeking my bed, slept a +dreamful sleep until aroused by the cooing of my friends the pigeons. +It was with a very different air that I went down the stairs that +morning, and I realised, from contrast, how brave a heart a full purse +can make. I meant to have paid Ceci at once, but he was not in his +office, so I breakfasted in a leisurely manner, at the sign of the +Double Florin and then returned. + +As soon as I reached the Albizzi Palace, I went straight to Ceci's +office, and found him engaged in conversation with a man. The latter +started when he saw me, and hurriedly took his departure; but not +before I recognised in him Ceci's nephew, and my shadow of last night. +He gave me no friendly look as he went out; perhaps he was sore with +the memory of the end of my boot, and I had a mind to give him the +day, but prudently held my tongue between my teeth. Ceci was looking +much disturbed and annoyed, and I laughed secretly to myself as I +thought that, after all, I had been the instrument of upsetting the +political plot to murder, in which the old conspirator had a share. + +"A good day to you, Messer Ceci," I said. "I have come to settle my +account." + +"It is of long standing," he replied, somewhat brusquely; but I was +not going to lose my temper, as I had things to find out. + +"All the more pleasure in receiving it," and placing a couple of gold +pieces on the table, I received my quittance and change. + +"Messer Ceci," I went on, "I leave Florence to-day and there has been +ill blood between us--your making entirely. I cannot forget, however, +that when I was ill you helped me much, and that in other ways you +were kind. Let us part friends--and, Messer Ceci, you are old. I would +advise you to let matters of state alone." + +He looked at me, and the corners of his mouth hardened, as he said, +"Leave me and my age alone, Messer Donati. If it was not for you, +there would have been a deed done last night at which all Florence +would have rung again." + +"So your precious nephew brought the news to you this morning?" I +answered with a question, hazarding a shot. + +Ceci remained silent, and drawing my conclusions, I went on, "Had what +you plotted succeeded, you would have been in a fair way to taste the +arms of the rack. Even now you are not safe. You see, Ceci, I know too +much, and it would be wise to be civil." + +"Not safe," and he laughed scornfully--"who says I am not safe?" + +"I do--remember the Secretary has long arms." + +"There are others who have longer, Messer Donati, and a dead tongue +can tell no tales." + +"I take your warning," I replied, and, turning on my heel, sought my +chamber to await Machiavelli's messenger. I could not help thinking I +had been wise to force the conversation with the intendant as I had +done, and was sure, now that Ceci and the other conspirators were +aware who had spoiled their soup, they would devote a little attention +to me. It behooved me therefore to wear a loose sword for the future, +and look well into corners before I passed them. I was not sure +moreover whether I should still consider myself bound by my promise of +secrecy, now that I had been as much as told that the conspirators +were likely to include me in their plans, and turn their knives on me. +I could well see that the Secretary would not be able to retaliate by +the open process of the law, against the attack made on him, +considering the circumstances under which it took place. That he would +do so, however, under the mask, I felt sure, and he had received +sufficient warning. Whilst thus reflecting I heard the gong in the +yard below me strike twelve, and shortly after heavy steps ascended +the stairs, with the sound of much puffing and blowing. The new +arrival stopped at my landing, and knocked firmly at my door. Thinking +it best to be careful, I unsheathed my sword, and letting down the +bolt, stepped back a pace before I called out, "Come in." The door +opened, and in walked my stout friend, who had retreated so rapidly +from the bravos at the Marzocco. + +"Messer Donati?" he said with an inquiring look. + +"The same," I bowed, and offered him a chair. + +"The devil!" he exclaimed, sinking into it, "but it is like an ascent +to heaven for a sinner to reach you," and he mopped his face with a +large handkerchief, "that curmudgeon downstairs, the intendant, flatly +refused to inform me where you were, until I mentioned I came from the +Secretary." + +"You mentioned that!" + +"Yes--or _diavolo!_--how was I to find you? Let me tell you, sir, your +consequence was much increased thereby," he puffed rather than spoke. + +"I do not doubt it," and I marvelled at Machiavelli having selected +this garrulous fool to be the bearer of his letter. + +Subsequently I discovered that the Secretary did this deliberately, in +order, if complications arose, to be able to deny that he had any hand +in a transaction, in which an obscure soldier like myself, and a +notorious old scamp like Buonoccorsi had borne part. In fact he very +often adopted an artifice such as this, namely first sending public +despatches solemnly by a known official of state, and following them +up at once by a secret letter, which either confirmed them, or put +quite a different complexion on their meaning; taking care to choose +his messengers in such a manner that he would have nothing to fear +from failure of theirs. + +"I have come with a letter for you," Buonoccorsi continued, and +pulling from a breast pocket a sealed but unaddressed packet, he +handed it to me. "His excellency," he said, "tells me you know what to +do with this." + +"I do," I gave answer, and examining the seals carefully, put the +letter in the pocket of a vest, which I wore under my buff-coat. + +"Then that is done," he replied, "and now, signore, have you anything +to drink--my throat is like a limekiln?" + +"I am sorry I have not, but if you will accompany me to the Marzocco." + +"The Marzocco! Blood of St. John! No more Marzoccos for me," he burst +in, as the red went out of his cheek at the very thought of last +night's affair. "Man alive! if Florence only knew what happened last +night, the whole place would be in an uproar. It was lucky for +the Secretary that you came to his aid, as I had to protect La +Sirani--ladies first, you know--and could not help his excellency in +any way." + +"I see," I replied. + +"Oh!" he went on, "there were three others in the street, but +_presto!_ I disarmed one, pinked another, and the third would have met +a like fate, had not La Sirani hung on my arm in her fright, so he +made off. I would have pursued, but, hampered with the lady, what +could I do?" + +"And is not Florence to know what happened last night?" I asked. + +He winked his eye, and replied-- + +"Between you and me, Messer Donati, I think not. You see the Secretary +has a fair wife, and they say Madonna Marietta possesses a tongue as +well as beauty. Apart from this, you must be aware, as a man of the +world----" + +"Quite so," and I rose with a smile, "but you must allow me to see +that you cool that lime-kiln of yours. I am only sorry I must ask you +to come a little way with me." + +"Oh! I would go a long way for a can, Signor Donati, and will drink +one gladly to your health." + +So saying he got up, and we went down and out into the street. I took +him to my ordinary, "The Double Florin," and he took a long time in +quenching his thirst. When at last he had done, he wished me good day, +and we parted, not deeming it desirable to be seen too much together +in the streets, and besides I had much to do to get off by the +evening. I made up my mind to recover the gold tari I had pledged, and +after that to buy a horse and quit Florence at once. The tari itself I +should have liked to have returned, as I had promised, or rather said +in my anger last night that I would; but I could see no way of doing +this without attracting too much attention. On my way to the +pawnbroker's I kept my eyes well open, and caught a glimpse of the +library scribe, walking on the other side of the road, engaged in +conversation with a man, who, despite his common dress, had an air of +rank. The latter parted from Ceci's nephew almost as soon as I saw +them, and the scribe kept on in my direction. I saw he was again +following me, and regretted the mercy I had shown last night, +resolving, if opportunity afforded again, to quiet his curiosity for +some time to come. I duly redeemed the tari, somewhat to the surprise +of the pawnbroker, whose pledges did not as a rule pass so swiftly +back into the hands of their rightful owners. On coming out of the +shop, my follower was nowhere to be seen at first; but he soon +appeared, always keeping on the opposite side of the road. I resolved +not to go back to my lodging, but to quit Florence the moment I had +secured my horse. It was necessary however to provide some change of +attire. I did not intend to substitute a steel corslet for my +buff-coat, having a mind to fight my way back to fortune with no +defence but that over my heart, and contented myself with purchasing a +light steel helmet, a pair of stout riding-boots, a cloak, and some +other articles which could go into a small valise, capable of being +fastened on to the back of a saddle. These I left at the vendor's, +promising to call for them in an hour or so, and hurried towards the +horse market, my shadow still keeping behind me, in his accustomed +place. Opposite the Baptistry I heard, to my surprise, some one +shouting my name, and looking in that direction, saw a man running +across the pavement towards me. I recognised at once one of my lances, +Jacopo Jacopi, a Lucchese, whom I had every reason to believe devoted +to me. He had served with me at Fornovo and after; and although he +subsequently left me for a little time, on my joining the Venetian +fleet against the Turks, he returned to my banner once more, when it +was spread on firm ground, and had always proved a devoted follower. +He came now to me with joy on his face, shouting out, "Ah, excellency! +It is I, who am a glad man to see you." + +"Jacopi," I exclaimed, "but my name is no longer Savelli. It is Donati +now--and what do you here?" + +He looked a trifle embarrassed, as he replied, "I am seeking +service--I left the army when your excellency left." + +Knowing the man to be a stout soldier, I decided on the instant what +to do. + +"See here," I said, "I have no time to lose. Will you follow me once +more? I am bound to Rome on an urgent affair, and leave to-day." + +"Will a dog sniff at a bone? Will a cat pass by cream? Will an ass +turn up his nose at a carrot? I will follow to the devil, let alone +Rome, excellency, and at once if you will." + +"Have you a horse?" + +"Nothing, signore, but an arquebus and my sword, which I have at my +lodging." + +"Then come with me, we must buy two horses, and leave at once." + +"I am ready, your worship," and taking his place a little behind me we +hurried on. + +"We will have a hard task to get at Rome, now that the whole country +is up, signore," said Jacopo as we walked along. + +"I have thought of that," I answered, "I propose to go by Leghorn, and +taking ship there, proceed to Rome by sea." + +Jacopo gave such a groan at this, that I turned round in surprise, and +became at once aware that my shadower had crossed the road, and come +so close up to us that he must have overheard every word of our +conversation. This was most annoying, and a disaster of which the +future consequences might be most serious. I determined however to be +rid of him for the rest of my stay in Florence at any rate, and +addressed him sharply-- + +"Signore, I seem to have excited much curiosity in you. May I ask what +it is you want?" + +He stood for a moment, at a loss for reply, and then said, "The road +is as free to me as to you." + +"I admit that," I said; "but I object to your stopping to listen to my +conversation, and therefore will be obliged by your passing on, unless +you want a more severe punishment than you received last night." + +He turned pale with anger, and slipped his hand into his vest; but as +suddenly pulled it out again, and without another word hurried past +us. + +"Mark that man, Jacopo;" I said, "wherever he is, there is danger for +us." + +"Your excellency has only to say the word," and Jacopo put his hand to +his belt. + +"Not so, my friend. Florence is not a safe place for a man to use his +dagger in broad daylight, unless covered by the cloak of a great man. +Besides it is not to my taste. Merely keep your eyes open, and if you +see him anywhere, tell me at once." + +"It shall be so," he answered; "but who would inquire about a mere +citizen like that?" + +"Never mind, Jacopo; rest assured I know what I am about, and now tell +me some news of the army." + +"The duke is in full march on Perugia, and means to drive Cesare +thence. The whole country is awake, as you know. The general, Ives +d'Alegres, is come on a mission to Florence." + +"Ives d'Alegres here!" + +"Yes, excellency, and the Lord of Bayard has hurried to Rome." + +"Then this means something that I cannot follow." + +"Nor can I explain, excellency." + +"And tell me, has the Duchesse de la Tremouille gone back to France?" + +"Yes, by sea from Leghorn, with a great train of ladies, just before +war was declared again. It is said she has gone to the court of the +king at Maçon, and the escort was commanded by the Count Carlo +Visconti." + +"Do you know any who went with her?" + +"Nearly all the ladies who were at Arezzo, for the duke, it is said, +would have none of them, now that war was begun again." + +I had to come to the question direct, "Was Madame d'Entrangues in the +train of the duchess?" + +"I am sure of that, excellency. I was with them as far as Siena, when +I took my leave." + +So she had gone, and I felt a relief at the news. Once in France, she +would be safe with her family, and I was honestly glad she was out of +the dangers of the time. + +We now reached the horse market, and with some search discovered two +likely-looking animals, whose price was within the measure of my +purse. I could not afford to pick and choose to any great extent, but +for forty crowns became the owner--after a little trial, which showed +they were as sound as I could see--of two nags, one a bay, and the +other a russet, with an off foot white above the pastern, an unlucky +colour, and the white marking denoted devilty. But he was a +shrewd-looking beast, and I kept him for myself, giving the bay to +Jacopo. Having paid on the spot for these, together with the necessary +saddlery, we rode to the shop where I had left my purchases, and +collected them. It was here that the idea struck me that there was an +opportunity to keep my word, and return her gift to Madonna Angiola; +therefore asking messer the shopkeeper for sealing-wax and some +parchment, which he willingly supplied on a small payment, I carefully +folded up the tari, and sealed up the packet. Taking it in my hand, I +went out to Jacopo, who was holding the horses, and said-- + +"See here, Jacopo. Take this packet to the house of the secretary +Machiavelli. It lies in the ward San Spirito, near Santa Felicita, and +cannot be missed. Deliver it into the hands of the Lady Angiola, say +nothing, and come away. There is no reply needed, you follow?" + +"Excellency." + +"Right. Then after doing this you may dine, collect your arms, and +meet me in an hour and a-half at the San Frediano Gate. And you might +as well bring a feed for the horses with you. Stay, here are two +crowns." + +"It shall be done, your worship. I know the Secretary's house, and the +rest is simple." + +He mounted his horse, and trotted off; and reflecting that a chaffinch +in a cage is better than a mavis in a bush, and that I might as well +dine now whilst I had the chance, I swung myself into the saddle, and +proceeded at a smart pace towards the Double Florin. + +I had to cross the piazza of the Signory on my way there, and whilst +doing so came face to face with a riding party. It was composed of +several ladies and gentlemen, and amongst them was Machiavelli, who +glanced at me with a friendly twinkle in his eye, and gave me an +imperceptible nod of approval. Almost immediately behind him was old +Ives d'Alegres, riding with a bolt upright seat, and making himself +agreeable, in his bear-like manner, to the Lady Angiola, who rode +beside him. There was no avoiding them, and yielding to a sudden +impulse I saluted as they came up. A look of contempt spread over the +features of the general, who made no response, and Madonna Angiola +kept her eyes fixed before her, as if she had seen nothing. They +passed by in a moment, leaving me speechless with anger, for owing to +my failure to preserve a disguise, I had allowed my beard to grow +again, and D'Alegres without doubt recognised me. There was some +excuse perhaps for him; but none, I could think of, for her, and to +add to my chagrin, I thought that Jacopo would probably waste hours in +awaiting her return. I let my horse out to a hand gallop, +notwithstanding the pavement, and luckily doing no injury to any of +the passers-by or to him, pulled up in a few minutes at the door of my +ordinary. Here, although I tried to eat, I was so angry that I could +only trifle with my food, and raging within myself, I drank a full +measure of wine, swallowed such morsels as I could, and went to see +after my horse. By my directions he had a light feed, and was being +rubbed down. As provision against accidents, I purchased a bottle of +Chianti, together with a roast fowl and a loaf of white bread, and +these I placed in my saddle-bags. Then, seeing to the saddling of the +horse myself, I exchanged my velvet cap for the steel helmet, and +drawing my sword-belt in by a hole, sprang into the saddle, and went +on at a leisurely pace towards the San Frediano Gate. There was still +plenty of time, so I made no hurry, and indeed, when I reached the +gate, the gong there boomed out five o'clock, leaving a half-hour +still to spare before Jacopo was due. I pulled up therefore at the +side of the road, and dismounting, led my horse up and down. It was +whilst thus engaged, that I noticed a priest, mounted on a smart cob, +trotting in the direction of the gate, and knowing that a misfortune +and a friar are seldom apart, I observed him narrowly as he passed. He +drew his cowl, however, over his face, so that I could make nothing of +him; but on reaching the gate he stopped to ask some questions of the +sentry there, and the man, in raising his hand to salute, slightly +startled the horse, which threw back its head. This sudden movement +made the hood the rider wore fall back a little, but it was enough to +enable me to see it was the library scribe, old Ceci's nephew; and I +augured no good from this, resolving nevertheless to be on my guard +more than ever. The pretended priest received an answer to his +inquiry, and giving his benediction, in true sacerdotal manner, rode +off at a pace that showed his seat on the library stool had not +interfered with his seat in the saddle. It was now fully the half +hour, and yet Jacopo did not come. I waited until the gong struck six, +and was just about to ride off, leaving a message with the guard, when +I saw him approaching. + +"Make haste," I cried as I mounted, "you are late." + +"Pardon, excellency! But the lady was not there. I had to wait a full +hour before she came back from riding, and the General d'Alegres was +with her." + +"Did you give the packet?" + +"I did, excellency. I rode up, asked who the Lady Angiola was, and +presented the packet, saying it was from the Cavaliere di Savelli, my +master." + +"Oh, glorious fool! Did I not tell you my name was Donati? Did I not +tell you to say nothing, but merely give the packet into the lady's +hands?" + +"Body o' me, excellency! But there were so many about, my wits almost +went a wool-gathering. I gave madame the packet, however, and she took +it." + +"Said anything?" + +"Nothing, excellency--never a word." + +There was no use crying over spilt milk, and cursing Jacopo in my +heart for a muddle-headed fool, we started off. On reaching the +sentry, I thought I might as well try and find out what the sham friar +was looking after. The man raised his hand in salute as I came up, and +flinging him a crown I bade him drink to the health of the Signory +therewith. + +"Marry! I will with pleasure, and yours, too, excellency," he said, as +he pocketed the money, evidently stirred by the amount. + +"Instead of mine, drink to the health of my good friend the monk, who +has just gone on. Can you tell me if he inquired for any one here?" + +I relied on the simplicity of the man, and on taking him by surprise +with the question, and as it happened I hit my mark. + +"In truth, excellency, the reverend father did inquire about a party +of five horsemen, who took the road to Leghorn about four o'clock this +afternoon. He doubted much if he could overtake them ere nightfall he +said, and would have to ride hard." + +I poised another crown on my finger absently. "Do you know any of the +party who went ahead?" + +"No, excellency; but their leader was an old man with a long white +beard, and I think I heard him addressed as Ceci. Excellency, the wine +will flow to-night--a hundred thanks." + +I dropped the crown into his palm, moving him to his closing words. + +"Come on, Jacopo. It grows late," and setting spurs to our horses, we +rode out at a gallop. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + THE AMBUSCADE. + + +It is good to go through the air, with the strength of a brave horse +under one, to know that his strong muscles are stretching with an +enjoyment as keen as his rider's pleasure, to hear the air whistle as +one cuts through it, and to feel the blood fairly dance in the veins. +After those weary weeks of illness, of inaction, and of mental despair +I had passed through, it was as if new life was poured into me, to +know that I was once more in the saddle, with a prospect, however +faint, of regaining all I had lost. As the landscape on each side of +me melted into a green grey streak, it seemed to carry away with it my +suffering; as the true horse answered willingly to the touch of my +spur, I forgot the past, and was once again Ugo di Savelli, with a +spirit as high as the days before the black sorrow fell upon me. To +the left of the road was a broad stretch of springy turf, crossed by a +fairly wide water channel. I could not resist giving the beast a burst +over this, and followed by Jacopo, galloped over it with a free rein. +Both the horses took the jump like bucks, and carried away by the +moment, we held on, until we reached the stony and boulder-covered +incline which led to the valley of the Greve. Here the turf came to a +sudden end, in a line such as the edge of a calm sea makes in a bay, +and then began a steep descent of gravel, and loose stones, whose many +colours of grey, ochre, and brown, were splashed here and there, by +masses of short thick shrubs, which gradually increased in denseness, +until they spread before us, a sea of sombre green, that stretched to +the clear blue line of the Greve. Here on the crest of the slope I +drew bridle, thinking the horses had enough of it for the present, and +that it would be well to husband their strength. Jacopo pulled up +alongside of me, and stooping to pat the neck of his mount said-- + +"Excellency, the horses are in good condition; they will carry us well +to Leghorn!" He spoke the truth, for although they might have been in +better training, as the few clots of yellowy white foam, on the part +of the reins which had touched their necks showed, still we should +have been content with less, from new and practically untried +purchases, such as we had made, and I congratulated myself mentally on +our luck, for Barabbas himself would have had much to learn from the +horse-dealers of Tuscany. Thinking in this way, I replied: + +"Yes, Jacopo, they seem to be a cheap forty crowns' worth, and we have +been cheated as little as possible. As you say, they should carry us +well on our journey, and we can either dispose of them at Leghorn, or +take them on to Rome if necessary." + +"If I may speak, excellency, I would advise taking them with us. But +oh, signore, is that not superb?" + +With an Italian's inborn love for the beautiful, he pointed to the +view around us, and although not a Florentine, I could feel why it was +that her citizens so loved the City of the Lily. The sun was setting +in opal and rose, and as we turned to give a last look behind, we saw +that this light was reflected from the west, on the great fleecy +masses of clouds that were slumbering in the pure blue of the sky, and +was again thrown back, or rather downwards, on to Florence itself, +bathing in its glow the campaniles of the churches, the grim palace of +the Signory, and the towers of the houses of the nobles. Where the +light did not fall, the shadows were in soft greys, that deepened to a +purple black, and a yellow band marked where the walls clasped the +city like a girdle. To the east, as we looked, the hills of the Prato +Magno rose in a heavy solid outline, with the jagged peaks, trying as +it were to stab at the sky; to the north, covered with a heavy pine +forest, lay Senario, shutting from sight the upper Voldarno, and the +Mugello; whilst, as we faced slowly round by our left, we saw the +silver ribbon of the Arno, and the heights of Monte Orlando, the +landscape being closed in on the west by San Miniato, over whose +cypress crowned heights the sun now hung like a soft ball of fire. As +I gazed upon this, a sadness came upon me, and my mind filled again +with the image of the woman, whom I began to realise that I loved in +spite of all; and I almost laughed in the bitterness of my heart, when +I thought that this burden of a hopeless passion was added to the +weight I already had to bear. I began to fairly despise myself for my +weakness, in that for the moment I felt inclined to turn my horse's +head and ride back to Florence. It was gall to know, that if she but +lifted her finger, I would go back like a beaten dog, and it required +me to summon all my pride to rescue myself at the time. It was such +hopeless folly, such madness, that I began to think I must be little +short of an idiot, and cursed myself with such hearty good will, that +Jacopo, who was always a trifle free with his tongue, began to let it +wag. + +"If your excellency is so liberal with curses on yourself, methinks +you will have none to spare for your enemies," he said. + +"True, Jacopo," I answered, "but the word enemies reminds me, that you +should keep your arquebus ready for instant use, and now I think we +had better jog on." + +Jacopo's answer was to unsling his arquebus, which he rested crosswise +on his thigh, and we began to slowly descend the slope towards the +river, the loose gravel crunching under our horses' feet. + +"It is loaded," said Jacopo, somewhat irrelevantly, as we came to the +banks of the stream; but I understood he was speaking of his piece. +"It is loaded, excellency," he repeated, "with three balls, which I +have had dipped in holy water, and on each of which I have cut a cross +for luck. I lay my life on it, that if discharged, it will bring down +whatever it is aimed at--saint or sinner." + +"Heaven grant that it may be the sinner, Jacopo; but only take care +you are ready to discharge it when the time comes." + +"Never fear, signore. Jacopo Jacopi is too old a soldier to be caught +napping," with these words we plunged into the Greve, and after much +careful stepping on the part of the horses, for the animals found +their foothold an uncertain one in the smooth round stones under the +water, we reached the opposite bank, and trotted on with the horses' +noses in a line towards San Miniato. The sun had now sunk behind the +hill, which was so full of memories for me, and although there would +be a moon later on, we had for the present to face a rapidly +increasing darkness. + +"By keeping at this pace, excellency," said Jacopo as we trotted on, +"we shall reach the Resa shortly before it gets quite dark, and I +submit that we stop there to feed the horses. As your honour +commanded, I have brought a meal for them, and there was space enough +in the sack for a snack for me, which would do at a pinch for two, if +your excellency would but condescend to taste of it." + +"You say well, Jacopo; but I also am an old soldier, and my +saddle-bags are full. A fasting body makes but a faint heart, whether +for man or beast--on the other bank of the Resa then, we shall call a +halt. There is a little light still, enough to increase the pace--so +onwards!" + +We broke into a hand gallop, keeping one behind the other, and +following the windings of a cattle track, for I had purposely avoided +the road after receiving the information I had extracted from the +sentry at the San Frediano Gate. It was evident, that the party of +men, followed by Ceci's nephew, had left Florence to carry out some +desperate design. I had been dogged all day by this man, and now he +had galloped off in disguise to join the men who had left Florence +before he had, and amongst whom was his uncle. Ceci's words at our +last interview, and the persistent manner in which I was followed, +left me no room to doubt that I was the object of their attention, and +that it would be necessary to keep well on the alert. I did not +apprehend danger at once, but thought that if an attack were made, it +would be in the narrow valley between the low hills to the north of +Montespertoli, or at Ponte a Elsa, each of which places was +particularly suited for an ambuscade, although of course, considering +their numbers, the attempt might be made anywhere, and openly, without +very much danger. So with another hurried word of warning to Jacopo, +and holding my sword ready, I galloped along, increasing the pace as +much as possible, whenever we went past a clump of trees, and both of +us keeping as sharp a look-out as the light, or rather darkness, +permitted. We avoided the regular ford of the Resa on the +Montespertoli road, crossing higher up in the direction of Montelupo, +and here got a good wetting, for the water was deeper than we +anticipated. Had Ceci and his friends only lain in wait for us at this +point, we should have had no chance. As it happened, however, we had +taken a zig-zag route, which had either thrown them off the track +entirely, or we would meet them further on, either at one of the two +spots mentioned by me, or in some other equally convenient locality. +At any rate, we were safe for the present, and that was something to +be thankful for, even if we were in darkness. So my thoughts ran on, +as we scrambled somehow to the opposite bank of the Resa, and groped +our way up until we felt soft grass under our feet, for we had +dismounted on fording the stream, and led our horses by their bridles +up the steep left bank. Here we called a halt, determined to await the +moon, and Jacopo managed somehow to tether the horses; fastening the +halters to the stump of a tree he discovered by stumbling against, and +on which he wasted some of those curses he was so anxious for me to +reserve for my enemies. After giving the horses their feed, which they +nosed out readily enough, despite the darkness, he joined me where I +sat on the grass trying to dry, and wrapping up the lock of his +arquebus in a woollen cap, which he produced, to keep it from damp, he +took his seat beside me at my invitation. + +"It is too dark to eat now, excellency," he said. "I for one, like a +light of some kind, even if it be my Lady Moon, with my meals, and we +have some little time to wait--ill-luck to it! Do you call to mind, +signore, it was just such a night as this when we lay outside the +breach at Arx Sismundea, waiting for the signal rockets?" + +"I do, Jacopo." + +"Ah, that was a fight! We have had nothing like it since then--not +even Fornovo--but good times are coming, excellency, and maybe we will +see them again." + +"How comes it, Jacopo, that with this prospect before you, you left +the army?" + +"There was trouble, excellency, big trouble at Siena, and I left to +avoid the attentions of Messer Braccio Fortebraccio, whom your worship +doubtless remembers." + +I could get no further explanation from Jacopo, but afterwards found +out that he had fought with and grievously wounded a man who had +spoken disparagingly of me; and fearing lest the swift discipline +which D'Alegres maintained might overtake him, had immediately +deserted, making his way to Florence, where a lucky chance threw him +in my way. I thought it well, at this time, to explain to Jacopo, the +danger I feared of an ambuscade, and he, knowing the road as well as I +did, agreed with me in regard to the spots most likely to be chosen +for the attack. + +"Would it not be prudent, excellency, to await daylight, and, keeping +out of the beaten track, avoid these gentlemen?" + +"You see, Jacopo," I answered, "we have not time for all this, and +must take some risk. I mean, therefore, to go as far as we can +to-night." + +"As your worship desires. It is not that I fear the danger, but I do +not like putting my head in a bag. _Buono!_ There is the moon, and I +already begin to taste my supper, after which, excellency, I have no +care which way we travel, either by broad daylight, or through the +teeth of these brigands." + +As he spoke the stars began to pale, and the moon rose slowly above +the horizon. In a few minutes, so bright and clear was the light, that +one may have easily read by it, and I was glad to see, moreover, that +the shifting clouds were gone, and there was every prospect of a fine +night. It was fall-to, now, to our supper, and adding my store to my +faithful follower's supply, I sunk distinctions of rank, and we +enjoyed a meal, with a hearty contentment that had been a stranger to +me for many a day. When the last drop of wine in the bottle was +finished, and we had picked our last bone, Jacopo arose with a sigh. + +"Before supper, excellency, I was ready to eat and then fight my way +through an army; now beshrew me, if a sound nap of an hour or so is +not much to my taste!" + +I could not forbear smiling, but did not rise to the hint, and when +our horses were saddled again, and every buckle and strap examined +with the minutest care, we mounted and set off. As although we both +well knew the direct road to Leghorn, but were not acquainted with the +district so as to correctly pursue our way by moonlight, I decided to +run the gauntlet of the ambuscade, if there was any, and take the risk +of coming off with a whole skin, to the certainty of losing our track +by chancing short cuts, which might lead to, Heaven alone knew where! +Now that we were once more on the road, we trotted along at a fairish +pace through the silent night. The way led for some distance over an +uneven plain, covered with a multitude of white stones, that shone in +the moonlight like water. The plain gradually narrowed to where it was +intersected by a chain of low hills, and it was in crossing these that +we should have to ride through a narrow gut, and possibly meet our +danger. As we approached the hills, the short, stunted foliage that +tufted the plain, changed to a half-grown forest, in the midst of +which the road wound, and here we halted for a second, whilst Jacopo +examined his piece to see that all was aright, and gingerly blew at +the match thereon, to give the fire a little strength. This being +done, we proceeded with the greatest caution, riding one behind the +other, and going slowly, as we feared a pitfall of some kind among the +trees. Luckily there was none, and at last we got out of the immediate +presence of the forest, and into the gut, where the precipice rose +high on each side of us. All was rock and stone, but the road was +fairly even, a trap could have been seen, and going slow a mistake +here, so we clapped spurs to the horses, and sent them along, and +although momentarily expecting to see the flash of an arquebus, we +were agreeably disappointed, and got out of the passage without mishap +of any kind. + +"_Animo!_ Signore, we are out of this, and to-night will not be bread +for the teeth of these brigands;" and Jacopo, whose horse had carried +him a little in advance,' drew rein to let me come up, as we rode out +of the tail of the pass. + +"I hope so, but we are not out of the wood yet," and I pointed to +where a dip in the ground showed there was a small stream, and on the +opposite bank the road again led into forest land. + +"And I was just going to beg your worship's leave to troll a catch," +said Jacopo; and as he uttered these words we plashed into the shallow +stream before us. Almost at this moment my horse neighed shrilly, and +an answering neigh from the wood before us rang out into the night. + +_Crack_! _Crack!_ Two red tongues of fire licked out from the darkness +of the trees, we heard the loud report of firearms, and a brace of +balls sang past, unpleasantly close to my head. + +"Quick, Jacopo--follow me," and driving my spurs home, the good horse +plunged forwards, topping the bank almost on the instant that the +ambuscaders, who rushed out with a shout, reached it. The man to my +left, who was riding a white horse, pulled up in an unaccountable +manner, and making a point at the one on my sword side, I ran him +through the throat, my blade twisting him clean round in the saddle as +I dashed on. The attacking party, coming at a great pace, were carried +by their horses down the slope into the stream, and before they could +turn I had gained a fair start, and to my joy heard Jacopo swearing as +he galloped behind me. + +"_Maldetto!_ I could not fire, signore--you were right in front of +me--but here goes." He turned back in his saddle, and would have let +off his piece had I not shouted out:-- + +"Hold! hold! till I tell you," and fortunately he heard my words, or +the chances were there would have been a miss with no opportunity of +reloading. + +We gained a full hundred yards before the others recovered themselves, +coming after us with yells of anger, and I distinctly heard Ceci's +voice-- + +"Two hundred crowns for them, dead or alive!" + +Now commenced a race for life. We had the start and meant to keep it; +but their horses were the fresher, and it became a mere question of +who could last longest. We made the pace as hot as we could, in the +hope that if we came to close quarters again some of our pursuers +would have tailed behind. For a little time things went well, and I +was beginning to think we should be able to show our friends a clean +pair of heels, when I suddenly felt my horse puffing, stretching his +neck forward and holding on to the bit, in a manner which left no +doubt to my mind that he was done. Jacopo, too, called out-- + +"We had better fight it out, excellency; my horse is blown." + +Before giving a final answer, I slung round in the saddle to see how +the enemy were getting on. The only two who were at our heels was the +man mounted on the white horse, who had pulled aside in so strange a +manner when charging me, and another, whom I could not make out. The +rest were well behind, but riding hard. We could probably account for +these two, and turning back I shouted to Jacopo-- + +"All right; fight it out." + +As I said this my horse stumbled and rolled clean over, killing +himself on the spot, but fortunately throwing me clear of him and +without doing any damage to me. I had just time to scramble to my +feet, when the two foremost of our pursuers were upon us. + +Jacopo had been carried some yards on by the speed of his mount, but +as the men came up he turned sharp round in his saddle and fired. The +report was followed by a yell of pain, and the leading horseman fell; +the other, who bestrode the white horse, again sheering off from me. +Here he met with Jacopo, who was coming back at a gallop, and, it +seemed to me, fairly flung himself from his horse, doing this in so +clumsy a manner as to be immediately ridden over by my knave. + +"Mount--mount, excellency--mount behind me!" and Jacopo steadied his +horse. But there was no time, and three of the remaining horsemen +dashed up. Two of the horses shied past the body of my animal, but the +third came boldly up, and the rider immediately engaged Jacopo. I +could not give my brave fellow any aid, for my time was fully occupied +in dealing with my own adversaries. Their horses were too fresh, or +not well in hand, by great good luck, and so they could not manage to +come at me together. Seeing this, I made a dash across the road into +the wood--it was but a few feet--and both my adversaries followed, +with the result that the horse of one of them put his foot in a rut, +and stumbling forwards unseated his rider, and the other, in aiming a +cut at me, got his sword entangled for a second in an overhanging +bough. This second was, however, enough for me to give him six inches +of cold steel, and he pulled round and rode off, dropping his sword, +and swinging from side to side in his saddle like a drunken man. The +man who had fallen from his horse was nowhere to be seen. Indeed I did +not look for him, but rushed back to the assistance of Jacopo, and +this time, having opportunity for observing, if only for a twinkling, +saw his opponent was my friend, the sham monk. He, however, had as +quick an eye, and taking in the situation, made a sudden charge at +Jacopo, and as suddenly wheeling his horse to the left, shot past him +and fled on ahead, leaving us masters of the situation. + +"Are you hurt, excellency?" called out Jacopo. + +"Not in the least. How are you?" + +"Nothing but a scratch, excellency, which I received from his +reverence, who, for all his monkish cowl, wields a good weapon." + +"Well, jump down and let us see who our friends are, but first let me +look to your wound." + +"It is really nothing as I said, signore," and Jacopo sprang lightly +to earth. I did not, however, listen to him, and taking from him his +flint and steel, lighted a piece of dry wood, which I converted into a +torch. With the aid of this and the moonlight, I examined Jacopo's +wound, which after all was but slight, and had just bandaged it up +with my kerchief, when I became aware that the man whom Jacopo had +ridden over, had arisen on his hands and knees, and was crawling off +into the brushwood. + +"Steady, friend," I said, and running up to him, gave him a prick with +my sword as a hint to stop. He made a little outcry, but had the good +sense to take the hint, and casting the light of the torch on his +face, I recognised my old acquaintance the ancient Brico. + +"So, signore," I said, "I have again to be thankful to you." + +Jacopo too came up and recognised the man at a glance. + +"_Cappita!_" he burst out, "but it is the ancient Brico! Shall I beat +his brains out, excellency?" + +"Mercy, most noble cavalier," exclaimed Brico, "I yield me to ransom." + +"Ransom forsooth!" called out Jacopo, "such ransom as a noose will +give you. Prepare to die." + +"Be quiet, Jacopo," I said, "the ancient has yielded to ransom, we +will leave him to discuss the terms with the moon. Fetch me the bridle +from my poor horse yonder, and bind this knave firmly." + +Jacopo needed no second bidding, and in five minutes the ancient, +securely bound, was sitting like a trussed fowl in the middle of the +road, alternately cursing and weeping. + +"Perhaps, excellency, we had better look at the other," and Jacopo +pointed to the man whom he had shot, who lay on his face. "Perchance," +he added, "he too might turn out an old acquaintance." + +We did so, and as we bent over him I saw it was Bernabo Ceci gone to +his last account. He was shot through the heart, and lay quite dead, +with a frown on his forehead, and his teeth clenched in the death +agony. I looked at him in a sad silence which Jacopo broke. + +"I never knew a cross-marked bullet to fail, excellency. He is stone +dead." + +"May he rest in peace," I answered; "he was a brave man, although my +enemy." + +"He is still enough now, your worship--and see! There is his horse +grazing quietly. It will do excellently to replace the lost one." + +He ran forward and secured the animal, whilst I had a final look at my +dead beast. His neck was broken, and there was an end of him. Whilst +Jacopo at my request was changing the saddles, I stirred up the +ancient, who had lapsed into silence, and begged the favour of his +informing me to whom I was indebted for the excitement of the night. +Brico at first would not answer, but an inch of steel removed his +sulkiness, and he told me all that I believe he knew, which was to the +effect that he and some others had been hired by a great Florentine +called Strozzi, to stop me at all hazards on my journey to Rome, and +that the party was commanded by Ceci, who was to pay them two hundred +crowns for their trouble. More he evidently did not know, and +disregarding all his entreaties to loosen him, we rode off, wishing +him a good night. Nevertheless I am afraid he suffered considerable +discomfort. + +"That rascal monk," said Jacopo as we jogged along, "has gone on ahead +of us, and to-morrow, perhaps, will rouse the country in advance of +us." + +"Never fear, Jacopo," I answered, "he is no monk, as I well know, and +his only chance was to escape as he did. He will hark back soon enough +to Florence. Such hawks as he do not fly far from their eyries." + +And in this I proved to be right, and the library scribe was never +seen by me again. + +So we kept to our way, deciding to rest by day on the banks of the +Evola, to which we came in the early morning. Here we concealed our +horses in the forest which fringed the banks, and the tireless Jacopo, +leaving me to watch the cattle, proceeded on foot to a small hamlet he +knew of, returning in about an hour with the materials for a +substantial meal, and a small skin of wine. In order not to be taken +by surprise by the neighing of our horses, which would assuredly +discover us if other riders passed, we hobbled them in a secure place, +and sought a safe retreat for ourselves, almost half way up the low +hill which bounded the river at the point where we halted. Here we +spent a restful day, the only incident being the passing of a fine +body of men-at-arms across the Evola. From the double-headed lion on +their standard I perceived they were part of the _condotta_ of +Colleoni, a devoted adherent of the Borgia, and it was fortunate that +we did not meet them or it would have gone hard with us, for I was +known personally to Colleoni and most of his officers, the free-lance +having changed sides after Fornovo, ostensibly because he said it was +against his conscience to war with the Pope; but in reality being +bribed by an immediate present of a fief in the Campagna, and the +promise of the lordship of Bergamo, which, although his son obtained +it, he himself never enjoyed. So much for the two-headed lion which +crossed our path as we lay hidden in the shade of the trees. Our +horses also being actively employed in cropping the rich turf in the +hollow where they were tethered, behaved themselves excellently, with +the result that the long line of men-at-arms passed on and out of +sight, without doing us any harm. + +In this manner we continued our journey, halting by day and travelling +by night, and finally reached Leghorn in safety. Here we took passage +in a ship bound for Rome; but were compelled to wait two days in +Leghorn, as the master was not ready to sail at once. At last, all +things being arranged, we got our horses and ourselves aboard, and put +out to sea with a fair wind. The master of the ship had sailed with +Messer Columbus to the New World, and lost no time in giving us the +history of his adventures, which were in truth marvellous beyond +imagination. I listened with a smooth face, and the good man no doubt +thought that I believed his stories. In this, however, he was +mistaken, nevertheless they were diverting in the extreme. Jacopo was +overcome by the sickness of the sea, and flung himself down in a +corner on the deck of the ship from which spot nothing would induce +him to move. At every lurch he threw out a prayer which ended in a +groan, and so great was his distress, that as he afterwards stated, he +would have sold his soul to Satan for a paul, if only to obtain an +hour's relief. As for me, I was well, having had some experience of +the ocean before, when employed by the Most Serene Republic for +service against the Turk, and found contentment in the master's +stories, and in pacing up and down watching such things as came under +my view. I had plenty of opportunity for reflection on the voyage, and +came to the conclusion that on delivering my letter to the Cardinal at +Rome, I would seek out Bayard if he were there, lay my story before +him, and beseech his help to enable me to recover myself. + +At last, one fine day, we reached Ostia, and there disembarked after +bidding farewell to the master, and set out on our way to Rome. Jacopo +recovered his spirits as his foot touched land, and though the +ruddiness of his cheek had paled a little, he was quite himself again +by the time we crossed the Stagno di Ostia. Finally we came in full +view of the Eternal City, and towards the afternoon, having pressed +along at a good pace, our jaded horses brought us before the Gate of +St. Paul. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + ROME. + + +As we rode up to the ruinous stretch of the battered wall, and saw +before us the gate, lying open against the mottled green and grey +high-ground of the Aventine, that old hill, covered with straggling +and unkempt vineyards, and studded with the walls of monasteries, I +was moved more than I can tell, for I was about to realise a dream of +my life, and put foot once again in the place of my birth, a spot not +only bound to me by that tie, but sacred with the hundred legends of +my forefathers' history, men who had for centuries played so great a +part in its fate, until our house was cast forth by the mother-city, +to wander as exiles over the land. It is true that since the days of +my childhood I had not seen Rome, it is true that such memories of it +as I had were dim and misty, and that to recall them was like trying +to bring back before one's eyes, when awake, the vague but pleasant +visions of a delightful dream; nevertheless my heart filled with a +strange joy, and my pulse began to beat more rapidly, as each stride +of my horse brought me nearer home. In short, I was a Roman come back +to Rome, and in these words sum up my feelings. + +Filled with such thoughts, I tightened the reins half unconsciously, +and my horse, doubtless upset by his voyage, and the hard going from +Ostia, very willingly slackened his pace to a walk. Jacopo, as in duty +bound, followed my example, and immediately began to buzz into speech. + +"It is nearly six years since I last saw that gate, excellency, when +with Count Carlo Orsini we rode up, just as it was closed behind +Cesare Borgia." + +"That was when you left me for a time, on my taking service with +Venice." + +"True, your worship; I had no mind for the galleys," and Jacopo +shuddered at the recollection of his recent voyage. "My courage," he +continued, "is firm enough on firm ground, but when the sea plays cup +and ball with me, I have no soul to think of my own salvation, let +alone fighting. _Ohime!_ But on that villainous craft we have left, +there were times when I was only too anxious not to live." + +I smiled as I inquired, "And after your service with the Orsini where +did you go?" + +"Well, your worship, no sooner did Count Carlo drive those scorpions +of the Colonna and Borgia back to Rome, than the Most Serene Republic +must needs step in and cause peace to be made. This threw me and +sundry other honest fellows out of employment, and on to the edge of +starvation, so we boldly rode into Rome, and changing from the bear to +the bull, tendered our services to the Borgia, and they were snapped +up I can tell you. I was lucky enough to find a master in the Duke of +Gandia." + +"Lucky, you call it." + +"Ay, your worship! for Giovanni Borgia had an open purse and a free +hand. I was with him until he was murdered, and then, affairs being +warm in Rome, and hearing you had come back from the sea, why, I came +back to the old banner." + +"It is said that Gandia was murdered by the Cardinal Ascanio Sforza." + +"Indeed no, your excellency! I saw the deed done. It was in this way: +the Duke and his brother Cesare, then Cardinal of Valencia, supped at +the house of their mother, the Lady Vannozza. After supper they must +needs walk home together; I was the Duke's sole attendant, but Cesare +was accompanied by his cut-throat Michelotto and half-a-dozen others. +On the way some mention was made of Donna Sancia, Don Giuffré's wife, +and the brothers came to blows. The Cardinal stabbed the Duke with his +own hand, and he gave a great cry and fell down dead. Seeing it was no +use trying to help a dead man, and being in no hurry to trouble St. +Peter myself, I knocked down the strangler Michelotto, and making a +run for it, escaped with a whole skin. The body of the Duke was flung +into the Tiber, and was discovered by a charcoal monger of the +Ripetta, whom Cesare hanged at Tor di Nona, as a reward for his +intelligence. They buried the Duke, as you know, signore, in Santa +Maria del Popolo--poor man!" + +"And you mean to say that this was never known to the Pope?" + +"I never said anything about that, your worship; a secret cannot be +kept by half-a-dozen, and I dare swear our Lord knows all about it or +else the Cardinal Ascanio would hardly be in the Cesarini as he is. +These things, however, must not be spoken of in Rome. Men's tongues +should be weighted with lead when the Borgia's name crops up." + +We had by this time come opposite the Monte Testaccio, that curious +mound made of old pottery, which lies towards the river, south-west of +the Ostian Gate, and so engrossed were we in our talk, that we did +not observe a large party of riders of both sexes, with an escort of +men-at-arms, coming at a hand gallop from our right, straight in our +direction. Our attention was however sharply drawn to the fact by the +cry of an equerry who was riding well in advance of the others, and +this man shouted: + +"The road! The road! Way for His Holiness! Way! Way!" + +We drew off at once to the side, Jacopo dismounting and sinking to his +knees. I however contented myself with uncovering, and watching with +no little astonishment the party as they came up. They were evidently +returning from hawking, and at the head of the clump of riders were +two men in full Turkish costume. + +"Who are those Turks?" I asked Jacopo, and the knave still kneeling, +and holding his hands up in supplication, answered hurriedly-- + +"One is the Soldan Djem, excellency--O Lord, I trust we may not be +hanged as an afternoon's amusement--the other, the fair one, old +Alexander VI. himself--O Lord! What cursed luck! Kneel, excellency; it +is our only chance." + +"Tush!" I replied, and remembered at once that the brother of Bajazet, +the Grand Turk, was a hostage in Rome, practically a prisoner in the +hands of Alexander, a legacy he had inherited from the Cibo, and which +brought him forty thousand ducats annually. I could understand Djem in +Eastern costume, but the Pope masquerading in broad delight as a Moor! +It was as wonderful as it was disgusting to me. And then the +remembrance of Corte's daughter came to my mind, and as they +approached, I could hardly refrain from making a dash to rid the world +of the monster who sat in St. Peter's chair. I barely saluted as they +passed, but Jacopo roared out for a blessing, and the papal hand +airily cast a benediction at us. Alexander was apparently in a high +good-humour, for, turning in his saddle, he made some joking remark to +a lady who rode a trifle behind him, whereat she laughed loudly, a +harsh unmusical laugh, and glanced at me with a half-amused air, from +under her heavy lashes as she went by. The rest of the party, +spurring, laughing and chattering were a few yards behind; and as they +clattered on to the road, Djem, giving a wild shout of _Allah_! +_Allah!_ threw the reins on the neck of his barb, and galloped through +the gate at full speed, followed by Alexander and the rest of the +riders, who urging their mounts to a racing pace, and, both men and +women, yelling in imitation of the Moor, vanished through the gate +after him in a whirlwind of dust. So quickly did all this happen, that +I had hardly time to observe the faces of those who passed me, and +indeed, so astonished was I, that I had scarce room in my mind for any +other feeling. I had of course heard wild tales of the Vatican, and +strange and horrible stories of the Borgia himself, indeed there was +one crime that should have brought down God's lightning on the man, +for all that he was the Vicar of Christ; but I never for one moment +conceived it possible that Alexander could so far forget his place as +to appear in public robed as a heathen, and gallop through the streets +of Rome like a drunken madman. + +When they had gone, Jacopo arose from his knees, and dusting them with +his hands whilst he looked up at me, said: "_Corpo di Bacco!_ But I +gave up all for lost. I vow a candle to St. Mary of--I forget +where--but to the shrine nearest to the place we dine, for this lucky +escape." + +"Come, sirrah!" I said, a little annoyed, "mount. There never was any +danger." + +"Your excellency is pleased to say so," he replied, swinging himself +into the saddle, "but if you saw two old men and a half-dozen old +women strung up for merely blocking the way, as I did at Tor di Nona, +perhaps your worship would think as I do." + +I made no reply, allowing Jacopo the run of his tongue to relieve his +feelings, and we went on slowly until we reached the gate. Here I +spoke, "As you know Rome better than I do, Jacopo, you had best lead +the way; but I want to pass by the two houses of my family before we +make for the Strangers' Quarters, where we must find a lodging for the +night." + +"Very well, your worship!" and Jacopo drew a little to the front. +"There they go," he said, shading his eyes with his hands, and turning +to the left, where a dun cloud of dust on the Via della Marmorata +marked the progress of the Borgia. "The best way, signore," he +continued, "is over the hill; we will get a view from there, and then +passing by the places you want to see, make for a quiet hostel I know +of in the Strangers' Quarters." + +Following him, we rode up the Aventine, until we reached the old wall +of Servius Tullius, here we stopped to observe the view. To the west +and south-west we could see the green of the Campagna merging into the +distant grey of the Roman Maremma, whilst beyond that a clear blue +line, below the flush of the coming sunset, marked the sea. Beneath us +lay the Tiber and the Island, the yellow water of the river stirred +into ripples by the breeze, and looking from the distance like +hammered brass. Beyond the Tiber rose Monte Gianicolo, behind which +the top of the Vatican Hill was just visible. To the north the view +was a little shut in by the Palatine and the church of St. Prisca +above us, and far off rose the cone of Soratte. North-east and east +lay the Palatine, the Esquiline, with the campaniles of Santa Maria +Maggiore and San Pietro in Vincoli. Over Monte Coelio we could see the +heights of the Sabine Hills, and running our eyes along the Appian +Way, we could almost descry the Alban Lake, the mountains being +distinctly visible. We stayed for a few moments drinking in the view, +and then going onwards, turned north-west, past St. Prisca, and began +the descent, by a winding way, held in by vineyards. Coming down we +caught a glimpse of the three churches of the Aventine, namely S. +Sabina, S. Maria Aventina, and St. Alessio, which was held by the +monastery of St. Jerome, whose walls rose hard at hand. A look to the +right showed us the Circus Maximus, above which towered a huge obelisk +surrounded by four lions. At length we came to the Vicola di San +Sabina, and at the corner of the street rose the grey walls and square +tower of the castle of the Savelli. I drew rein, and looked at it with +a bitter heart, and a sigh I could not control escaped me, as I saw +the breeze catch and spread to the wind the silken folds of the +standard of the Chigi, who bore quartered on their shield the star of +the Savelli and the tree of De la Rovere. It flaunted there, in all +the insolent pomp of a new house, whose moneybags were full, and the +sight of it was enough for me. Jacopo must have caught the look on my +face, for he said kindly-- + +"Who knows, excellency--luck may turn." + +Well meant as the words were, they jarred on me, and without replying +I moved on, silently raising my sword to the salute, as I passed the +grim gates from which my ancestors held the road as far as the river, +and almost held Rome itself. + +As we went past the Island, I did not even raise my head to see the +Theatre of Marcellus, within which lay another and the oldest of our +family houses, having come to us through Pierleone towards the close +of the eleventh century. + +Jacopo was for going straight on past the monastery of the Aracoeli, +on the Capitol; but unluckily I discovered that my horse had cast a +shoe, and this was a matter not to be neglected. So we turned to the +right, and entered the Campo Vaccino, formerly the Forum of Rome. It +being now sunset, here were collected hundreds of oxen and buffaloes, +and from the height of Monte Caprino we could hear the bleating of the +herds of goats which were pastured thereon, and the tinkling of their +bells as they moved slowly down towards their shelter for the night. A +hundred fires were blazing cheerfully, and served to dissipate the +blue vapour which began to hang over the place. Round these fires were +groups of people, mostly countrymen, who seemed in the best of +spirits, as they listened to songs, or watched numbers of their party, +who danced merrily to the tune of a pipe. Hard by were a number of +sheds, used by mechanics, and the blaze, which showed a forge in work, +soon attracting our attention, we made there at once, and had the +horse attended to. + +Whilst the smith was beating out a shoe, I sat down on a rough bench, +my horse being fastened to a wooden post, and Jacopo holding his nag +by the bridle paced up and down, occasionally stamping his feet on the +ground to free them, as he said, from the ants. In other words he was +suffering slightly from cramp. To my right was a large crowd, +evidently enjoying a show of jugglery, and from their cries of +wonderment and pleasure, they seemed to be having their money's worth. +So I rose and elbowed my way to a good place, unfortunately only in +time to see the end of the affair. The juggler was robed in a doctor's +gown, and after performing a trick, he distributed nostrums for +various ailments, free of payment. Imagine my surprise, in recognising +in him no other than Mathew Corte; and as I came up, he placed a +tambourine in his little dog's mouth, and bade him carry it round for +subscriptions. Coppers were freely flung in, and as the little animal +stopped before me, I dropped in a florin, and stooped to pat its head. +As I rose I caught Corte's eye, and saw he knew me, but as he made no +sign I stayed quiet. Collecting his money, the doctor bowed his +thanks, and began packing up the instruments of his trade. I went back +to my seat, and watched the smith at work on my horse, thinking that +Corte must have somehow come into funds, and wondering how he had +managed it. After a little time I felt a touch on my shoulder, and +turning round saw him beside me. I invited him to a seat, inquiring +after his health. + +"It grows better day by day," he answered, "now that my work is begun. +And you, signore?" + +"I can say the same," I answered; "I grow better day by day, now that +my work is begun." + +"There is a favour I ask, Messer Donati," he went on. + +"What is it?" + +"It is this, and do not think me ungrateful. I am here playing a part. +We will meet again, perhaps, under different surroundings. All I ask +is that if we do, you will make no sign of recognition, nor mention to +anyone that you know me." + +"As you wish, Messer Corte." + +"A hundred thanks, and yet another thing--short reckonings make long +friends," and he pressed into my palm two gold pieces, the amount of +the sum I had left with him the night his daughter died. I had no +desire to take them back, not knowing how Corte stood; but he assured +me he would be deeply offended if I did not, and that he was well +provided with the sinews of war. Where he had got them I know not, and +of course I had no option but to receive back the money I had given +him, though I did this most unwillingly. When this was over, he +pressed my hand once more, and, wishing me good night, hurried off. + +By this time the blacksmith had completed his task, and we delayed no +longer, but went off at once. It was fortunate that Jacopo knew Rome +as he did, or we might have been hopelessly lost in the labyrinth of +streets, some of them in total ruin, some of them entirely +uninhabited, for at the time so hideous was the misgovernment of the +city, that all who could do so had fled from Rome, and those who +remained could not have exceeded thirty thousand in number, of whom at +least ten thousand, men and women, were beings who had lost all claim +to the respect of mankind, and were capable of almost any crime. These +are hard words, but true, nor indeed have I ever seen a place where +all that was bad was so shamelessly exposed, as in Rome when Roderigo +Borgia was Pope. At length we reached the Strangers' Quarters, but +Jacopo's hostel was not to be found, and after searching for it in +vain, we were content to pull up before the door of a small inn built +on the lower slope of Monte Pincio, barely a bow-shot from S. Trinità +de' Monte, the church erected by Charles of France in 1495, and a +little beyond the convent of the Dames du Sacré Coeur. I cannot say +that the hostel was an inviting-looking place; in fact it was little +better than one of the common _osterie_ or wineshops with which Rome +abounded; but it was too late to pick and choose, and for the night at +least, I determined to stay here. Our first duty was to attend to the +horses, which we had stabled in stalls, immediately below the room to +be occupied by me, Jacopo having to put up with lodgings in the +stables for the night. After the beasts had been fed and groomed, I +set myself to a plain dinner, washed down with the contents of a +straw-covered _mezzo fiasco_ of Frascati. Jacopo waited on me, and +when I was done, contentedly devoured the remainder of the _manzo_ or +boiled beef, and cooled his throat with a bottle of Marino, which I +presented to him. Whilst he was thus engaged, I went down and had +another look at the horses, and as I patted their necks, and they +whinnied at me, I thought regretfully of the good beast who lay dead +on the Leghorn road, and wondered what had become of Brico, of whom, +notwithstanding his villainy, I could hardly think of without smiling. +It was in truth strange that a man, so arrant a poltroon at heart, +should desert his natural occupation of a lackey, to play the bravo, +and pose as a soldier. How he had ever even obtained the rank of +ancient was a matter of surprise and wonder to me. At length I +dismissed him from my mind, and coming back, found Jacopo at the end +of his meal and his bottle. It was late enough now, and giving him +warning to sleep lightly, and to arouse me at once if necessity arose, +for I liked not the look of the place, I climbed up the ladder leading +to the loft above the stables, which was to serve me as a chamber for +the night. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + GEORGE OF AMBOISE. + + +I should mention that before retiring I had obtained from the landlord +a good-sized lanthorn, which I had carefully filled with oil, and +trimmed under my own eyes. Holding this in my hand I ascended the +ladder leading to the chamber, or rather loft I was to occupy, and on +gaining my point I placed it on the floor, near the opening by which +the ladder led into the room, and so directed the light that its glare +passed downwards, and up to the entrance of the stables, leaving the +sides of the stables in darkness, although my own room was bright +enough. This was a precautionary measure, as it would discover any one +attempting to come in by the stable entrance, which had no door, and +would enable me at any time to see to rush down quickly to the aid of +Jacopo, should he need it. I debated a short while as to whether I +should undress for the night; but so little did I like the looks of +the place, which was more like a house of call for bravos than +anything I had seen, that I did nothing beyond removing my boots, and +flinging myself as I was on the vile truckle-bed in the room, I placed +my drawn sword by my side, and sought to sleep, struggling resolutely +to get this, despite the legions of inhabitants the bed contained, who +with one accord sallied forth to feast upon me. But sleep I was +determined to have, as I had work for to-morrow, and knowing Jacopo to +own sharp eyes and quick ears felt no scruple about getting my rest, +determining however, to make it up the next day to my knave for his +vigil, which I was sure would be faithfully kept. Finally, despite the +attacks of my enemies, I dropped off into a light slumber, which +lasted for two or three hours, when I was startled by hearing a shrill +whistle, the clash of swords, the kicking and plunging of the horses, +and Jacopo's voice shouting out my name. I woke up at once, with all +my wits about me, and on the instant ran down the ladder, sword in +hand, parrying more by accident than design, a cut that was made at me +by some one as I descended. + +As I touched ground, two men darted out of the door, and ran across +the half-ruined yard in front of the stables. A third, whom I +recognised as Jacopo, was about to follow, but I held him back by the +shoulder, having no mind to run risks around dark corners whilst I had +my letter to deliver. Jacopo yielded to me very unwillingly, and in +answer to my hurried inquiry, gave me an account of the affair which +had been as brief as it was noisy. + +"When your worship retired," said he, "leaving the lanthorn to so to +conveniently light up the stable entrance, I had another look at the +horses, and then settled myself down on that heap of straw yonder, my +back to the wall, and my sword in my right hand. So an hour, or may be +two, passed, and then I heard voices outside, and some one swearing at +the light. Oh ho! says I to myself, there's a night-hawk about, and I +remained on the alert, not thinking it worth while to give tongue +then. After a while the voices dropped away--and, excellency, I am +sorry, but I must have slipped off into a doze, and beshrew me! if I +did not dream I was aboard that cursed ship again, and being made to +play pea-in-the-drum once more. I therefore made haste to awaken, and +as I opened my eyes heard a crackling noise outside. I rose slowly and +crept towards the entrance, and just as I reached within three feet of +it a handful of pebbles was thrown in, and one of the horses started a +bit. The stones were clearly flung from outside to see if any one was +awake; but of course I made no sign, and the next minute two men +appeared at the open entrance. I gave a whistle to rouse your honour, +and went at them at once--and your excellency knows the rest. I think +however I touched one--see there!" + +He held the point of his blade to the light, and placed the end of his +finger on a stain on the sword. + +"Three inches at least," he exclaimed, and with a satisfied air, +stooped down to clean his finger on the straw at his feet. I thanked +the good fellow for his zeal and the fidelity he had shown. + +"As for that, excellency," he said, "there is no need to praise me, +for I expect to be made a cavaliere when your worship wins back the +lordships of the Savelli!" + +"You are brave enough for a cavaliere," I laughed, "the point however +for you at present is sleep. Go up to my room and get what you can. I +have done for to-night, and will watch the horses. It was after them +that our visitors came." + +But to this he would not consent on any account, nor was I so anxious +to go back to that bed, so bringing down the light from above, we +passed the rest of the night close to the horses. In the intervals of +dozing Jacopo related to me, twice over, in the minutest detail, the +story of the hanging of the two old men and six old women which he had +seen at Tor di Nona, and finally sank off into sleep. I did not make +any attempt to arouse him, and kept on the watch myself until the +lanthorn burned with a sickly glare, and the crowing of a cock told us +the morning was begun. In a few minutes it was light enough to see, +and Jacopo rising, shook himself like a dog, and stepping up to the +lanthorn extinguished it; after which, with much whistling, he set +himself to water the animals, give them their morning feed, and groom +them. + +Leaving him thus engaged, I strolled out into the courtyard, where +there was already a figure or two moving, and stepping through a gap +in the ruined wall, climbed up a portion of the slope of Monte Pincio, +following a narrow lane, on each side of which was a half-deserted +garden, and bending my steps to where, from amidst a clump of trees, I +could hear the song of a _caponera d'edera_ or blackcap, who was in +full tune. Attracted by the music of the bird, I went on until I heard +the plashing of water, and found myself at the basin of a deserted +fountain, which was hemmed in with vines and creepers, and from which +a thin stream of water was pouring, and bubbling down the hillside in +the direction of S. Trinità di Monte. The basin was made of grey +stone, cracked with age in many places, and from these fissures +sprouted masses of white serpyllum, the flowers in full bloom. In the +centre of the basin was a much damaged figure of Ceres, and from her +horn a stream of water fell with a melodious splashing, which, mingled +with the song of the bird, had a pleasing effect upon my ear. I took +advantage of the solitude of the spot to enjoy the luxury of a bath, +and when I had dressed again, climbed a few feet higher, and facing +round ran my eye idly over the view. Through the grey mist rising over +the houses and vineyards, the Tiber lay, like a yellow snake at rest; +one could see no motion of the waters. Near the Ripetta, long spirals +of dark smoke curling up to the sky marked the quarters of the +charcoal-burners, and the sunrise, which was behind me, cast a glory +on the colossal statue of the archangel Michael, where it stood on the +gloomy keep of St. Angelo, like a triumphant god alighting upon earth. +A dark rolling mist, bright at the top with the sunlight, blue-grey +beneath, covered the city below me; but I could make out the octagonal +dome of the hospital of San Spirito, the vast walls of the Vatican, +then in course of construction, and the dark stretch of cork trees +that filled the Valle dell' Inferno, beyond the Vatican hill. Monte +Mario was all alight, and I could distinctly make out the Villa +Mellini on its summit. There were landmarks that even a stranger, such +as myself, who had the barest knowledge of the place, could not miss; +and as I watched the heaving mist below me, I saw a sudden flash from +the bastion of St. Angelo, and a moment after the boom of the morning +gun reached my ears. I did not wait to observe more of the scene, but +retraced my steps to the albergo, where I found that Jacopo had +ordered a little table to be put out into the portico, and on this my +breakfast was set. As I attacked this, Jacopo asked the order of the +day, and I informed him that when he had breakfasted we should settle +with the host and seek other lodgings, after I had attended to the +business I had with Monsignore d'Amboise. + +My henchman was also anxious to know if I meant to take any steps with +regard to the attempt at robbery last night. I was well enough +inclined, but determined to let the matter rest until my business was +done, and for the present said I would remain content with the +satisfaction that we had saved our steeds and throats. By the time I +finished breakfast, Jacopo, who had already taken a meal, had saddled +the horses, and was holding them ready for our departure. I summoned +mine host, but at first could obtain no view of him. Finally on my +threat to depart without settling my score, he appeared with his arm +bound up in a sling. As he was unwounded the evening before, I made no +doubt but that he was one of the two who had visited us last night, +but said nothing, merely remarking, as I paid my account, that the +love of horseflesh frequently brought people into trouble. He did not +seem to appreciate the remark, and scowled at me, at which I bade him +begone, and to thank his stars that his house was not pulled about his +ears. He did not attempt any reply, but slunk off, and inwardly +resolving to clear out this nest of scorpions from Rome at the first +chance, I rode out of the gate, followed by Jacopo, and we directed +our way towards the Ponte S. Angelo. I had not the least idea where +his eminence of Rouen was staying; but made certain it would be +somewhere in the Borgo, and that once I had reached the papal quarter, +I should find no difficulty in my search for D'Amboise, and in +delivering to him Machiavelli's letter. + +As I went on, I began to feel nervous in spite of myself, as to what +the results of my interview with the cardinal would be, and whether it +would end in the further employment, which the Secretary had +distinctly said it would. I had no reason to doubt, however, and it +was with a hopeful mind that I trotted up the Lungo Tavere, and was +brought to a halt by a gruesome spectacle at Tor di Nona. There was a +crowd assembled, watching an execution, and Jacopo, sidling up to me, +remarked as he pointed to a body swinging in the air-- + +"What room there would be for Messer Braccio Fortebraccio here, +signore--see that pear, of the kind he loves, growing there? _Barta!_ +But there is another one----" and, even as he spoke, another wretch +was hoisted into the air, and then another and another. I did not stop +to look; but Jacopo stayed behind, overtaking me at a gallop as I +reached the Piazza di S. Angelo. + +"It is the doctor of St. John's on the Lateran, and three of his +bravos, signore. It is said he was accustomed to spend his evenings in +cutting purses and throats; but, as ill luck would have it, meddled +with one of Giulia Bella's friends, and no money could buy an +indulgence for that." + +"If true he is well served, and there are others of his kidney whom we +could spare with equal pleasure." + +"Mine host of our inn, excellency, for instance. But the gibbet at Tor +di Nona does not always bear fruit like this. I mind early one----" + +At this moment, however, I set spurs to my horse and lost the rest, +being afraid that Jacopo intended to retail to me the story of the old +men and women who had been hanged as a morning's diversion by Cesare +Borgia, and as he had twice delivered himself of this to me as we sat +up last night, I was in no mood to hear it again for the third time. +Near the statues of Peter and Paul, on the bridge, was a guard-house, +occupied at the time by a detachment of Spanish infantry, and to these +men I addressed myself, inquiring where the cardinal of Rouen was +staying. I was told, at once, that his eminence was lodging in the new +palace of Cardinal Corneto, opposite the Scorsa Cavalli, and that my +best way was to turn to the left on crossing the bridge, and then to +the right at the junction of the Borgo San Spirito and the Borgo San +Michele. + +Bestowing my thanks and a largesse on the men for their kindness, I +went on at a gallop, congratulating myself on the ease with which the +difficulty was solved, and in a few minutes had crossed the Piazza +Scorsa Cavalli, and was before the residence of the cardinal. At the +time I speak of, it was not quite finished, but still habitable, and +had been rented by Monsignore d'Amboise, as being conveniently near +the Vatican. + +On entering the courtyard, I dismounted, and giving my horse to Jacopo +to hold, ascended the steps, and boldly announced myself as an urgent +messenger who had business with his eminence. I was ushered by a page +into a reception room, and early as the hour was, there were a +considerable number of people already in attendance, awaiting the +morning levée. Here I was left to cool my heels for a little time, the +spruce page informing me that the cardinal was engaged at breakfast, +but that he would tell him of my coming, and asked my name. I +hesitated for a moment, but decided to keep the name of Donati which I +had assumed, and gave that, adding that I was the bearer of an urgent +despatch to the cardinal, which I must deliver with my own hands. The +young man then left me, as I have said, and taking a good position +near the entrance door to the adjoining room, I leaned back against +the wall, and awaited my summons. The reception room was of noble +proportions, oblong in shape, the ceiling being supported by two +pillars of veined marble, which, although they diminished the size of +the chamber, had a good effect. The marble flooring, arranged in a +patchwork of black and white, was bare of all furniture, and as the +room gradually filled, the constant moving of feet, the sound of which +rang sharply on the stone, made it appear as if a lot of masons' +hammers were at work. I let my eyes wander over the groups as they +stood or moved about, wondering, if by chance I should see anyone I +knew; but they were all strangers to me, mostly Frenchmen, with a fair +sprinkling of priests amongst them. They were one and all trying to +jostle past each other, so as to gain as close a position as possible +to the entrance door, near to which I stood; and as I watched this +with some little amusement, I heard a whisper in my ear, and glancing +round beheld a man standing near me in a doctor's robe, holding a +heavily bound missal in his hand. I saw in a moment it was Corte, and +he whispered in a low voice: + +"Well met again, signore, remember your promise." + +"I do, and the promise I made to the juggler will not be forgotten to +the doctor. Is it wise, however, if you wish to remain unknown, for us +to be seen speaking here?" + +"Not very, but I wanted a word with you. Do not look round at present, +but near the pillar to your right are two men, one dressed half in +cloth of gold, and they are more interested in you than you think. I +overheard a snatch of conversation--they are moving this way. By your +leave, signore," raising his voice, he attempted to push by me, and +catching the hint his last words had thrown out, I answered loudly, +"First come, first served, learned doctor, and you must bide your +turn." + +"I am a man of peace, and therefore yield." Corte moved off, and I was +free to look around me. I saw that Corte's little piece of acting, to +which I had risen, was due to the fact that the man in the cloth of +gold and his companion were edging nearer to us, and at the time were +barely six feet off. Besting my hand lightly on the hilt of my sword I +looked the two full in the face, but could make nothing of them. The +one who wore a jerkin of gold cloth met my look for an instant, and +then dropped his eyes, a faint flush rising to his cheek. I saw that +he was a young man of a singularly handsome countenance. A short +neatly curled moustache fell over his upper lip and mouth, but there +was no sign of a beard on the small and rounded chin, which was +cleanly shaven. On his right cheek he wore a black patch, placed as if +to hide the scar of a wound, although his complexion was as delicate +as if the sun had never touched it. In his ears he wore earrings, an +affectation of female adornment hateful to me, and the fingers of his +small right hand, which he held ungloved, were covered with rings. The +hilt of his rapier too, peeping from under the folds of his gay cloak, +was crested with jewels, and altogether it seemed as if I could have +nothing to fear from this painted lily, who looked more fitted to +thrum a lute in a lady's bower than have aught to do with the stir of +the times. I therefore loosed my glance from him with some contempt, +and turned to his companion, who was robed as an abbé, and evidently +in a sour middle age. His features were bolder than those of his +companion, but distinctly those of the canaille, and there was nothing +in them in any way remarkable. + +Nevertheless I thought it well to be on the watch, knowing that a +dagger thrust is easily sent home, and there was the certainty, too, +that the fact of my coming to Rome with a letter was known to the +Medici plotters in Florence, and evidently it was their object to +frustrate its delivery. What puzzled me, however, was that the look +the young man directed to me was not unfriendly, and it struck me that +if I could only hear his voice it might give me some clue to a +recognition. The two had come a little between me and the door, and I +was just about to contest the place with a view of forcing their hands +if possible, when the door was flung open and the same page who had +taken my name appeared and called out-- + +"Signor Donati, his eminence awaits you." + +As the door opened there was a general movement towards it. But the +cry of the page in a moment arrested the crowd, turning the look of +anticipation on the faces of all to one of disappointment, and a loud +murmuring arose against my being so favored. I lost not a second in +stepping forward, and in doing so purposely brushed against the young +man near to me, turning round as I did so with a somewhat brusque "By +your leave, sir." I fully expected that he would resent my rudeness +and make some speech, but he merely bowed his head with a courteous +inclination, showing a set of small and even teeth as he smiled under +his blonde moustache. I was a little put out by the failure of my +plan, but the next instant the door closed behind me, and at any rate +the letter to the cardinal was safe, and my task was as good as +accomplished. + +I followed the page therefore with an equal mind, and lifting a +curtain, which fell in heavy folds at the end of the passage, where a +couple of gorgeous lackeys stood, he called out "Messer Donati," and +then stepped aside to let me pass. I entered the room with a firm +step, and saw before me a large, but plainly-furnished apartment. In a +lounge chair near a small table, on which was set out a light repast, +was a man whom I at once guessed to be the cardinal. He wore a purple +robe, and the barettina or small skull cap, which covered the tonsure +on his head, allowed his short grey hair, which curled naturally, to +be seen around it. Under the cap I saw a square resolute face with +keen black eyes, and a full but kindly mouth. He was just putting down +a glass of vernaccia as I came in, and I caught the purple glitter of +the sapphire ring he wore in token of his rank, as he set down the +glass. He was not alone, for, leaning against the window and caressing +the head of an enormous wolf-hound, was a splendidly-dressed cavalier, +who looked up as I came in, and I saw at once it was Bayard. I kept my +eyes away from him, however, and advancing straight towards the +cardinal, placed the letter before him without a word. + +D'Amboise looked at the seals carefully, and then taking a small +jade-hilted knife from the table, ripped open the envelope, and ran +his eye quickly over the letter. As he did so not a muscle of his face +moved to show how the contents stirred him, and when he had finished +he held it out at arm's length, saying-- + +"My dear Bayard, what do you think of this?" + +Bayard made a step forward to take the letter, and in doing this our +eyes met, and he frankly held out his hand. I could hardly believe it +when I saw it extended towards me. My breath came thick and fast, and +the whole room swam around. The man was the soul of honour, the +noblest knight in Christendom; he had seen my trial, nay, he had been +one of my judges, and he offered me his hand! He must hold me +guiltless, I felt. "My lord!" I rather gasped than spoke as I took his +grasp, but seeing my emotion, he put in-- + +"Sit down, cavaliere. His eminence will forgive me for disposing of a +seat in his house--we are more than old friends." He placed his hand +on my shoulder and forced me to a seat, whilst D'Amboise, still +holding the letter in his hand, looked at us with a puzzled air. + +"St. Dennis!" he exclaimed. "What does this mean, Bayard?" + +"It means, your eminence, that this is a gallant gentleman who has +been most basely used; but pardon me--the letter." + +He took the letter from the cardinal's hands and read it quickly, +whilst I sat still, with emotions in my heart I cannot describe, and +D'Amboise glanced from one to another with a half-amused, half-curious +look on his keen face. Bayard finished his perusal in a few seconds, +and laying the letter on the table said, "Nothing could be better. We +should be prepared for action, although there is yet plenty of time. I +wonder how in the world the Florentine got wind of this?" + +"Oh, he has long ears. We shall, however, want a good sword, and if +all that the secretary writes is true, we have got it in your friend +the Cavaliere Donati. In fact Machiavelli suggests him for the task." + +"My name, your eminence, is not Donati," I here put in, "but Savelli. +When misfortune overtook me, I changed my name; but I see no reason +for hiding the truth from you." + +"Quite right," said D'Amboise, "but Savelli! Is this the Savelli of +the Arezzo affair, Bayard?" + +Bayard nodded assent, and the cardinal continued, turning to me. +"Then, sir, I have heard your story, and you have more friends than +you think. But of this, later on. Were you not at Fornovo?" + +"Yes," I replied, wondering what the cardinal's speech meant. + +"_Ciel!_ I made out your patent of St. Lazare myself. What could have +made Tremouille act as he did I do not know, and he is as obstinate as +a mule. Bayard, I know all about this gentleman, and your testimony to +his worth convinces me that what I have heard is correct. I could +never believe the story myself." + +"My lords, you may doubt; but the world----" + +"Will yet come round to you, cavaliere," said Bayard, and added, "Your +eminence could not have a better sword for your purpose than that of +M. di Savelli here, provided he will accept the task." + +"I will accept anything from you, my lords," I said. + +"Good," said D'Amboise, "now let me tell you how you stand. Acting +doubtless in the advice of friends, Madame d'Entrangues wrote to me a +full account of the affair, which ended so badly for you, and +explained fully her husband's treachery. This she begged me to forward +to Tremouille with a view of getting your sentence altered. As you +have just been made aware, I have some knowledge of you, and it was a +thousand pities to see a sword, which had served France well, turned +away. I laid the matter before the duke, but he replied to say he +could take no action. The duchess, who is my cousin, has also used her +influence but to no purpose, for Tremouille stirs his porridge with +his own hand, and does not care if it burn or not, as long as he stirs +it himself. We could get the king's pardon for you, and as a last +resource that might be done, for I like as little to be thwarted as +His Grace of Tremouille; but that will raise you up a strong enemy in +the duke, and it will not kill the story--you see." + +"I do, your eminence. How can I thank you?" + +"I do not want your thanks, cavaliere; but France wants your sword. +Your only way is to do a signal service for France, and after this the +matter is easy. Tremouille is generous, and it would want but a little +pressure to make him rescind his sentence apparently of his own +accord, provided you could do what I have said. Strange how fate +works!" + +I remained silent, and D'Amboise went on: "Such a service it is +possible for you to do, and I will put it in your way. I cannot at +present give you details as they have to be discussed with the +secretary, who will shortly be in Rome. This much, however, I can tell +you; get together a few good men, you doubtless can lay your hands on +them, and be ready. You will no doubt want funds, but they will be +arranged for. In the meantime you may consider yourself as attached to +my suite--a moment," he continued as I was about to pour out my +thanks, "you had better for the present call yourself Donati. I know +something of the history of Roman families, and your name would not +smell well to the Chigi and Colonna, and remember the Tiber is very +deep." + +He touched a small handbell as he concluded, and the page appeared. +"Defaure," he said, "send the Abbé Le Clere and my gentlemen to me; +after that you will please inform the steward that apartments are to +be prepared at once for M. Donati, who is here." The page bowed and +vanished, and as I rose to await the coming of the suite, the cardinal +went on with a smile, "Messieurs in the ante-room are doubtless +getting impatient; we must make haste to receive them." As he said +these words a grey-haired priest entered, bearing on a cushion the +scarlet hat of a prince of the church, and following him, half-a-dozen +gentlemen, and grooms of the chamber. The cardinal rose, and leaning +on the arm of Bayard, walked slowly towards the door. Le Clerc bore +the hat immediately before him, and the rest of us formed a queue +behind. As we came to the door it was flung open by two lackeys in a +blue and silver livery, who shouted out-- + +"My Lord Cardinal--way--way." + +We passed into the room where the people were arranged in two rows, +and D'Amboise walked down the line, bowing to one, exchanging a word +or two with another, until he came opposite Corte. The doctor dropped +to his knee, and presenting his book, solicited the cardinal's +influence to obtain for him an audience with the Pope, to whom he +desired to dedicate his work. + +"_Perte!_" said the cardinal. "Why not go to his eminence of +Strigonia--books are more in his line than--well, we shall see--we +shall see." + +He passed on, and the next group that caught his eye was that of the +young stranger in the cloth of gold and his companion. + +As the cardinal approached, the young man drew a letter from his vest, +and presented it with a low bow. + +D'Amboise tore it open and glanced over the contents. "_Diable!_" he +exclaimed, "from Madame de la Tremouille herself. See here, Bayard, +the Duchess writes, introducing her friend the Chevalier St. +Armande--I know not the house." + +"We are of Picardy, your eminence." + +The voice was singularly sweet and soft, and a strange and undefinable +resemblance in its tones to some other voice I had heard struck me, +but I could not fix upon anything. + +"The Duchess says you are anxious to serve; would it not have been +easier to send you to the Duke?" + +St. Armande looked round with a heightened colour, and then replied, +speaking in the same low, soft tones: + +"If your eminence will kindly read the letter, you will perceive that +my desire was to see something of the court of Rome before joining the +duke." + +D'Amboise glanced at the letter again, and an odd smile passed over +his face. + +"I see," he added, "the postscript--My dear Chevalier, Madame de la +Tremouille's requests are commands to me. If you will do me the honour +of joining my suite, I shall be delighted. Permit me to introduce you +to the Cavaliere Donati, who is also a new friend." + +I bowed and extended my hand, and St. Armande placed his within mine. +It was small and delicate as a woman's, and as I clasped it for a +moment, it felt as chill and cold as death. + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + THE GIFT OF BAYARD. + + +The levée lasted some little time, as D'Amboise, who was studious of +the arts of gaining popularity, listened with apparent interest to any +one who chose to address him, and seemed to possess a wonderful memory +for even the most trifling details. This was, in fact, an informal +reception, which the cardinal, both as a prince of the Church, and the +representative of France at the Papal Court, held daily, and hither +came all the lesser members of the French party in Rome, and all those +who hoped to gain something from the prelate by the simple process of +asking; for D'Amboise was known to be generous and free, despite an +occasional testiness of manner, such as he had exhibited to Corte, and +shown in the first instance to St. Armande. + +Corte I spoke to no more that day; but I saw him, where he had +retreated to the extreme end of the room, his book under his arm, +evidently waiting to make his exit. St. Armande took his place beside +me, his companion, the abbé, dropping into the rear. Once he, St. +Armande, hazarded a remark, which I did not catch, and therefore did +not answer. In truth, I was in no mood for speaking, my mind being +full of my eventful interview with the cardinal and Bayard, and I was +more than grateful for the happy chance that had enabled me to draw my +sword in aid of the secretary Machiavelli. I thought too of Madame +D'Entrangues, and of what she had done in my behalf, and would have +given much to have thanked her for her efforts, fruitless although +they apparently were. But what struck me most of all was the fact, +that whilst in my misery at Florence I was upbraiding fate, and all +but cursing God, friends were at work, trying to help and aid me, and +this taught me a lesson. + +At last the levée came to an end. The last petition monger had made +his request, D'Amboise had made his last pleasant speech, and, turning +slowly round, we made our way back, when the cardinal retired with +Bayard to an inner apartment, leaving us to our own devices. St. +Armande, whose appearance attracted general attention, was surrounded +by the gentlemen of the suite, who asked the last news of the court, +and the last scandal of Maçon, where Louis was, holding high revelry, +instead of marching, as he should have done, at once into Italy, after +the defeat of Cesare at Fossombrone. The result of his action being a +further truce that much delayed his success, and indeed very nearly +ruined his chances, which were great at the time. As for me, I was +left to myself; no one coming near me except the huge hound, which +rose slowly, and approaching, surveyed me with a grave interest. Then, +apparently satisfied, he wagged his tail in approval, and touched my +hand with his grim muzzle. I ran my fingers over his shaggy coat with +a caressing motion, and, observing Defaure, the page whom I had first +addressed on arrival, begged him to show me my apartments, enquiring +at the same time of Jacopo and the horses. + +"The house is full, signore," he replied, "but we have done what we +could for your accommodation. The horses have been attended to, and +the Sergeant Jacopo awaits you in your rooms." + +"Thanks, friend," and I followed him, smiling a little to myself at +the French rank which Jacopo had assumed, no doubt out of compliment +to our host, my new employer. We passed out by the same entrance by +which I had come in, and, crossing a courtyard, the page ushered me to +a set of apartments in an outbuilding, and left me with the +information that dinner would be served at noon for the cardinal as +well as the gentlemen of the suite. + +I found Jacopo in high glee. He had set out all my apparel, and was +engaged in burnishing his sword. This he put down as I came in, and +burst into speech. + +"Blood of St. John! Excellency, but did I not say luck would turn? +Yesterday we were anywhere," and he held up both hands with the +fingers outstretched, "to-day, behold!" and he waved his arms around +the room, which was certainly fitted with luxury, and struck me as all +the more luxurious after my past privations. + +"The horses, Jacopo?" + +"Are well as might be, signore, and munching their corn as if they +were never to have another feed. Does your excellency mean to stay +long in this land of plenty?" + +"Not for long, Jacopo. And harkee! Remember not to address me by any +other name than that of Donati. Do not let a hint of my real name +escape you, and avoid babbling over the wine cup." + +"I will be dumb, excellency." + +"A good deal depends on your prudence in this, and you must take care +not to fail. Now to business, and keep your ears open and your head +clear. How do we stand as regards funds?" + +Jacopo, to whom I had entrusted my money, pulled out a leather purse +and counted the contents. + +"There are five-and-thirty crowns with me, signore, and five I gave +your worship this morning, making forty in all," and he restored the +purse to its hiding-place under his belt. + +"Enough for our needs at present, and more will be forthcoming soon, +for there is business in hand." + +"I said that luck would turn," repeated Jacopo, his face showing joy +at the news. + +"Never mind the luck, but attend to me. I want to enlist half-a-dozen +good men, men who will go anywhere and do anything. They must bring +their own arms and horses, and I will engage them for a month, and pay +each man five crowns." + +"That is at the rate of sixty crowns a year for each man. We could +enlist half Rome for that." + +"Probably, but it isn't half Rome, only half-a-dozen men I want." + +"Very true, your worship, and I will doubtless be able to find them; +but, excellency----" + +"What is it?" + +"Six men at five crowns each makes thirty crowns, and--" + +"Did I not say more will be forthcoming? You need not pay them in +advance. Two crowns each on enlisting, and the remainder on completion +of the task. Will that do?" + +"It is enough surely." + +"Very well, then you may set about this at once, and remember that +they should be lodged close at hand, and be ready to go anywhere at a +moment's notice." + +"Excellency." + +Whilst this conversation was going on I had effected such change in my +attire as was possible, resolving to take the first opportunity the +following day to summon a tailor and give him orders for things for +which I stood in need. Jacopo was just about to depart when Defaure, +the page, appeared, bearing with him a note and a ruleau, which he +said was from his eminence. These he left with me and retired, saying +there was no answer. The note was brief, merely hoping I was in +comfort, and sending me in the ruleau a hundred crowns, with the +intimation that if I needed them another hundred was ready for me. The +sum, however, was more than ample, and giving Jacopo further +directions to engage a couple of lackeys I sent him away, rejoicing at +my good fortune, with a present of ten crowns for himself, which the +honest fellow at first refused to take, and only accepted on my +pressing the sum on him. + +This being done there was nothing left for me but to await the dinner +hour, and I strolled down to the stables to look at the horses, which +were in truth in such luxury as perhaps the poor beasts had never +enjoyed. A groom of the cardinal's establishment had attended to them, +and I slipped a piece of silver into his hand for his trouble. He bit +this to test whether it was genuine or not, and then settled himself +on a heap of hay to mend some saddlery. + +I left him to his occupation, and, with a parting caress to my beasts, +moved further on to look at the other animals. And here, meeting the +head groom, I had some conversation with him, admiring the cardinal's +stud. + +"Yes, excellency," he said, "they are good horses, notably the two +barbs which the Soldan Djem presented to his eminence, but there are +other two now in our stables, belonging to the Sieur de Bayard, the +like of which I have never seen. They are this way, excellency, if you +will but accompany me." + +I readily assented, and passing by the barbs, whose slight delicate +frames belied their powers of speed and endurance, we came to a couple +of stalls, in which there were a pair of war-horses that fully +justified the head groom's praise. They were both English, and I +recognised the breed, as Hawkwood had brought three or four with him +from Britain, saying, and with truth, that they were the only animals +that could ever carry him when in full mail. But the two before me in +the stables were as superior to Hawkwood's as a barb is to a mule. One +was the great bay Bayard was riding on the day of my trial, when he +accompanied the duke and his staff back to Arezzo. The other was a +blue roan, whose colour did not show off his size to advantage, but +whose broad chest, sloping shoulders, and lean flanks marked his +power. His eyes were mild and soft, yet full of fire, and his small +head was set like that of a stag upon his strong neck. Two grooms, +bearing on their liveries the arms of the house of Terrail, of which +the Seigneur de Bayard was chief, were in attendance, and set to work +with a somewhat unnecessary zeal on our appearance to polish the coats +of their charges which already shone like satin. Whilst engaged in +admiring these splendid animals, I heard the deep bay of the hound +behind me, and turning, saw Bayard himself who had come to visit his +favourites. I complimented him on the possession of two such steeds, +as who would not have done, and Bayard said-- + +"Yes, they are fine animals, truly the finest I have ever seen, except +perhaps the one-eyed Savoy, who was also of the same breed; and yet I +am not sure," and he ran his eyes over the horses. "They were given to +me, along with Bran here"--he touched the head of the hound--"by His +Majesty, Henry of England, when I was taken prisoner in the English +War." + +"A noble gift." + +"Yes--from a noble prince. And you really admire them, cavaliere?" + +"Yes--and I knew Savoy too, and doubt if he was better." + +"What can knight want more? A good horse, a good hound,"--and his face +saddened a little--"a true love. _Pardieu!_ but I must see to that +last. My castle on the Garonne needs a chatelaine." + +I said nothing, knowing of the one great sorrow of his life, which he +bore so bravely, and which I knew had bitten to his heart for all his +gay words. + +"Castor and Pollux I call them," he said, indicating the horses with a +slight gesture. "Not that they are alike, except in speed and courage; +but that they are both supposed to have been born the same day, and +have never been separated. The best of friends must, however, part, +and a knight wants no more than one horse; so, cavaliere, if you will +accept Castor, the blue roan there, you will find that he will never +fail you." + +I could hardly speak for the moment, and at first stoutly refused to +take so valuable a gift; but Bayard would have no denial, and the +short of it was that Castor was led into one of the stalls reserved +for me. + +To say that I was grateful would be to say very little; but I will +merely add here that the gift itself was only equalled by the manner +of the giver. I accompanied Bayard into the garden, which lay to the +west of the palace, and in course of conversation told him that I had +received the sum sent by D'Amboise, and of the steps I had taken to +get together a few men, and assured him that whatever the task was +that I was to be set to perform, nothing but death itself would cut +short my endeavour. Our talk then drifted to other matters, and he +gave me some information of interest concerning Madame D'Entrangues. +It appeared that D'Entrangues, who had a friend at court in his +kinsman, Etienne de Vesci, the seneschal of Beauçaire, had forwarded a +strong petition against Tremouille's decision regarding himself, and a +prayer that the king would restore him to his position, and compel +Madame D'Entrangues to return to him. As if he himself had not +abandoned her! Owing to his influence with Cesare he had moreover +obtained an order from Alexander denying madame the refuge of a +convent. Louis had, however, declined to interfere with Tremouille's +decision, but had ordered madame to leave the court and return to her +husband. Fearing that force would be resorted to in order to compel +her to return to D'Entrangues she had fled from the protection of the +Duchesse de la Tremouille, who denied all knowledge of her movements, +and the matter stood there. By this time it was almost approaching the +dinner hour, and we separated, Bayard, followed close at his heels by +Bran, going to seek the cardinal, and I returning to my chamber, where +I found Jacopo who had just come back. He had been to the stables on +his way up, and was loud in his praise of Castor. + +"They say he is fleet as the wind, excellency, and he is as gentle as +a lambkin. It is a glorious steed, and a princely gift." + +"It is so; but what success have you had?" + +"None as yet about the swords, signore; there has not been time; but I +have engaged a couple of grooms and a lackey, and ordered plain +liveries for them. The grooms are even now with the horses, and the +lackey will be here to-morrow." + +"Very well, there is time enough. Basta! There go the trumpets. His +eminence must be served." + +We made our way to the dining-hall, entering it almost at the same +time as the cardinal, his guests, and the rest of the suite. At the +high table on the _daïs_ sat the cardinal, with Bayard, another prince +of the church whom I afterwards found out was the Cardinal of +Strigonia, a scion of the house of Este, and a tall, sombre-looking +man, with high aquiline features, and a complexion almost as dark as a +Moor's. He was plainly and simply dressed, wearing a light steel +corselet over his jerkin, and round his neck the ribbon of St. James +of Compostella, whilst the order itself, a red enamel sword with a +_fleur-de-lis hilt_, set in an oval white enamel medallion with a red +border, studded with brilliants, flashed at his throat. His short, +closely-cropped hair was white as snow, but the long moustache which +dropped over his mouth and short, pointed beard, was untouched by a +streak of grey. Altogether a remarkable man, one whom no one could +pass by without looking at twice; and in me he excited the greatest +interest, for he was none other than Ganalvo de Cordova, the "Great +Captain," and the most skilful general of the age. He had only a few +weeks before driven Marshal d'Aubigny out of Calabria, and was +marching straight on against Tremouille, when the cessation of +hostilities stopped his plans, and suddenly resigning his command he +had come to Rome, for what purpose no one knew, although it was said +that his resignation and difference with the Spanish Court was but a +blind. + +Be that as it may, I had now an opportunity of seeing together, seated +side by side, the dark and stern grandee of Spain, as able as he was +cruel, as vindictive as he was brave; and the brilliant and polished +Bayard, who seemed to have gathered in his person all the noblest +qualities of knighthood, and on the white shield of whose honour there +was never a stain. And how different was the fate of these two men! De +Cordova, after holding the highest offices, after being practically a +king, after shedding an imperishable glory on his country by his +victories, and staining her memory indelibly by his perfidy, died at +last, with all his fine spun webs broken. And Bayard--old as I am, my +eyes grow moist when I think of that glorious day at the passage of +the Sesia, when, covered with wounds, overborne by numbers, and +fighting to the last against hopeless odds, Pierre du Terrail gave +back his soul to God. But long years were to pass before this +happened, and Bayard was at present in the hey-dey of his career. + +The table for the gentlemen of the suite was placed just below the +_daïs_, and extending further down the room were other tables, for all +who could obtain seats thereat, whilst at the extreme end of the room +was a high stand, whence any one was at liberty to bear away as much +of a meal as he could carry off on the point of his dagger. + +Estimating roughly, I should say that fully three hundred persons +dined daily, in this manner, with D'Amboise, and this hospitality, +which he exercised in the manner of a French feudal noble, was the +subject of much amusement at the Papal Court, where they prided +themselves on a more refined and delicate style of living. At any +rate, all that was here was safe to touch, and no one had need to fear +that a dinner at the Palazzo Corneto with the Cardinal of Rouen was a +prelude to a supper with St. Peter in heaven. His eminence, who was a +notable trencherman, beamed down from his high seat on us all, and +tried valiantly to assay conclusions with the Cardinal of Strigonia; +but was compelled at last to own himself beaten, for Ippolyte d'Este +was one in a thousand at table; in fact, this jovial prelate ended his +days suddenly, after a prodigious dinner, which began at eleven in the +morning and ended at four in the afternoon, concluding with so light a +dainty as a dish of roasted cray-fish, washed down with a bottle of +vernaccia, a wine of which he was inordinately fond. At our own table, +there were about a dozen or more, and I found myself seated next to +St. Armande, whilst opposite to me was Le Clerc, the cardinal's +chaplain, and next to him an officer of the Papal Guards, a Spaniard, +who spoke little and ate much. St. Armande passed by the wine, +drinking only water, and in reply to a question of mine answered that +he was under a vow. + +"We can absolve you here easily, chevalier," said Le Clerc, who +overheard the remark, "here is some Orvieto which I can recommend," +and he pushed the flask towards St. Armande. + +The latter, however, would not be tempted, and Le Clerc shook his +head. + +"A wilful man must have his way, chevalier; but that Orvieto was a +present from Pierrot, Our Lord's most favoured servant." + +"Indeed," said the Spaniard; "then I can safely say it is the last +present you will receive from Don Pierrot." + +"How so?" + +"Cesare arrived last night, very suddenly, with two men only, they +say. He has not, however, yet seen His Holiness--although he is in the +Vatican." + +Le Clerc remained silent, but St. Armande asked in his low voice-- + +"I do not follow, sir. Could you not explain? Unless I ask too much. +You see I am a stranger to Rome." + +The Spaniard smiled grimly. + +"It means, chevalier, that Pierrot was found this morning with a +dagger sticking up to the hilt in his heart." + +St. Armande turned pale, and Le Clerc asked in a low tone-- + +"Are you sure of this? When did it happen?" + +"As sure as I sit here. It happened an hour or so after Cesare's +coming. The Pope is said to be overcome with grief," and the lips of +Don Diego de Leyva took a sarcastic curve. + +"Great heavens!" said Le Clerc. "Poor Pierrot!" + +The chaplain rose from his seat with a slight apology, and approaching +D'Amboise, leaned over him and whispered a few words in his ear. The +cardinal nodded with apparent unconcern, and Le Clerc came back; but +watching D'Amboise narrowly, I saw that although he still appeared to +laugh and jest, his eyes were grave and his brow troubled. In fact, +shortly afterwards, the high table broke up, and we followed suit very +soon. Despite his effeminate appearance, I had begun to take a liking +to St. Armande, and as the next few hours were at our disposal, I +invited him to ride out with me, as I had a mind to try Castor's +paces. This, however, he declined, with the somewhat shy air that +marked his manner, and leaving him to his devices, I ordered Castor to +be saddled and took him out. When I returned, about five in the +afternoon, I felt that all that had been said of the generous beast I +rode, underrated his value, and that I possessed a matchless steed, +who was fit to run for a kingdom. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + FRIEND OR FOE. + + +For the next few days the routine of my life was exactly the same, the +morning attendance at the cardinal's levée, the daily dinner in +public, and long rides with Castor in the afternoons, in which I was +sometimes accompanied by St. Armande; but this was not always +possible, as he was closely attached to D'Amboise's person. D'Amboise +frequently asked me to accompany him to the Vatican; but up to now I +had begged permission to decline his invitation, on the plea that, +with the business before me, it would perhaps be well for me to +live as much in retreat as possible. The cardinal said, with that +good-tempered laugh of his, which entirely belied his astute scheming +nature, that as I was as yet ignorant of my task, I need not be so +careful. I replied to his eminence, that it was just because I was in +the dark, that I was so circumspect, and he was then good enough to +agree with me. I was, however, naturally anxious to see something of +the Vatican, and one of my reasons for refusing, besides that of +prudence, was that I was not sufficiently well equipped. This, +however, with the funds at my disposal, was soon mended, but from some +cause or other, I had up to now not gone. Jacopo was not so successful +as he anticipated he would be, in raising his men. It was, above all, +necessary to have them trustworthy, and it was difficult to get men of +this class for a merely temporary employment such as I offered. At +last the matter was arranged, and by the end of the week I mustered a +body of six stout fellows, all of them fairly well mounted, and what +was better, all of them trained soldiers. I had them lodged near the +Ripetta, and the cardinal's table afforded them a free dinner, of +which they were not slow to take advantage. In order to keep them +employed, I took them out with me every afternoon, dismissing them +upon my return, with orders to join the nightly escort of the cardinal +and Bayard, to and from the Vatican. I saw a good deal of Bayard, and +at times expressed myself with impatience at being kept to cool my +heels. He told me he was not at liberty to mention the details of the +business on which I was to be employed, and advised me to bide my time +with a patient heart. Amongst other matters we spoke of was the murder +of Pierrot, and Bayard told me that Cesare Borgia had left Rome the +next day without seeing his father, the Pope, and that he was crushing +out completely the stand made against him by my old chief Vitelli of +Citta del Castello, and others. + +I took Bayard's advice and held patience by the tail, although I +longed for work to begin. My men were in good fettle. They had enough +work to keep them out of mischief, the pay was good, they had +sufficient leisure for amusement, and there was therefore no +grumbling. + +I used to sup alone in my rooms, occasionally asking St. Armande to +join me; and after supper we diced together for an hour or so, for +very small points. He was an infant at the game, and I taught him a +good deal, so much so, that after a little practice, for he was very +quick with his wrist, he mastered my favourite throw, and one evening +after returning from the Vatican, he knocked me up in my rooms, and +flung on the table a bag of gold pieces. + +"Three hundred of them, cavaliere!" he said, "I won them from Fabrizio +Colonna, who is looking green with rage. If your purse is running +short, they are at your service. Ha! I see a flask of Orvieto--may I?" +and he poured himself out a goblet, at which he began to sip, in +apparent defiance of his vow. + +"The devil!" I exclaimed, "but you are flying at high stakes, +chevalier. Your Picard estates must be broad. Thanks all the same for +your offer, but my purse is as full as I want it at present." + +He leaned back in his chair, with a pink flush on his delicate +features. + +"I meant no offence, cavaliere; but what is the use of money unless +one can share it with a friend?" + +"There was no offence taken, St. Armande," I replied, "and if you will +take none, I would like to have my say at you." + +He looped one finger in his golden moustache, and showed his even +teeth in his smile, as he said, "Speak on." + +"Then, chevalier, it seems to me a thousand pities that a young man +like you should waste your time here, as you appear to be doing. I +understood you to say you had never seen a sword drawn in earnest as +yet--and your moustache is grown! Take my advice. Play no more for +gold pieces with Colonna or anyone else. Mount your horse, and join +Tremouille at once." + +"Ah! that is good," he said; "and why does the grave and reverend +Cavaliere Donati waste his time here, hanging at the heels of a +churchman, and moping o' nights like an owl on a ruined wall, instead +of stirring the times himself with the point of his sword?" + +With any other I would have been annoyed; with the youth before me I +was slightly amused, and at the same time a trifle surprised. Hitherto +he had appeared so shy and reserved, and now, of a sudden, he had +thrown this off, and had put on an air which I had not noticed before, +but which became him vastly. I set it down to the fact that perhaps he +was slightly warmed with wine, having apparently absolved himself from +his vow; although of course I did not appear to notice this last, as +he was in a manner my guest. I therefore made reply. + +"My reasons for my action, chevalier, are good, and when the time +comes I promise you I shall not be found sleeping." + +The gentle reproof in my words seemed to bring him back to his old +self, for by the light of the candles I observed him flush scarlet, +and that curious look which recalled a strange resemblance to some one +I knew, but could not remember, came over his features. I began to +relent as I saw his confusion, almost as soon as I had spoken; and +added, "I may say that the time is not far distant--that it is a +matter of days only." + +"Take me with you." + +He asked this almost in a tone of entreaty, keeping his eyes away from +me, however, and nervously twisting at his moustache. + +"And your secretary, as you call him, the abbé?" + +"Oh, he will come too, and we could confess to him." + +I hesitated for a second, and then made answer. + +"Very well. Only you must be prepared to start at a moment's notice, +and there will probably be hard riding and hard fighting, and there is +yet another thing." + +"What is that?" + +"You must come as a simple volunteer, and must make no enquiry as to +what the business is on which I am engaged. I risk my life for my own +purposes; if you wish to do likewise you are welcome to join me, on +the condition I have just stated." + +"I accept with pleasure." + +"Then that is settled, and I have a new comrade." + +"Hurrah!" and he raised his glass to his lips. + +After that he retired, it being late. I saw him across the courtyard +as far as his apartments, and then returning to my rooms, +unconsciously took the chair St. Armande had vacated. The goblet of +wine he had filled was before me, and I idly lifted it in my hand. It +was barely touched. In fact he could but have tasted a few drops only. + +Like lightning a suspicion of treachery came on me. The man had been +pretending to drink. With what object? I could not make out. Was the +offer of the money a blind? Perhaps so, and if then? I had been a fool +to agree to his joining me, with that sour-looking abbé of his. Yes, I +had been a fool, but it was lucky I discovered my own folly in time. I +should keep my eyes on this silken diplomat, and if necessary pick a +quarrel with him, and run him through. Somehow I did not like the idea +of this, however; but determined to get rid of him in one way or the +other. I would allow nothing to stand between me and the road back to +honour. So musing I sat for a half-hour or so, and was startled by +Jacopo's sudden entry, so lost was I in thought. He came and stood, +bolt upright, next to my chair, without saying a word. I knew from +this that he had some request to make, some favour to ask, as +otherwise he would not have hesitated to make play with his tongue at +once. + +"What is it Jacopo?" + +He shifted uneasily from one foot to the other, and then replied-- + +"Your excellency, I want leave." + +"Leave! What for? You are not going to be married, are you?" + +"Heaven and the saints forbid, excellency. No--no--it is not that, it +is only leave for the day I want, and also for our men." + +"The devil! What are you going to do?" + +"Only a little dinner, excellency, which I am giving." + +"And wasting those crowns you got the other day. Well, that is your +affair, not mine. Yes, you can have the leave." + +"A hundred thanks, excellency." + +"Mind you, there must be no brawling, no trouble." + +"Excellency." + +"Well, good night, and remember what I say. Here, you might remove +this wine-cup as you go." + +"Good-night, signore," and Jacopo, lifting the goblet, went out. The +night being fairly warm, I kept my door open, and as he passed into +the portico, I saw him drain the contents of the goblet with a gulp, +and heard him draw his lips together with a smack of approval, and +march off to his quarters, chuckling at something or other. + +The following afternoon I rode out with Bayard and half-a-dozen +others. It was a hawking party, and there was a long gallop to our +point of operation, which was to begin a little way beyond Ponte +Molle. In a short time we started a noble heron, and Bayard flinging +his peregrine into the air, we rode after the birds. It was a glorious +ride, and Castor and Pollux far outstripped the others, so much so +that when we drew rein beside the stricken heron, and Bayard slipped +the hood on to his hawk, our companions were not in sight. This, +however, troubled us little, and turning rein we made backwards. On +our way back I seized the opportunity to mention to Bayard that St. +Armande had volunteered to aid me in my task, and that I had accepted +his offer. + +"It will do him good," he said; "he seems a noble youth, who has been +tied too long to apron-strings." + +"Do you think so?" I said; "he strikes me as being effeminate to a +degree--and yet I cannot help liking him." + +"He has a wonderful pure mind," said Bayard; "the boy, for he is no +less, is as innocent as a child." + +"The Vatican will not improve him then, especially if he plays for +gold crowns with Colonna." + +"Plays for gold crowns!" exclaimed Bayard; "you are surely mistaken, +cavaliere." + +"Did he not do so last night, my lord? I understood he won three +hundred off Fabrizio?" + +"Impossible," said Bayard, "I was at the Vatican last night, and the +party in which Colonna was playing consisted of Strigonia, Monsignore +Florido, our Lord the Pope, and Colonna himself--no more. St. Armande +was standing hard at hand for some little time, but never took a +wager. In fact, he passed most of the evening with Giulia Bella, +thrumming on a lute, much to the annoyance of his holiness. I should +say it would be well for him to quit Rome." + +"Then I am wrong," I said; "yes, I fancy it would be well for him to +quit Rome." + +By this time the others came up, and we said no more. As we went back +to Rome, I dropped a little behind, reflecting on what Bayard had told +me. It was certain that St. Armande had lied to me, and I began to +feel sure he had done this not for my good. In short, it seemed to me +that this innocent looking boy, with his shy retiring manners and +apparent want of knowledge of the world, was nothing more or less than +an accomplished actor. Then again he was a Frenchman, and how came he, +obviously fresh from France, to become an agent of the Medici +plotters, for so I put him down to be? There were the letters from +Madame de la Tremouille, his introductions were unimpeachable, the +cardinal believed in him--the whole thing was contradictory. Above +all, there was my strong personal liking for St. Armande. In his +presence I never felt that secret warning which all men feel when they +are with an enemy. I have never known it fail with me, and with St. +Armande there was no such warning, no such silent signal which goes +straight from soul to soul. On the contrary, I felt he was almost more +than friendly towards me, and I felt, in my turn towards him, despite +our short acquaintance, very nearly the same protective feeling that +one has towards a defenceless child. As may be imagined, I was in no +very comfortable frame of mind about this, and rode back silently, +revolving the point. When we reached the palace, almost the first +person I met was St. Armande, and as I dismounted he came up to me +with a cordial greeting and asked-- + +"Well, cavaliere, good sport I trust?" + +"Very," I replied shortly, and then looked him straight in the face as +I added, "Do you intend to give the Colonna his revenge to-night?" + +Something in my tone caught him, he met my eyes for a moment, then +dropped his gaze, and looked towards the ground. We stood thus before +each other for a little time before he replied, and his voice was +almost inaudible. + +"Perhaps--I am not sure," he added with an effort. + +I was standing, holding Castor's reins; but as he spoke I handed the +horse over to a groom, and, linking my arm in St. Armande's, said +loudly, and with a tone of affected gaiety: + +"You missed a great ride, chevalier--come take a turn with me in the +garden." + +He yielded passively, and in a few steps we had crossed the courtyard +and were in a secluded portion of the palace gardens that was called +the Lemon Walk. This I may add was subsequently improved out of +existence by the architect, in the course of completion of the palace +and grounds. When we reached this spot I unslipped my arm, and turning +round faced St. Armande, having resolved to end my suspicions. + +"See here, chevalier," I said, "I am playing for heavy stakes, I am +walking on dangerous ground, and must know where I put my feet; will +you answer a plain question, are you friend or foe?" + +He looked round him in a helpless sort of way, his colour coming and +going, but said nothing. Was it possible the man was a coward? + +"If you do not reply," I said, "I will take the risk, and treat you as +an enemy, do you hear? you lied to me when you said last night you had +played at the Vatican with Colonna--now draw." I pulled out my weapon, +and stood before him, expecting every instant to see his rapier in his +hands; but he stood absolutely still, his head hanging down. + +"Man," I said, "have you not heard? Am I to think you a coward as well +as a liar?" + +"How dare you say that!" he burst out. "You--you of all men--Oh! what +am I saying! Yes, I did not play with Colonna; but I thought you were +hard pressed for money, and--and invented the fiction, thinking that +perhaps----" + +"That perhaps I would accept your winnings over the gambling table, +rather than the offer of a friend. You do me much honour, chevalier." + +"You wrong me, Savelli,--nay, start not. I know your name and story, +and, before heaven, I say I am your friend." + +"You know me!" + +"Yes, and am working for you; come, put by your sword. Look at me! Do +I look like an enemy?" + +He had recovered himself, and met my gaze fearlessly. Where could I +have seen that face before? I drew my hand over my forehead as if to +sweep the cobwebs from my memory, but with no avail. + +"Well," he went on, with a smile, "do I look like an enemy? If I do, +your sword is ready. Strike now, it will be a quick riddance, come!" + +I put back my sword with a snap. + +"I do not understand, but I accept your explanation." + +He held out his hand frankly. + +"That is right, and you will still let me be your comrade?" + +I took his grasp. + +"Yes, if you wish it." + +We walked back together in silence, and on reaching the courtyard St. +Armande said, + +"I am afraid I have fallen much in your esteem." + +"My esteem, chevalier, is at present of no value to man or woman." + +"Do you think so?" he said, and then rapidly, "Adieu for the present; +remember, I hold you to your word that you think me a friend." + +I made no answer, and he ran lightly up the steps of the principal +entrance. + +I supped that evening for a change with the gentlemen of the suite; +but St. Armande was not there, and there were a few free remarks made +concerning the manner in which he was supposed to have been received +at the Vatican by Giulia Orsini, and Lucrezia Borgia. + +"If it goes on like this," said Le Clerc, "we will have to drag the +Tiber for his body, and say masses for his soul, unless he puts the +seas between himself and the Borgia." + +"He never struck me as a man to run after the ladies," I said. + +"No," replied the abbé, "but it is the other way. You would stand no +chance against him, cavalier, for all your long moustache--a thousand +thanks," and the genial Le Clerc seized the flagon of Orvieto I passed +to him, and filled his goblet. + +After this the conversation changed, and I shortly retired to my +apartments, and dismissing my lackey, sat down to read a book on +falconry that the cardinal had lent me. I had not been occupied thus +for an hour when the door opened, and Jacopo cautiously peeped in. He +withdrew his head on catching my eye, and I heard him shuffling +outside. + +"Come in." + +"Excellency," and the sound of further shuffling, but no Jacopo. I +lost patience at this, and fearing at the same time that there had +been trouble, repeated my order to come in sharply. This had the +desired effect; but as soon as my henchman appeared in view I made +certain there had been a brawl. He was very red in the face, and from +under the helmet he wore I could see a white bandage. + +"What the devil does this mean, Jacopo?" I asked sternly. + +"I have come to report, excellency." + +"You hardly appear in a fit state to do so." + +"Perfectly fit, excellency," and Jacopo drew himself up to attention +and saluted. + +"Is the matter of importance? For if not, you had better come +to-morrow." + +"Yes, your excellency--matter of importance. By your worship's leave, +as you are aware, I gave a dinner to-day, and we had----" + +"Never mind what you had; to the point." + +"Boiled meat with sause, sausages with garlic, a _risotto alla +Milanese_----" + +"I do not care what you had, go on fool." + +"I am going on, excellency. Where was I--a _risotto_ did I say? And +bread made with yeast. And for drink, signore----" + +"I doubt not you had store of that, Jacopo." + +"But a dozen flagons or so of wine, your worship--all rosso." + +"Jacopo--you will be good enough to retire at once." + +"I am retiring, excellency; but my report." + +"Will do for to-morrow." + +"As your worship desires; but we have burnt the inn." + +"What!" + +"The inn, where we rested the day of our arrival in Rome, your +worship. What with one thing and another, the landlord footed up his +bill to four crowns. And I said to my friends, 'What! Are honest +soldiers to pay like this?' Whereat there was trouble, excellency; but +we came off best." + +I rose without a word, and seizing Jacopo by the neck, ejected him +from the room, with, I am sorry to say, very considerable violence. + +Cursing myself for my folly in having been so generous, I banged the +door after him, and returned to my book. I could not, however, read, +for my mind was full of the consequences that might arise from this +mad freak of my followers, and I determined to seek out the cardinal +the next day, and obtain his permission to move out of Rome to some +quieter spot, and there await his instructions. Amidst it all, +however, I could not help being pleased at the thought that +retributive justice had overtaken the scoundrel tavern-keeper, the +memory of whose bed made me shudder. I had no doubt that Jacopo was +speaking the truth, and that, even as he spoke, the flames were +sputtering merrily above that den of thieves. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + THE VATICAN. + + +The next morning I sought an early interview with D'Amboise, and +stated to him what had occurred, proposing that I should leave Rome at +once, and await his instructions at any point he should fix. To my +surprise he did not regard the matter in so serious a light, saying +that a small fine would no doubt settle the matter. "My dear +cavaliere," he said, "Our Lord does not desire the death of a sinner, +but only his purse. Make your mind easy, but keep a tighter hand on +your men." + +"I shall assuredly do so, your eminence." + +"Another thing. I think you will have to put aside your shyness, and +attend me to the Vatican for the next few days. It is extraordinary +how suspicious the Court here is. They keep a constant watch on me, +and on all the suite, and your seclusion, and solitary rides out, have +been the subject of remark. The ladies too are taking interest in you. +In fact I have been specially asked to bring you with me, by Madonna +Lucrezia, all owing to a foolish remark made by Strigonia." + +"I am at your eminence's orders." + +"It is a little risk, but I do not want them to think that you are +anything but a mere member of my suite. If there were the slightest +suspicion, all my plans would be upset, and the time is at hand now, a +day or two at the outside." + +"Thank God! I am eating my heart out here." + +"Courage, cavaliere! It will end soon. By the way, is Bayard right in +saying you have enlisted St. Armande?" + +"Yes, your eminence." + +"_Ciel!_ I should not have thought he would have been one for your +purpose. But that is your affair," and he began to laugh. + +"I have seven good swords behind me, your eminence. The chevalier may +or may not do well; but I could hardly refuse his request." + +D'Amboise made no answer, and our interview came to a close. I would, +however, add here that nothing ever came of the burning of the inn. No +complaint was ever laid, as far as I could find out, and the matter +might have been an every-day occurrence, so little attention did it +excite. I of course did not know that affairs had reached to such a +pitch of disorder in Rome, and lived in hourly expectation, +notwithstanding the cardinal's speech, of having considerable worry +over the revengeful zeal of Jacopo. I took care that no such thing was +likely to occur again, and Master Jacopo was penitent, swearing he +would never give me further cause for annoyance. At the _levée_, that +morning, St. Armande was, as usual, beside me, and I whispered to him +to hold himself in readiness, as the time for our business was at +hand. + +"I am glad of that," he answered, his face lighting up. + +"I attend the cardinal to-day to the Vatican," I said, by way of +continuing the conversation. + +"There will be much going on this evening," he made reply. "The +Florentine envoy has been here for the past two days, and the affair +at the Vatican to-night is in his honour. Do you know that you have +excited great curiosity in the hearts of the court ladies?" + +"Indeed? It is not my way." + +"Is it not? Well, Lucrezia expressed a particular desire to see you." + +"I trust it may not lead to the Tiber, chevalier. The attentions of +the Lady Lucrezia are a trifle dangerous." + +His face became very grave. + +"Be civil to her, nothing more," he whispered. "You are quite right. +Oh, how I hate that place!"--and he shivered a little. + +"Well, we will soon be out of it." + +"Please God!" + +There was no one at the high table at dinner that day, both the +cardinal and Bayard having gone to dine with Sforza at the Sforza +Cesarini, quite an informal business, and none of the suite +accompanied them. + +The conversation at our table turned much on affairs, and as there +were for once no guests, speech was very free. + +"The fleur-de-lis will cover our tongues," said Le Clerc, "and to-day +we may let them wag." + +"Then how long is this truce to last?" asked De Briconnet, the captain +of the cardinal's guard. "I am sick of this idleness here," he added. + +"As for that, no man knows whether it is peace or war," replied Le +Clerc. "Tremouille is chafing at Passignano, swearing that the game +was ours if we had only let him march on after Fossombrone, and he was +right. Now Cesare has stamped out the Magione league, and the Borgia +are as strong as ever." + +"How came such a man as Roderigo Borgia ever to be made pope?" I +asked. + +Le Clerc laughed as he passed on the Orvieto. + +"When our Lord, the sainted Innocent, was called away, there were +three favourites in the conclave. One was Giuliano della Rovere, the +other Ascanio Sforza, and the third Roderigo Borgia. His eminence of +St. Sabine's was our man, and the election would have been certain had +not Borgia and Ascanio joined hands and the Milanese voted for +Roderigo." + +"I did not think Sforza would have been so self-sacrificing," said De +Briconnet. + +"There were compensations, Jacques," Le Clerc went on. "Four +mule-loads of gold were given to Ascanio, he was made vice-chancellor +of the church, and given Borgia's own palace, the Cesarini, where his +eminence dines to-day. Immediately after the elections were made I was +at the rota exchanging a few words with your uncle, the cardinal of +St. Malo, and he told me that as soon as the result was known, Medici +turned to Cardinal Cibo, and said, 'We are in the jaws of the wolf! +Heaven grant that he may not devour us!' As for Borgia he could do +nothing but walk about, calling out, 'I am Pope, Pontiff, Vicar of +Christ!'" + +"I do not suppose it can last long," said De Briconnet. + +"Heaven knows. He is close upon seventy-one and grows younger every +day. He is as strong as he was thirty years ago. And there are few men +who can sit a horse as he can, even now." + +"That is true," I remarked, and gave the story of my meeting with the +Borgia on the day of my arrival in Rome. + +Shortly after this our dinner, where speech had been so free, broke +up, and, finding out the hour at which the cardinal would require my +attendance, I took my book on falconry, and repaired to the garden, +intending to pass the afternoon in its perusal. I made for the Lemon +Walk, and found a companion in Bran, who was wandering there in a +disconsolate manner, evidently missing his master. I set myself down +on a sheltered seat, Bran stretching out his length at my feet, his +muzzle resting between his paws, and so we remained in quiet, the dog +absolutely motionless, and I engaged in my book. + +So an hour must have passed, when Bran gave a low growl, and looking +up I ran my eye up and down the walk, but could see nothing. I then +followed the direction in which the dog was gazing, and through the +leaves opposite to me, saw a stretch of green, terminating in a clump +of three huge chestnuts. A further examination showed two figures +standing in the shade of the trees, one of them was St. Armande, and +the other, his secretary, the abbé. But what surprised me, was that +the chevalier appeared to be overcome with some powerful emotion, for +he was leaning with his arm against the trunk of the tree, against +which his face was pressed, and his figure shook as if he were +weeping. The abbé stood by him, with a look of compassion on his +features, and was endeavouring to pacify him. + +It was clear that I was looking at something I was not intended to +see, and with a low, "Quiet, Bran," to the dog, which the well-trained +beast instantly obeyed, I rose, and whistling a catch loudly, walked +down the avenue, with my back towards St. Armande and the abbé, Bran +stalking by my side. I did not look round, and of course could not +tell what happened, but I could not help wondering what it was that +affected St. Armande so strongly. It was hardly the place for the +confessional. Yet it was no business of mine to pry into other +people's affairs. So handing over Bran to a lackey of Bayard, I went +up to my apartment, and attempted to resume my interest in my book. + +This, however, was not possible, for in a few minutes I found myself +with the volume in my lap, my eyes staring into vacancy, and thinking +of St. Armande. I began to try and analyse my feelings towards him, +but beyond that I was certain he had inspired me with a strong +friendship I could go no further. It was this friendship that urged me +to accede to his request to be allowed to share in my coming +adventure, although I was well able to see that he was anything but +fitted for a desperate deed. Still somehow, I could not find it in my +heart to refuse him, although I felt I was doing an unwise thing. I +consoled myself, or rather tried to console myself, with the +reflection that he would have to take his chance like any other man of +my troop, and if he fell, well, there was an end of it, and of him. +Yet I was not comfortable, and then, to give my thoughts another turn, +I bent them on other matters, and it came to my mind that it was a +little surprising I had not heard of D'Entrangues in Rome. + +When Bayard told me of his petition to the king, I had asked whether +anything was known of D'Entrangues' movements, and he said he did not +know. It was curious, too, how I appeared to have entirely mastered +that mad longing for revenge, which at first held me. It was a direct +answer, as it were, to my prayer, and, so thinking, I began to realise +how close in reality a man is to the divine power, which he often, too +often, thinks far from him. And a certain feeling of satisfaction came +upon me at the thought of the strength I had gained by my victory over +myself. Indeed, I felt sure, that if my enemy was in my power at the +moment that I would not injure him, but let him go without harm. + +In this manner, attempting to read, and trying to think, without very +much success in either undertaking, I passed my time until my lackey +came to assist me to dress, in order to be ready to accompany the +cardinal to the Vatican. After dressing, I descended the stairs, and +mounting Castor, placed myself at the head of my men, and joined De +Briconnet at the grand entrance of the palace. The captain of the +cardinal's guard had his full force of thirty swords out, it being a +reception night of some importance, and with great courtesy allowed me +to place Jacopo and my six men in front of his troop, drawing his own +horse alongside of mine, and discussing, with much cunning, of +falconry, in which he was more than an adept. + +We had to wait some little time for the cardinal, but at length he +came, accompanied as usual by Bayard, and with him all the gentlemen +of his suite including St. Armande. On reaching the foot of the +stairs, D'Amboise enquired somewhat sharply for me; but changed his +tone to one of pleasant greeting when he saw I was in waiting. + +"St. Dennis!" he exclaimed, "I thought you were not coming after all." + +We had but a few yards to ride, and our passage along the Via +Alessandrina to the Portone Bronse, took but a few minutes. As we rode +up there, we kept the obelisk in the centre of the Piazza di S. Pietro +to our left, and saw before us the walls of the new cathedral of St. +Peter, then about four or five feet high, the ruins of the old church +still standing around it. At the time I speak of, nothing had been +done for about fifty years towards advancing the work, begun by +Nicholas V., and the great design, afterwards altered and put into +execution by Giuliano della Rovere, when he became Pope as Julius II., +was then in a skeleton form, looking more like the remains of some +sacked shrine than the beginning of a new work. The fifty years of +neglect having the effect of making the new work almost as ruinous as +the old church founded by Constantine. + +Although, as I have mentioned, there were to be great doings at the +Vatican that evening, there was no crowd assembled in the Piazza of +St. Peter. It was full of soldiers, but the people of Rome, who might +have been expected to be there in numbers, to see the processions +of nobles and their followers, were conspicuous by their absence. +Men-at-arms there were in store, but no happy, jostling crowd of the +commons, for a terror was on Rome, and men kept as far as possible +from the Borgo. The piazza was, however, brilliantly lit up, and the +body guards of the various notables were strictly confined to the +places assigned to them, order being maintained by about a thousand +men of the Spanish guards of the Pope, under the immediate command of +De Leyva. The light from the lamps was reflected back by the +glittering arms of the men, and the various ensigns of the great +houses were distinctly visible. The single column of Colonna, rose +side by side with the eagle and griffin of Borghese, the six lilies of +Farnese trembled in the wind, near Colleoni's two-headed lion, and a +little in the background was drawn up a solid looking body of cavalry, +over whom fluttered the standard of the Borgia; these were Cesare's +own lambs, as he called them, veterans of many a hard fought field. + +At the entrance steps we halted, and were met by two chamberlains, +who, with their staffs of office in their hands, ushered us to the +bronze gates, by which we were to enter the Vatican. We passed through +amidst a blare of trumpets, each side of the passage being lined with +pikemen, standing stiff and motionless as statues. Our way led to the +Torre Borgia, the portion of the Vatican occupied by Alexander, and +the distant strains of music caught our ears as we went on, and +shortly entered the noble reception rooms, which were crowded with +people. + +The Pope himself stood at the extreme end of the apartment, surrounded +by a brilliant group of ladies and gentlemen, and as we came up to +make our duty, I had good opportunity of observing him. Alexander was +fully seventy years of age, but so hale, hearty, and strong-looking, +that he might have easily passed for a man of middle age. He was +dressed as a private gentleman, in Spanish costume, with high boots, a +jewelled dagger at his side, and a smart velvet cap on his head. But +the face itself struck me as remarkable to a degree. He was clean +shaven, so that all the features were clearly discernible, the heavy +sensual chin, the wide cruel mouth, surmounted by a nose almost Jewish +in its curve, the retreating forehead bulging over the eyes, and the +eyes themselves, in which there seemed to burn the fires of insatiable +appetite, and passion without end; all these, combined together to +make up a countenance which was a fitting mask for the evil soul +within. I made my obeisance with the others, stifling with difficulty +a sudden desire to fling aside the hand I touched, and walk out of the +room. + +I moved slightly aside, and watched the various groups as they +wandered to and fro, or stood together conversing; and the hum of +voices, the gay strains of music, and the brilliant dresses made up +together a scene well worth the looking at. + +The Florentine ambassador was talking to the Cardinal of Santa +Susanna, a few feet from me. I caught the tones of his voice, and as +he turned round our eyes met. Machiavelli, for it was he, glanced at +me as at a perfect stranger, and then, slightly adjusting his purple +lined robe, moved slowly onwards with his companion. + +"We mount yet higher, signore---_excelsior!_" + +The words were breathed rather than whispered into my ear, and Corte +stood beside me. + +"_Excelsior!_" I repeated with a smile, "but are you not putting your +head in the lion's mouth?" + +He smiled back upon me, more of a snarl than a smile. "The beast is +gorged now. He will not think of me--see, there is some one coming +your way--adieu!" + +He turned and passed into the groups, and St. Armande touched my arm. + +"You are to be presented to the Lady Lucrezia," he said, and the next +moment I found myself bowing over the hand of one of the most +beautiful, and certainly the most infamous woman of her age. She was +barely twenty-three; had already wedded three husbands, and was to +become a wife again, and marry Alfonso of Ferrara. She was seated in a +low lounge, and as I came up she extended her hand to me with a +charming smile. Standing before her, looking at her large limpid eyes, +at the small red bow of the lips, and the clear cut features set in a +mass of red gold hair, I could not imagine that the stories I had +heard were true. It could not be that this fair young woman who was +before me had smilingly committed crimes of nameless horror. I would +not believe it. + +"So, cavaliere, you have come to the court at last! I thought you were +never going to do us that honour." + +"His Eminence of Strigonia said you meant to take the vows," and a +lady, who was leaning over Lucrezia's seat, laughed as she put in +these words. I recognised the peculiar unmusical laugh I had heart at +the gate St. Paul, and glanced at her with some interest. + +"My sister-in-law, Giulia Farnese--Giulia Bella, is it not?" and +Lucrezia touched her lightly on the arm. + +"Oh, yes, Giulia Bella--and are you really going to become a hermit?" + +"I might have had such thoughts until I came here," I said, "but I +must now put them aside." + +"Neatly turned, cavaliere--St. Armande himself could not have put it +better--sit here, chevalier," and Lucrezia made room for St. Armande +on her lounge. + +At this moment a commotion at the entrance attracted our attention, +and a man robed in black, followed by two others, walked up towards +the Pope. + +"Heavens!" said Lucrezia, "it is Cesare!" and a look that was not +sisterly came over her face as she glanced at her brother, who moved +slowly up the room, men falling away from each side of him, and +greeting no one. He kept himself covered, and below his square velvet +cap, I saw a resolute face, the mouth and chin, covered by a moustache +and short beard, not so hidden, however, but that one could distinctly +see against the dark hair on his face, the full red line of the lips, +set in a habitual sneer. Bad as the whole brood of the Borgia were, +this was the worst of them all. He was as far beyond them in infamy as +they were beyond the rest of mankind in evil doing. The very room was +hushed into silence as he entered, and I watched with more interest +than I can tell, the stately figure of this wicked man, as he went up +to meet his only less wicked father. It was their first meeting since +the murder of Pierrot, and Alexander, who stood in dread of his son, +began to tremble violently as he approached, looking this way and +that, as if he would avoid him. At last they came together face to +face, Cesare speaking no word, but lifting his cap with a low bow. +Alexander almost made a motion as if he was wringing his hands; but +recovered himself with an effort, and kissed his son on the cheek. + +"So do the devils kiss." Lucrezia spoke these words under her breath, +and I turned sharply round and looked at her. Her eyes fell beneath my +glance of inquiry, and to raise some conversation I addressed Giulia +Bella. + +"So that is the Duke of Valentinois?" + +"Yes--and the man immediately behind him is Don Michelotto." + +"The strangler." + +"You use strong terms, sir," the eyes of the Farnese flashed fire, and +Lucrezia added hurriedly-- + +"Yes, yes--you are right--the strangler." + +"Hush, fool!" and Giulia Bella laid her hand on her friend's shoulder. +"See, they come this way--be cool!" + +In fact, Cesare had turned from his father without either of them +exchanging a word, and was coming directly towards us. On the way he +passed a group consisting of D'Amboise, Bayard, and the Cardinal of +Strigonia. Valentinois stopped, and in his speechless way, held out +his hand to Bayard, who merely bowed stiffly. Cesare's dark face +whitened with rage, and dropping his hand to his side he walked +straight on, and I could see that D'Amboise was expostulating with +Bayard, and Strigonia openly laughing. This insult, however, had not +added to Cesare's good temper; in fact, he came up to us as angry as a +man could be, and after greeting his sister coldly, turned to St. +Armande and looked at him in silence. + +"It is usual, signore," said Don Michelotto to the chevalier, "to +stand in the presence of a prince." + +"I was not aware that you were a prince, sir," replied St. Armande, +entirely ignoring the Borgia. + +"You can give this young gentleman a lesson in manners at your +leisure," said Cesare. "By your leave, sir," and giving his hand to +his sister, who took it passively, he led her to another apartment, +followed by Giulia Bella, who tapped a good-bye on St. Armande's arm +with her closed fan. + +Our group now consisted of Michelotto and myself standing, and St. +Armande still sitting comfortably in the lounge, evidently examining +the contour of his small and shapely foot. As for me, although I knew +St. Armande to be grossly in the wrong, I was delighted with the +sudden spirit he had shown. The youngster had heart, after all, and +there was the making of a man in him. + +Michelotto behaved with great composure. + +"I trust, signore--I do not know your name--that you will give me the +chance of carrying out the duke's commands." + +"My name is St. Armande," replied the chevalier; "and I am ready now, +if you wish it." + +"This is scarcely the place, signore; but the Vatican gardens are a +few feet away. If you will meet me near the summer-house, in, say, +half an hour from now, it would be a convenience. If we left together +perhaps it would excite remark," and the Spaniard played with the +inlaid hilt of his dagger. + +"Very well." + +Michelotto gave St. Armande a bow, made a slight inclination towards +me, and strolled off. To all intents and purposes we might have been +engaged in the most friendly of conversations. + +"Well, cavaliere," said St. Armande looking up at me, "are you +satisfied now?" + +"I am satisfied, chevalier, that you are still too young to be trusted +alone. If you wanted to pick a quarrel there were a hundred courses +open to you: there are fifty other men with whom you might have +crossed swords with no danger except to yourself, and you must needs +insult Cesare, and get embroiled with a cut-throat and risk our plans. +Where is your prudence? But the wine is poured out now. You must +drink." + +His colour kept coming and going. "I mean to fight it out. I shall +step out in ten minutes, and await him. See! they are all gathering +round the tables. What with the wine and the dice, no one will take +heed who goes or who comes--good-bye!" and he held out his hand to me. + +"Nonsense, man--you are not going alone. You will want a second." + +"But not you," he replied, "any one but you. You have work to do--not +you, Savelli." His voice had almost a choke in it as he spoke. + +"Come," I said, "put an end to this, or you will be run through the +ribs. I am going with you." + +He gave in with a feminine gesture of agreement. + +"The business will not take long----" + +"It will take long enough, signore, if you go as you are going," and +Corte stood beside us. "Signore," he added, "I have overheard every +word of the scene. Do not go as you value your lives. If you do go, go +with a strong party." + +"Diavolo!" I exclaimed, "an affair of the dagger then!" + +St. Armande looked from one to another of us in surprise. "This is a +friend, chevalier," I said, "who has done us good service," and +turning to Corte, "but we must meet the man--how on earth are we to do +so in any force?" + +"Look round you," he made answer, "like master, like man--stroll out. +You have some swords at your back. Take them with you; but better not +go at all. Ah! I see my new master, the Camulengo, looking towards +me--be wise and do not go," and Corte moved off to where the Cardinal +Ascanio Sforze was seated, surrounded by a little group of courtiers +and priests. + +"Who is that man?" asked St. Armande. + +"I met him under circumstances too long to tell you here," I said, +"some other day you may hear all about him. We will however take his +advice, and meet Don Michelotto with an extra sword or so at our +backs." So saying I took his arm, and we strolled through the +apartments, where every one appeared to be giving full rein to his +fancy. In fact the beginning of an orgie had set in. Alexander, +apparently recovered from the shock of meeting with his son, was at +the gaming table, playing heavily, with Giulia Bella at his side. +Bayard and Gonsalvo de Cordova were engaged in earnest converse with +each other, and Strigonia and D'Amboise were cracking a flask of wine. +I heard D'Este say as we passed him--"It is adieu to your eminence +after to-night. I am a sheep fat enough for the shambles, and must +look to my throat and my fleece." + +"You would be wise Strigonia," D'Amboise made answer, "if the shield +of France did not cover me, I would not be here another hour. But it +is an ill thing to lose a comrade such as you." + +"To better times," and the prelate who could only eat, drained his +glass to the prelate who could both eat and think. + +We now began to hurry a little, and found that Corte was right, for +the soldiers who had lined the passage inside the Bronze Gates had +taken themselves off, and a considerable numbers of servants and +followers were enjoying here the results of piratical raids on the +supper tables. + +Outside, however, everything was in order, for De Leyva was a thorough +soldier. I found both the Spaniard and De Briconnet cursing their luck +at being on the guards, and attacking a capon which they were washing +down with copious draughts of Falernian. Their duties kept them +outside, and it was a poor supper they were making, by the light of +torches, seated together on the steps of the Vatican. + +"What! out already, cavaliere?" asked De Briconnet. "Is the cardinal +going?" + +"No, but there is a little business," I answered as I called Jacopo. + +"_Nom du diable!_ Can I not come?" + +"It would be a relaxation," said De Leyva. + +"I am afraid not, gentlemen, although we thank you. Here, Jacopo! Get +three of our fellows and follow me. Tell the others to hold their +horses." + +It was done in a twinkling, and in a few steps, having harked back, we +were in the Papal gardens. The casino or summer-house of the Pope was +in full light, and we directed our steps there without difficulty. I +made two of our men walk in front, Jacopo and the third behind us, and +we remained in the middle. Strict orders were given to have swords +ready, and to use them at once. + +Except for the moonlight, the gardens themselves were not illuminated, +and as we tramped along the paths, I thought to myself how easy it +would have been for Michelotto to have got rid of both St. Armande and +myself, if we had been fools enough to go without escort. + +Nothing happened. We reached the casino and waited there a full hour; +but there was no sign of Michelotto. + +At last I lost patience. + +"He never meant to cross a sword with you, chevalier. I can bear +witness you were here, and kept tryst. We have escaped a felon's blow +however. Come back--it is getting late--even for his eminence." We +turned, and made our way back, but it was a good two hours before +D'Amboise retired. Bayard had gone on long before, declining all +offers of escort. When we reached the palace we found he had arrived +safely. + +I wished St. Armande a good night, with more respect for him in my +heart than I ever felt before, and turned to seek my apartments. Late +as it was, however, there was to be no sleep for me, as De Briconnet, +whose brain the Falernian had merely made more lively, insisted on +accompanying me, and we split another flask, and talked of falconry +till the verge of the morning. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + THE OPAL RING. + + +"His eminence will await the Signor' Donati at supper this evening." + +Defaure delivered his message, received his answer, and tripped away, +his little page's cap set jauntily on the side of his head, and the +haft of his dagger clinking against the silver chain which held it to +his belt. As for me, my heart leaped at the words, for I felt sure my +business was come, and summoning Jacopo, I gave him the necessary +orders to have our men in readiness for an immediate start. I then +sought St. Armande, and told him what I expected. + +"I am ready," he said simply. + +"Very well, then sup lightly, and await me in my apartments." + +I turned back, and on reaching my rooms, was surprised to find I had a +visitor awaiting me. It was Corte. As I have said, he had cast aside +his fantastic dress, and was robed as a doctor. He still kept his +heavy book under his arm, and the features of his curious seamed face, +and thin bloodless lips, were as pale as if he had arisen from the +dead. His eyes alone blazed with an unnatural brilliancy, but he was +outwardly calm. + +"I came but to see if you were safe, signore, after last night," he +said as he took my hand. + +"Thanks," I replied, offering him a seat, "we are all quite safe. +Nothing happened. The Don was not there, either he had changed his +mind, or we were in too strong force." + +"A little of both, I should think," he said with a thin smile, as he +placed his book on the table. "Signore," he went on, "are you not a +little surprised and curious to see me as I am?" + +"Well, Messer Corte, I will own to it. But I am honestly glad that +Fortune has given the wheel a right turn for you." + +"It is not Fortune," he said, "it is something greater. It is Fate. No +chance turn of the wheel of a sleeping goddess. When I fled from you, +signore, on that day," his voice choked a little, "I came to Rome. +Never mind how. Here a great man found me. Great men pick up little +things for their purposes sometimes. And Matthew Corte, who is but a +little man, knows things the great man does not know. Ho! ho!" and he +laughed mirthlessly. + +"And that has put crowns in your purse?" + +"Yes, crowns in my purse, crowns in my purse," he repeated, and then +the old madness came upon him, and he rose and paced the room. "I +could have done it last night, made the hilt of my dagger ring against +his heart--the devil--the devil. But he is not to die this way--not +thus--not thus. He will die as no other man has died, and it will come +soon, very soon--Matthew Corte swears this." + +He stopped suddenly, and turned to me with the question: + +"Have you ever seen a mad dog die?" + +"No," I answered, wondering what would come next. + +"Well, my dog is dead." + +"I am sorry," I began, but he interrupted. + +"Dead, I say. Life went from it in writhings and twistings, in screams +of agony--the little beast, poor little beast! I would have ended its +misery, but I wanted to see. I wanted to find some death so horrible, +that it would pass the invention of man. And I have found it, signore. +See this toy of a knife! This fairy's dagger!" and he held up a tiny +lancet, "only a touch of it, and a man would die as that dog did, in +writhings, in twistings, in screams----" + +I rose and put my hand on his arm, keeping my eyes steadily on his +face. + +"Corte," I said, "this is not like you. You are not well. Here is some +wine," and I poured him out a goblet of Orvieto. He drained it at a +gulp, and sat with his head buried in his hands. + +As he sat there the scene in the lonely hut, when I went forth an +outcast from Arezzo came back to me, and there rose before me the dim +light of the torch, the mad figure of my host, I could almost hear the +pattering of the rain and the dying hisses of the log fire without. +Then I saw other things as well, and a pity came on me for the man +before me. A sudden thought struck me, and acting on the impulse of +the moment, I spoke. + +"See here, Corte! You are ill, you want rest, quiet. Throw off these +dark thoughts, and do what I say. Two miles from Colza, in the +Bergamasque, lies a small farm. It is mine. Mine still, though +mortgaged. Go there. Ask for the Casino Savelli, and say you have come +from me--from Ugo di Savelli. You know my name now, and they will want +nothing more from you. Live there until you are better, or as long as +you like. The air is pure, in the hills there is the bouqueton for you +to hunt, the life is good. Will you do this?" + +He lifted his head, and looked at me. Then rising, he placed one hand +on each of my shoulders, thin hands they were, with long bony fingers +that held like claws. + +"Signore," he said with emotion, "Donati or Savelli--whoever you +are--you are a good man. I thank you, but it cannot be. Good-bye!" and +lifting up his book, he turned and strode out of the room, leaving me +a little chilled. I was glad indeed to hear De Briconnet's gay voice a +moment later, as he bustled in. + +"_Sacré nom du Chien!_" he exclaimed. "But who is that old madman, +cavaliere, who has just left your apartments? I met him on the stairs, +muttering curses that would make a dead man's hair stand on end." + +"You have hit it, De Briconnet. He is a madman. I have some +acquaintance with him, and his story is a sad one. I believe he has +found a protector in the Cardinal Sforza." + +"A queer sort of pet for his eminence to keep--thanks," and he helped +himself to the Orvieto. "_Ciel!_ my head still hums after last night. +So your little affair was but a flash in the pan--eh?" + +"Yes, there was no blood letting, as I told you last night." + +"Oh, I remember--no, I forget, last night is too far back to recall +anything with certainty. I want a little exercise. Take pity on me. +Come to my rooms, and have a turn with the foils. I have a new pair by +Castagni, the Milanese, and want to try them." + +"At your service--what! Not another glass! Then come on." + +It was something to do, and passed away a full hour. After that I came +back to my rooms, and, with an impatient heart, waited for my meeting +with D'Amboise. I saw to the packing of a valise, went down and looked +at the horses, closely inspected the arms and mounts of my men, who +looked capable of anything, and, in one way and another, managed to +get through the time, until about the sixth hour, when his eminence +supped. I presented myself punctually, and was ushered into an inner +apartment which I had not hitherto seen, and where the supper was +evidently to be held, for the table was set out there. I was alone at +first, and seating myself on a lounge, looked about me. The room was +small, but beautifully fitted up, and had all the appearance of being +the cardinal's private study. By my side was a table on which was +spread a map, with various crosses marked on it in red chalk, the +chalk itself lying on the map, where it had been carelessly flung. In +front of me was an altar, surmounted by a silver crucifix, bearing an +exquisitely carved Christ. Near it, in a corner, leaned a long +straight sword, from whose cross handle hung a pair of fine steel +gauntlets. Resting on a cushion, placed on a stand, was the cardinal's +hat, and behind the stand I could see the brown outline of a pair of +riding-boots, and the glitter of burnished spurs. In a corner of the +room was a large table, set out with writing materials and covered +with papers. Running my eyes over these idly, I finally let them rest +on the supper-table which was arranged with lavish profusion. The +curtains of the windows were drawn, and the light from eight tall +candles, in jewelled holders, fell on the rose and amber of the wine +in the quaint flasks, on the cheerful brown crusts of the pasties, on +the gay enamelling of the comfitures, and on the red gold of the +plate. I noticed, too, that the table was set for three only. It was +evidently a private supper, where things were to be discussed, and I +became glad, for I felt already a step onwards towards winning back my +name, and--I seemed to see in the mirror on the wall to my left, a +vision of a woman with dark hair, and dark eyes---- + +"Your eminence!" I fairly started up. I had not observed the entrance +of D'Amboise, until he stood beside me, and touched me lightly on the +shoulder. + +"Dreaming, cavaliere! I did not think you were so given. I am afraid +that, late as I am, I must still keep you from your supper, for I +expect another guest. Ha! there he is!" + +Indeed, as he spoke the door swung open noiselessly, and Machiavelli +entered. He was plainly and simply dressed, and wore no sword, merely +a dagger at his side. I thought, however, I caught the gleam of a +steel corselet under his vest, as he greeted the cardinal, and +D'Amboise's own sapphire was not more brilliant, than the single opal +which blazed on the secretary's hand. + +"This is the Cavaliere Donati, your excellency," said the cardinal, +"but I think you know each other." + +Machiavelli extended his hand to me, with his inscrutable smile; but +as I met his eyes, I saw that they were troubled and anxious. He, +however, spoke with easy unconcern. + +"Well met, Messer Donati. I can only say I am sorry we parted so soon. +I would have given much to have had you in Florence for a few days +more." + +"Your excellency is most kind." + +"St. Dennis!" said the cardinal, "but are you gentlemen going to +exchange compliments, and starve instead of sitting to supper. Burin, +are we not ready?" and he turned to his grey-haired major-domo, who +had entered the room. + +"Your eminence is served," replied the man, and we took our seats on +each side of the table, D'Amboise between us. + +"You need not wait, Burin, but remain in the passage." Burin stepped +out silently, and the cardinal said with an air of apology, "You +must not mind so informal a repast, gentlemen; but we have much to +discuss--pleasure first, however--my maitre d'hotel has an artist's +soul, and he will have a fit if we do not touch this pasty." + +The cardinal ate and talked. I now and then put in a word, but the +secretary was very silent, and hardly touched anything. + +"St. Dennis!" said D'Amboise, "but your excellency is a poor +trencherman. And I heard so much of you!" + +"Your eminence will excuse me, when I say I have had bad news." + +D'Amboise became grave at once. "Let me say how sorry I am. It is not +a matter of state?" and he glanced meaningly at the secretary. + +"Not in the least; but much worse--a domestic matter. I do not see why +I should not tell you. That cursed brigand Baglioni has seized on my +ward Angiola Castellani, and holds her a fast prisoner in Perugia." + +I felt cold all over to my feet. + +"The Lady Angiola?" I exclaimed. + +"Precisely," said Machiavelli, drily; "I think you have met." + +"But this can be easily remedied," burst in D'Amboise; "a demand from +the Signory, a word from France." + +"Will not bring the dead to life again," put in the secretary. + +"My God!" I burst out, "she is not dead?" + +"Worse than that," he said; "it was done by Cesare's orders." + +"Then Cesare Borgia will pay with his life for this," I exclaimed. + +At this moment there was a knock at the door, and Burin entered, +bearing a silver flagon, the stopper of which was made of a +quaintly-carved dragon. + +"Your eminence ordered this with the second service," he said, placing +it before D'Amboise, and retiring. + +"I pledge you my word, your excellency, that I will not rest until +full reparation has been made for this outrage on an ally of France," +said D'Amboise. "I could almost find it in my heart to let loose open +war for this." + +"We are not ready, your eminence. Rest assured of my thanks, and I +will gladly accept your aid; but at present we can do nothing. This, +however, has not decreased my zeal for the measures we are planning; +and with your permission we will now discuss these, and put aside my +private trouble." + +For me, I could hardly breathe. A hundred feelings were tossing +together within me, all that I could think of was to throw aside +everything, to gallop to Perugia, to save her at any cost. The +cardinal's voice came to me as from a distance. + +"I agree--one glass each of this all round, and then--cavaliere, would +you mind handing me those glasses?" + +Three peculiar shaped, straw-coloured Venetian glasses were close to +me, these I passed onwards mechanically to D'Amboise, and he went on, +filling the glasses to the brim with wine from the flagon, as he +spoke. + +"I admired the rare workmanship of this flagon last night, and his +holiness sent it home with me, full to the brim with this Falernian, +which Giulia Bella herself poured into it. The wine is of a priceless +brand, and our lord was good enough to say, that if I liked it, he +would send me all in his cellars if I only let him know." + +"We will drink this then, with your eminence's permission, to the +success of the undertaking," said the secretary, poising his glass in +the air. + +"Right," said D'Amboise. "Gentlemen, success to our venture!" + +He raised the wine to his lips. I silently did the same. + +"Hold!" + +We stopped in amaze, and Machiavelli, who had spoken, quietly emptied +his glass into a bowl beside him. + +"What does this mean?" said the cardinal. + +"This, your eminence," and Machiavelli held out his hand, on which an +opal was flashing a moment before. The stone was still there, in the +gold band on his finger; but it was no longer an opal, but something +black as jet, devoid of all lustre. + +Startled by the movement, D'Amboise bent over the extended fingers, +and I followed his example. The red on the cardinal's cheek went out, +and his lips paled as he looked at the ring. + +"Poison! Heart of Jesus!" he muttered through pale lips. + +"Yes," said Machiavelli, slowly, withdrawing his hand, "the ring tells +no lies. _Diavolo!_ Was ever so grim a jest? Asking you to tell him if +your eminence liked the wine!" + +It was too near a matter to be pleasant, and the hideous jest, and the +treachery of Alexander, filled me with a hot anger. It had the effect +however of pulling me together at once, the sudden presence of death, +and the danger, recalling me to myself, for all my thoughts of +Angiola. I breathed a prayer of thanks for our escape. It was a good +omen. My luck was not yet run out. + +D'Amboise sprang to his feet. "By God!" he said, bringing his clenched +fist into the palm of his hand, "the Borgia will rue this day; here, +give me those glasses." He seized them, and drawing back the curtains +flung them out of the window, where they fell into the court outside, +breaking to splinters with a little tinkling crash. Then he emptied +out the contents of the flagon, and hurled it into the grate where it +lay, its fine work crushed and dented, the two emerald eyes of the +dragon on the stopper blinking at us wickedly. This outburst made +D'Amboise calmer, and it was with more composure that he struck a +small gong, and reseated himself at the table. As he did so Burin +entered the room. + +"We want a clear table," said the cardinal, "remove these things, and +hand me that map." + +By the time Burin had done this, his eminence showed no further trace +of excitement, except that his lips were very firmly set, and there +was a slight frown on his forehead as he smoothed out the roll of the +map. One corner kept obstinately turning up, and as Machiavelli +quietly put his hand on it to keep it in position, he said, "See! The +ring is as it was before." + +We looked at the opal, and sure enough the poison-tint was gone, and +under the pale, semi-opaque blue of its surface, lights of red, of +green, and of orange, flitted to and fro. + +"It is wonderful," I said, and D'Amboise smiled grimly to himself. The +cardinal placed his finger on the map, where the port of Sinigaglia +was marked. + +"Is it here he lands?" + +"Yes," replied Machiavelli, "and then straight to Rome." + +"You have sure information?" + +"Yes." + +"Then will your excellency instruct M. Donati? As arranged, I pledge +an immediate movement on the part of Tremouille, at the first sign of +success." + +"You have agreed, cavaliere, to undertake the task?" and the secretary +turned to me. + +"I have, your excellency." + +Machiavelli then went on, speaking incisively, wasting no words. "In +ten days or thereabouts from now, Monsignore Bozardo, the Papal envoy +to the Grand Turk, will land at Sinigaglia and start for Rome. He +brings with him a letter and a sum of money, forty thousand ducats. +These are for his holiness. Bozardo and the letter may reach, if you +like; the ducats must not." + +"Where are they to go?" + +"To the Duke de la Tremouille." + +"I follow." + +"Understand that you take this venture at your own risk." + +I saw what he meant, if I failed I was to be sacrificed, and my mind +was made up. I would accept, with a condition. + +"I quite understand--there is one thing." + +"What?" + +"Ten days is a wide margin. I will stop Bozardo or die; but I propose +effecting the release of the Lady Angiola as well." + +A glad look came into Machiavelli's eyes; but the cardinal flashed +out-- + +"_Nom du diable!_ What grasshopper have you got in your head? Leave +the demoiselle to us. You cannot do two things at once." + +"Then with respect to your eminence I decline the affair of the +ducats." + +D'Amboise looked at me in sheer amazement. + +"You decline--you dare;" but Machiavelli interposed. + +"A moment, your eminence. Can we get another agent?" + +"Not now; it is too late now." + +"And we have no money for active measures?" + +"Not a livre." + +"It seems to me that the cavaliere has us in his hands, and we had +better agree. After all he only risks his head twice, instead of +once." + +D'Amboise bit his lip, and with a frown began to drum on the table +with his fingers. I sat silent but resolved, and Machiavelli, rising, +went to the writing table, pulling out from his vest a parchment. In +this he rapidly wrote something, and dusting it over with drying +powder held it to the flame of a candle. Then he turned back +leisurely, and, as he resumed his seat, handed me the paper. + +"I have just filled in your name on this blank safe-conduct through +the Papal States. I took the precaution of obtaining this from Sforza +to-day. When can you start?" + +"Now, your excellency," and I put the safe-conduct securely by. + +"I suppose I must agree," said the cardinal suddenly. "If it fails, +all is lost; if it succeeds----" + +"There will probably be a new Conclave, your eminence," said +Machiavelli. + +D'Amboise's forehead flushed dark at the hidden meaning in the +Florentine's words. But we all knew that the chair of St. Peter was +ever before his eyes; and for this he schemed and saved, although +profuse in his habits. George of Amboise never gained his desire; but +when he died he left a fortune of eleven millions. This however was +yet to be. + +I had already arisen to take my leave as Machiavelli spoke, and the +cardinal, taking no notice of his last remark, turned to me, with +something of his old good temper. Perhaps the hint of Florentine +support at the next papal election was not without its softening +effect. + +"Did I understand you to say you were ready to start at once, +cavaliere?" + +"Yes, your eminence." + +"Then let me wish you good fortune--adieu!" + +"Your eminence has my grateful thanks." + +I bowed to D'Amboise and the secretary, and withdrew; but as the door +swung behind me, I heard Machiavelli's voice. + +"The air of Rome does not suit me, your eminence. No, thanks. No more +Falernian." + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + EXIT THE ANCIENT BRICO. + + +I had gained my point without waste of words or time, but it was to be +my way or not at all. My lady was in dire peril. Against this could I +for a moment weigh any thought of myself? What cared I whether France, +Spain, or the Borgia ruled in Italy? What mattered it to me whether +one crafty statesman held the reins of power, or another outdid him in +craft and filched away his bone? My lady was in danger, and my honour +might rot, and the Most Christian, the Most Catholic, and Most Holy +wolves might tear each other's throats out before I would move a +finger, take one step, until she was free. If I had to pull down +Baglioni's hold with my hands, I would free her. If a hair of her head +was injured I should take such vengeance as man never heard of, and +then--my foot caught in the carpeting of the passage, I tripped up and +fell heavily, the shock sending stars before my eyes. + +"Too much haste, cavaliere," and a hand helped me to rise. As I gained +my feet I saw Machiavelli beside me. + +"I followed you at once," he said, "but you went so fast, I had missed +you but for that lucky trip. A word more--if you free her, take her to +the convent of St. Jerome, two miles north-west of Magione--the abbess +will do the rest. I will see to that." + +"Very well. God grant I succeed!" + +"Amen to that," and Machiavelli took my hand. "Adieu, cavaliere, once +again, I must go back to his eminence, we have a point or two to +discuss yet, but no more Falernian. _Corpo di Bacco!_ I grow cold when +I think of our escape." + +"Good-bye, your excellency," and we parted. + +I went on with a little more care, and being a trifle cooled by my +fall, was able to think better. By the time I reached my apartments I +had decided on my route. I should leave by the Porta del Popolo, keep +on the right bank of the river as far as Borghetto, there cross the +Tiber, and on to Perugia in a straight line by Narni and Todi. It was +close on three and thirty leagues; but I did not mean to spare +horseflesh. As I reached the entrance which led to my rooms, I found +Jacopo and my men ready, and Castor whinnied a glad welcome, pawing at +the air with his forefoot in his impatience. St. Armande and the abbé, +already mounted and attended by a couple of men, were a little to the +right. + +"I will not keep you a moment, chevalier," I called out as I passed +him, and running up the stairs to my room, began to dress rapidly. +Jacopo attended me, and as he handed me my sword, pointed to the open +window. + +"A fair night for a long ride, excellency!" + +"Yes, the moon stands well--my cloak--quick," and we descended the +stairs. + +"All ready, Jacopo?" + +"Your excellency." + +"Steady, Castor," and I swung into the saddle. + +There was the jingle of bit chains, the clank of steel scabbards, the +ring of iron-shod hoofs on the pavement, and with St. Armande by my +side and my troop behind me, I left the Palazzo Corneto. + +To avoid risk of stoppage I did not go down by the Alessandrina to the +Ponte di San Angelo, but determined to cross at the Ripetta. +Therefore, crossing the Borgi di San Angelo, we went northwards by the +V. d. Tre Papazzi, up the Via Cancellieri, and then turning to the +right, rode up the Via Crescenzio. To our right, as we rode, the moon +hung over San Angelo and the dark outlines of the gloomy stronghold +loomed like a vast shadow of evil above us. In front of us lay the +Tiber, and the long line of fires of the charcoal-burners. The latter +overhung by a blue cloud of smoke, into which the forked flames leaped +and danced. At the bridge we were stopped by the guard, but the +safe-conduct set us free, and we crossed at a slow pace. Above the +hollow beat of the horses' hoofs, I heard the waters churning around +the piers, and looking over the side, saw the grey river as it hummed +past below me, flecked with white foam-tipped waves, chasing each +other in lines of light across its surface, or, as they broke, +catching the moon rays, and dying in a hundred colours with an angry +hiss. + +Over the bridge at last! And here Jacopo with a sudden "_Cospitto!_" +put spurs to his horse, and galloped off down the Via Toma. So +unexpected was the movement, that it almost brought us to a halt, and +St. Armande called out-- + +"He is gone!" + +"Not he, chevalier," I answered, "come on," and turning to the left we +trotted up the Ripetta. I knew Jacopo too well not to feel sure he +would catch us up again, and that he had some definite object, which +was not desertion, in going off as he did. Yet I could not help being +put out by his action, and resolved to give him the rough side of my +tongue when he came back. We were almost up to the Porta del Popolo +when he returned, coming with a loose rein, and as he drew in with the +troop, I turned round. + +"How now, sirrah! What does this prank mean?" + +"Pardon, excellency, it was no bee that stung me. I suddenly +remembered that we should have little luck on our journey if I did not +pay her dues to our Lady of the Fountain." + +"Our Lady of the Fountain?" + +"Excellency, the fountain of Trevi. Does not your worship know that no +one should leave Rome without dropping a piece of silver in her +basin?" + +"Indeed! I was not aware of it, but remember--no more sudden thoughts +like this." + +"Excellency!" + +I said no more, and passing through the ruined Porta del Popolo where +the breaches made by Charles' cannon were still unrepaired, we took +the Flaminian Way, and galloped down the road almost in darkness owing +to the shadows thrown by the high walls on each side of us. We +re-crossed the Tiber at the Ponte Molle, and, still keeping the Via +Flaminia, turned our horses' heads in the direction of Castel Nuovo. + +It was a wonderful night. There was no breeze, except that which we +made ourselves as we galloped along. Not a cloud obscured the sky, +arching deep blue over the yellow moon, now in her full strength. To +the left the beacon fire from the top of the Tor di Vergara blazed +like a red star low down in the horizon, and before us was the white +road stretching in a ghostly line, its ups and downs accentuated by +the moonlight. The Tiber lay to our right, but owing to the undulation +of the ground we could not see it, although an occasional flash showed +us where the waters reflected the rays of the moon. + +Not the best horse in the world could keep up the pace we were going +for long, and I was old enough soldier to know that our speed must be +regulated by the slowest beast if we wanted to reach in full strength, +so I slackened rein to a walk and gave the animals a rest. + +Excepting once, when Jacopo rode off to make his duty to the Fountain +of Trevi, I had not exchanged a word with St. Armande, indeed I was in +no mind to talk; but he broke the silence with a question. + +"Do we ride all night, cavaliere?" + +"We have many leagues to go, St. Armande." + +"_Ciel!_" he muttered under his breath, and I heard the abbé as he +leaned forward whisper, "Courage! would you give way now? Courage!" + +Clearly there was a mystery here to which I had no clue, and it +troubled me. I glanced at St. Armande, and through the moonlight saw +the white of his cheek, showing all the paler for the black patch he +wore transversely across it; but looking at him did not explain +matters. + +"What the devil does this mean?" I said half aloud to myself. + +"Did you speak?" + +"Merely something to myself, chevalier. _Diavolo!_ But this is a dull +ride." + +"Do you think so?" and his tone softened suddenly. + +I made no reply, but stirred up Castor, and we jogged along. I left +the mystery to take care of itself, and mapped out a line of action. I +would take only two men with me into Perugia, and send the rest with +St. Armande to the convent of St. Jerome to await the result of my +attempt to free Angiola. It sounded like foolishness to give St. +Armande the control of the stronger party, especially if he meant +treachery; but this I was persuaded he did not. On the other hand a +following of six troopers was a trifle too many to pay a peaceful +visit to Baglioni, and might arouse suspicion, while they were too few +to attempt open force. In short, if I could not do what I wanted with +two men, I would not be able to effect it with six or a dozen, and +made up my mind to split our party, either after crossing the Paglia, +or beyond at San Fortunato. + +In this manner, sometimes galloping, sometimes trotting, and at other +times walking our horses to give them a rest, we reached Castel Nuovo +but did not enter the town, skirting it by our right, although one of +the troopers suggested our going westwards by Campagnano, a useless +detour as it seemed to me. We passed the little town exactly at +midnight, and the chime of bells striking the hour fell pleasantly on +our ears. A short way beyond we found the road so cut into ruts and +fissures that it was not possible to go at any other than a snail's +pace, so that within the next two hours we barely covered as many +leagues. The moon was now on the wane, the road became worse, and one +or two of the horses showed signs of fatigue. Jacopo rode up beside +me. + +"By your leave, excellency! We have the road by Soratte to cross soon, +and in the coming darkness may possibly lose our way. I would suggest, +therefore, that we halt here until dawn. It will rest the horses, and +with the light we could press on." + +"Very well. Hark! Is not that the sound of water?" + +"Yes, your worship." + +"Then we will stop there." + +A few yards beyond we came to a ruined temple, near which a fountain +was bubbling. Here I gave the order to halt, and in less time +than I take to write this, the troopers had sprung to earth, the +saddle-girths were loosened, and all the preparations for a two hours' +halt begun. + +I shared a little wine with St. Armande and the abbé, and the former, +rolling himself up in his cloak, leaned his back against a fallen +pillar, and seemed to drop off at once into sleep. + +The abbé followed his example; but my mind was too impatient for rest, +and I walked up and down, watching the ending of the moon, until it +finally sank out of sight, and darkness fell upon us. + +Dark as it was around me, my mind was in a still greater darkness, for +I was unable to think of any plan by which I could gain access to +Angiola, after reaching Perugia. Time, too, was short; but that did +not matter, for I was prepared to let the affair of the ducats slide, +rather than lose any chance of rescuing her. + +A straw yet remained. Luck might be on my side; and with luck and a +strong heart one might do anything. There was nothing for it but to +content myself for the present with this. Until I reached Perugia I +could develop no plan. So I paced up and down with an unsettled mind, +and finally, seating myself on a stone, awaited the morning, +alternately nodding and awakening with a start. + +At last! The east began to whiten, and getting up stiffly, I touched +Jacopo with the end of my sword. He jumped up with an exclamation, and +recognising me, began to apologise. This I cut short, and bade him +arouse the men. + +"This instant, your worship. _Cospetto!_ To think I should have +overslept myself! Ho, sluggards! Buffaloes! Awake! Think you that you +are going to snore here all night?" and he began to stir the men up. +They rose willingly enough, with tremendous yawnings, and stretching +of arms, and we were soon on the march again, through the increasing +daylight. + +The coming day seemed to warm the hearts of the men, and one of them +broke into song, the chorus being taken up by the others as we jogged +along. When this had lasted some little time, I gave Castor's reins a +shake, and off we went at a smart gallop. + +Shortly after passing San Oreste the road led along the side of +Soratte, and, the morning being young, besides very bright and clear, +we had a glorious view. To the left lay Civita Castellana, the walls +of the new citadel standing high above the town, which lay in the +middle of a network of deep ravines; to the right and behind us the +Sabine Hills extended in long, airy lines, and the wooded heights of +Pellachio and San Gennaro, where, close to Palembara, was an old +castle of our house, rose to the south-east. Above us was the +monastery of St. Silvestre, and Soratte itself reached towards where +Borghetto stood, on a bend of the Tiber, in a series of descending +peaks. Cool puffs of air caught us, and freshened the horses as well +as our hearts, and it was a cheery party that finally reached the +Ponte Felice, and entered the town. Here our safe-conduct again stood +us in good stead. Indeed, we had difficulty in getting away, for the +Captain Lippi, who held Borghetto for the Borghia, wished to press his +hospitality on us for a few days; but on my eventually taking him +aside, and whispering to him that I was bound on a confidential +mission, he gave in, but with some little reluctance. He, however, +invited us to share his table at dinner. I accepted, but St. Armande, +who was looking very wearied, declined, and dined quietly with the +abbé at the "Silver Eel," where I quartered my men. + +Lippi was an old soldier risen from the ranks, with a head more full +of drill than suspicion; but in order to remove any such weed that +might be growing there, I affected to be so delighted with his +conversation at dinner, that I begged the favour of his accompanying +me for a league or so on my way, after we had dined. To this he agreed +with alacrity, and I was subsequently sorry for my pains, for the old +bore did not quit me until we had all but reached the Nera, and saw +the campanile of St. Juvenalis rising above Narni. We did this portion +of the journey at a rapid pace, as I wanted, if possible, to shake off +the captain, but, mounted on an Apulian, he stuck to me like a burr, +dinning into my ears his opinion as to how the cross-bow was a weapon +as superior to the arquebus as the mangonel was above even Novarro's +new cannon. At length he wished us the day and departed, and the +horses, scenting the end of their day's journey, put on fresh speed as +we galloped through the oaks that studded the valley of the Nera. The +river here was hemmed into a narrow ravine, and crossing by an ancient +bridge of three spans, supposed to have been built by the Romans, we +climbed up the steep ascent that led to Narni, and there found food +and lodging for both man and beast, at an albergo, the name of which, +somehow, I have forgotten. St. Armande was quite worn out, and I saw +he was unfitted for any long strain. We supped together, and he +retired almost at once. After supper I had a detailed examination of +the horses, and found that one of them had a sore back. The trooper +who owned him, vowed he would not part with him, so I had to dismiss +the man, which I did. This reduced my fighting strength to six men, +including Jacopo. I did not include St. Armande and his followers in +estimating this, putting them down to so much encumbrance, of which I +would soon take care to be rid. I was anxious, however, to hurry on, +and so altered my original plans a little, and in the morning, after +we had gone about a league, I turned to St. Armande, and said: + +"Chevalier, it is necessary for me to press on with all speed. I want +you, therefore, to do me a favour." + +"Anything you like, cavaliere; but we do not part, do we?" + +"It is this. I am going on at once; I want you to take four of my +troopers, and with your own following make for the convent of St. +Jerome. It lies a little beyond Magione. Your arrival will be +expected. If not, say you are awaiting me. Await me for a week. If I +do not come then, go back to Rome, and tell the cardinal what you have +done." + +"But I thought I was to go with you, and share your adventure." + +"I give you my word of honour, St. Armande, that you will share +in the adventure for which I agreed you should come--share up to the +elbows--but you will spoil everything if you do not do what I say." + +"There is no danger to you?" + +"No more than there is to you; in one word, St. Armande, do you agree +or not?" + +"Very well." + +"Then there is no time to lose. Jacopo!" + +"Excellency." + +"Pick out a man, and he, you, the lackey, and myself, will go on +ahead. The rest can follow. I have given all other orders to the +signor, St. Armande." + +"There is Bande Nere, your worship." + +"I am ready, cavaliere;" and a tall, thin, grey-moustached trooper +saluted as he spoke. + +He looked the man I wanted. My lackey was a stout horseman, and at a +pinch might hold a sword as well as he held my valise. So, shaking +hands with St. Armande, I put spurs to Castor, and we dashed off. +Turning the corner of a belt of forest land, I looked back and waved +my hand in further adieu to the chevalier. I caught the flutter of the +white handkerchief the young dandy carried, as he loosed it to the air +in reply to my salute, and the next moment the trees hid them from +view. + +We rode hard now, Castor going almost as freely as when we started. +Indeed, I would have far outpaced the others, if I did not let him +feel the bit once, and the noble beast, as if knowing his duty, +required no further warning not to outstrip his companions. + +Going as we were now Perugia was but a few hours away; but the pace +was too great to last long, and from Todi to Perugia there were nine +leagues and a trifle over of an ascending road. Castor might do it, +the others I was sure would not. In order, therefore, to rest the +horses, as well as to avoid question, I resolved that we should dine +at Rosaro, and after an hour or so of rest press forwards, passing by +Todi, and travelling all night, so as to reach Perugia in the morning. +If we went faster, we would only reach at night, and so late as to +find entrance into the town impossible. + +We clattered past the villages of San Gemini and Castel Todino, and +about noon drew up our now somewhat blown beasts at the gates of the +"Man-at-Arms," the only inn in the village. + +It was a poor place I saw at a glance, and as we pulled up, a crowd of +yokels in holiday attire gathered around us. The inn seemed full, too, +for the yard swarmed with people, and a half-score heads of contadini +were at each window, staring at us open-eyed. + +As I took this in, the landlord came running out, cap in hand and full +of apologies. + +"_Ohime!_ But my house is full to the garrets, signore; and it is +nothing I can do for you to-day. To-morrow is the feast of St. Mary of +the Consolation, and all the country is going to Todi----" + +"I do not want to stay. We merely halt here to bait our horses and to +dine. Can you not manage that?" + +"If that is all, excellency, yes, oh, yes. The beasts, they can rest +anywhere, and there is a polenta and room for your excellency's +followers; but for yourself, signore," and he shook his head +mournfully. + +"What is the difficulty?" And I dismounted, my men following suit. + +"But this, signore. There is but one room in the house you could use, +and that is occupied by two gentlemen of the army. Violent men, +signore, who will not allow any one to share it. _Lasso me!_ But not a +paul have they paid me as yet!" + +"Give them my compliments, and say that the Cavaliere Donati begs to +be allowed a corner of their table for his dinner." + +"Alas, signore! It is useless. They have been here two days----" + +"Then it is time they made room for other travellers. Give my message, +landlord, and say I am following." + +Mine host trotted off with considerable misgivings expressed in his +face, and followed by my lackey, bearing my valise, I went after him +at a slower pace. + +When I reached the room, which could hardly be missed, seeing it was +the only one in the house that had any pretence of appearance, I found +the door open, and heard a half-drunken voice shouting: + +"Begone, dog! Blood of a king! But are two gentlemen to be disturbed +because a signore with a long name wants to dine? Skull of St. Jerome! +Did you ever hear the like of this? _Cospetto!_ Tell him to go hang, +or I'll spit him like a lark." + +I heard enough to recognise the voice, and turning to the lackey said: + +"Send Jacopo here at once with a stout cudgel--run." + +The man went off on the double, and I remained without the door +listening with amusement to the ancient Brico's bluster, for it was +he, and he was having all the talk, his companion, whoever he was, now +and then giving a grunt of assent. + +"Mitre and cowl! Hell and sulphur! Will you begone, fool, or shall I +slit your windpipe?" and I heard him beat the table with his fist. +"Out, rascal," he roared, "and bring in another skin of chianti." + +Out came the wretched inn-keeper, and seeing me at the door began to +urge me to go; but at this moment Jacopo came running up with a stout +stick in his hand, and pushing the landlord on one side I stepped into +the room, followed by Jacopo. + +Brico's friend, who was quite drunk as it seemed, had fallen asleep +whilst he was talking, and lay with his head between his arms, half on +the table, half on his chair. The ancient was seated with an empty +skin before him, and rose in wrath as I entered. + +"What the----," he began in a wine-blown voice, and then his face +paled a little as he saw me. + +I did not waste words. "Cudgel me this fellow out, Jacopo," I said, +and Jacopo attended to the task as if he loved it. The ancient +attempted to draw his sword, but it was useless, and a minute or two +later he was flung out into the courtyard, beaten to a jelly and +howling for mercy. He lay where he was flung, too bruised to move. + +His friend slept through it all; but as my lackey lifted up his head +in an attempt to eject him, I recognised Piero Luigi, and felt that +some more stringent action than I had taken with Brico should be +adopted here. + +"This man is a thief," I said to the landlord, "and his friend little +better." + +"Then to the stocks they go; and now," almost screamed the host, "not +a paul have they paid me, signore, I swear this, the bandits. Hi! +Giuseppe! Giovanni!" + +A couple of stout knaves came running in, and the innkeeper, trembling +with anger and fear combined, yelled out: + +"Bind this brigand and his companion securely, keep them in the +stables, and to-morrow we will hale them before the podesta." + +I enjoyed my dinner comfortably, and on going out to see after the +horses was met by Bande Nere, who took me aside to where, in a corner +of the stables, two men were lying securely bound. One was Luigi, +still happily drunk. The other was the ancient, whose bones must have +ached sorely, for he had been beaten sober, and was feeling the full +effect of the cudgel and the ropes. He was groaning terribly, and, +being sorry for the wretch, I was about to intercede for him with the +landlord, when Jacopo interposed with a whispered-- + +"Let the scotched snake lie, signore, he knows too much." + +I let wisdom take its course, and left the ancient to his sorrows. + + + + + CHAPTER XX. + + "A BROWN PAUL--A LITTLE COPPER." + + +Such as they were, the troubles of the ancient and his crony Luigi +could not have ended soon, for although at first they were surrounded +by a jeering crowd, fresh things caught the minds of the people after +a little time, and they were left to themselves. As the following day +was a holiday in Todi, the inn-keeper probably let them lie bound +until he had more leisure on his hands, which were in truth full +enough, as the albergo hummed with custom. I never heard or saw +anything more of either of the villains again. We had time yet at our +disposal; but after an early supper, the horses being rested, we +started, and going slowly, with a halt on the right bank of the +Paglia, we crossed the Tiber near San Fortunato, and Perugia lay +before us, bright in the sunshine. In order to throw any pursuit off +the scent, for if by chance inquiries were made about us, they would +be at the southern gates, we made a turn east, then struck north, and +getting over the numberless trenches lying between us and our point, +eventually entered the city by the Porta del Carmine. Here Jacopo, +under my secret instructions, let the guard handle his wine-skin, +buzzing out as if in the confidence of the cup, that we had come from +Fabriano in the Marches and then gave them the day. We rode on, +leaving the ward at the gate to finish the skin, and found very +comfortable house-room in the Rubicon, an hotel kept by Messer +Passaro, which lay behind the house of the Piccinino family, "close to +the Duomo, the citadel, and the gallows," as the landlord, who thought +himself a merry wag, informed me whilst he received us at his door. I +took the best room available for myself, and saw to the wants of my +followers and the horses, who were as well as when they started. I +left them in comfort, bidding Bande Nere make ready to accompany me +out at noontide. Dinner I ordered at twelve, inviting the landlord to +crack a flask of his best thereafter with me. He accepted with +effusion; my object in doing this being to try and get as much +information out of him as possible, as I saw he had a loose tongue and +a gossiping heart, and I was resolved to leave no stone unturned in my +search for Angiola. It wanted two hours or more for dinner, and having +bathed and changed my attire, I sank me down in an arm-chair to enjoy +an hour or so of repose. + +After dinner mine host appeared, bearing with him a cob-webbed flask. + +"It is a wine of France, excellency--Burgundy--and all my customers do +not taste this, I can tell you." + +"I am favoured, indeed, Messer Passaro; take a seat, and help +yourself." + +"The condescension of your excellency!" and with a bow he settled +himself on the extreme edge of a chair. + +We poured out our measures, and on testing the wine I found it most +excellent; as for Passaro, he pushed himself back into his seat and +let the liquid down his throat in drops, his eyes closed in an +ecstacy. When he opened them, which he did after a time, he gasped +out: + +"Is not that glorious, signore? Have you ever lipped the brand?" + +"I confess it is wine for the gods," I said. "Is there much in your +cellar." + +"Store of it, excellency; I was not butler to His Eminence of +Strigonia for ten years for nothing." + +"His eminence is a fine judge of wines." + +"_Cospitto!_ And your excellency's forgiveness for swearing. He is the +finest judge in the world. There is no brand he could not name, nay, +tell you the year of vintage, were he blindfold and a drop but touched +his palate. _Corpo di Bacco!_ But he is a true prince of the Church." + +"Ah! you are a sly dog, Messer Passaro," and I filled him his glass; +"I warrant me you could tell many a tale of the cardinal. But come +now, has not the Baglioni as fine a taste in wines, and a better one +for a neat ankle?" + +"Hush!" he said, looking around him as he put down his empty glass, +"in your ear, excellency--the Count Carlo has big teeth and bites +hard. Let your tongue be still when his name comes up in Perugia." + +"Thanks, friend, but Count Carlo owes me no grudge, or else I should +not be here." + +"Your worship has come to join him then?" + +"As you see, Messer Passaro," and I filled his glass again, "I am a +soldier and love to serve a soldier. Besides things will be on foot +soon, for what with the French at Passignano, war cannot be delayed +long." + +"True, and a light has been put to the torch too." + +"Hurrah! Another glass, man; we soldiers are sick of this truce. Our +purses run dry in peace. But tell me." + +"You must know, signore, that all the country east of Castiglione to +the Tiber, and lying between the Nestore and Casale, is a fief of the +Castellani, and the Count--ha! ha! It was glorious!" and he slapped +his thigh--"ha! ha!" + +Nothing irritates me so much as to hear a man laughing aimlessly, and +it was in a sharp tone that I said, "go on." + +"A moment, excellency," and he held up a fat hand, "ha! ha! I had it +all from Messer Lambro, my cousin, and groom of the chambers to Count +Carlo. Well, all the fief I spoke of is inherited by the Lady Angiola, +the daughter of old Count Adriano. The family is Ghibelline, and have +taken the French side, and seeing that Tremouille was between us and +Casale, my lady must needs go down to visit her estates. The Count, +who is looking for a wife, buckles on his armour, mounts his mare, and +with two hundred lances at his back, gallops up the left bank of the +Tiber, fords the stream, swoops down on the dovecote at Rossino, and +brings back a bride to Perugia; ha! ha! It is superb." + +"Ha! ha! Messer Passaro--diavolo! Are they married yet?" + +"Not yet--ah! The wine is wine for the gods as your worship says--not +married yet, for my lady is half beside herself they say, and the +Count, receiving a sudden message from Cesare, has had to leave +Perugia for a few days." + +"_Cospitto!_ How he must curse the Borgia for putting off his +happiness! And she is handsome, eh?" + +"For the matter of that, excellency, one does not squint at a sour +face set in a golden coif. But they do say the lady is very +beautiful." + +"You have not seen her then?" + +"_Corpo di Bacco!_ She is under lock and key, and not for the likes of +me to look upon." + +"In the citadel I suppose--a gloomy cage for a fair bird." + +"Maybe, but I have let my tongue wag too freely, signore, and must be +going." + +"Safe enough with me, Messer Passaro, for I am on the right +side--adieu!" + +I made no further attempt to detain him, and he waddled off with the +best part of the now empty flask under his belt. I was sure he knew +but little more, and what I had got out of him did not amount to much. +At any rate I had discovered that Baglioni was out of Perugia, and +that she was still here. This was better than nothing; but worse than +nothing if I could not discover the place of her imprisonment. I threw +myself back in my chair, and racked my brains to no purpose. There was +nothing definite for me to get hold of, no clue of any kind. I thought +of getting the landlord to invite the Count's valet to drink a bottle +or so of his Burgundy with me, but the mere whisper of such a thing +would excite suspicion of a further object, and the slightest +suspicion would ruin the business. Bande Nere appearing at this time, +in accordance with my orders, I resolved to hang about the Palazzo +Publico, and see if I could pick up any information there. On second +thoughts I resolved to go alone, and dismissing Bande Nere, sallied +forth by myself. I went by way of the Piazza del Duomo, and here I +stopped in an idle manner, and was for a moment struck by the entrance +to the palace, which lies here. Over the gate was a splendid bronze of +a lion and a griffin, set above a series of chains and bars of gates, +trophies of an old victory gained over the Sienese. A crowd of beggars +surrounded me, but I was in no mood for charity, and drove them off +with a rough oath. One of the number, however, remained. He was lame +in both feet, supported himself on crutches, and wore a huge patch +over one of his eyes. + +"That is right, excellency--drive them off--the scum, the +goats--pestering every noble gentleman. It is only to the deserving +your excellency will give--a paul, excellency--a brown copper for the +poor cripple--a million thanks, excellency--may this copper be +increased to you a thousandfold in gold." + +"Begone, fool!" I said, and walked on; but he hobbled along at a great +rate beside me. + +"But a favour, excellency. If your worship would but come with me, I +would show you a wonderful sight. A bird-cage, excellency; would your +lordship be pleased to buy a bird--" + +I turned round in my anger, and raised my hand to cuff the rascal's +ears, cripple though he was, when he suddenly added: "Or _free_ a +bird, excellency--there is someone coming--a paul, quick--thanks, +excellency--may your lordship die a prince." + +As he spoke a couple of gentlemen and their servants pushed by us, and +I gave them the road, the beggar hopping nimbly to my side. My heart +was beating rapidly, and all my blood tingling. Was I on the edge of a +discovery? + +"No more riddles," I said, "who are you?" + +"It is not safe to talk here, signore," he answered. "Follow me." He +started off across the square, hobbling along on his crutches and +wailing out, "A copper for the poor cripple--a brown paul--a little +copper?" + +"By God!" I exclaimed to myself as I followed behind, "what does this +mean?" I had to find out for myself, however, and followed the man, +who stumped along at a rare pace, notwithstanding the ups and downs of +the side-streets by which we went. He never once looked behind him, +but kept up his cry of "a copper for the poor cripple--a brown paul--a +little copper," and once or twice, when I lost him in the crowd, the +cry served as a signal to me telling me where he went. Finally he +turned to the left, and on reaching the Via della Conca, made straight +for the gate. Here a toll was collected, and paying his paul he went +straight out of the town. I kept him in view now easily, and could +have caught him up as I liked, for the speed at which he had hobbled +along had no doubt breathed him. At last he left the road, and toiling +somewhat painfully over the very uneven ground, vanished behind a spur +of the hills on which Perugia is situated. I now put on my best +walking pace, and in a minute or two turned the elbow of the spur +myself, and found the mendicant seated on a stone mopping his brow, +his crutches lying beside him. He stood up with the greatest ease as I +approached. + +"Well, fellow," I said, "what does all this mean? Beware, if you have +attempted to trick me." + +"Does not your excellency know me?" + +"Never saw you before." + +"I am Gian, excellency." + +"Gian! Gian! That throws no light on the subject." + +"The cavaliere remembers the garden of St. Michael in Florence?" + +I was not likely to forget the place where I had received Angiola from +Luigi, but I could not connect the man before me with the +circumstance. "I remember perfectly, but I do not know you. Drop this +foolery and speak plainly." + +"I am speaking plainly, signore. I was not sure if it was you myself +until now. I am Gian, the Lady Angiola's servant, and his excellency +the secretary has sent me to you." + +"But how did you hear I was in Perugia: his excellency did not himself +know I was coming here until a half-hour before I started, and I have +ridden hard?" + +"The pigeon, your worship: it flew to Florence with a letter to the +Lady Marietta. She sent another one on to the convent of St. Jerome, +and the result is I am here. I was to seek out your worship, and +inform you where my lady is confined." + +"Basta! It was well conceived by his excellency. But where is she--in +the citadel?" + +"No, excellency; but in the Casino Baglioni, behind Santa Agnese." + +"How did you find out?" + +"I was brought here prisoner, excellency, and was allowed to be in +attendance on her ladyship, together with Madonna Laura, her maid. I +escaped back to Florence with a letter from the Lady Angiola a day or +so after. It was by her orders I went." + +"Then she may not be there now." + +"I have made sure of that, excellency--but Madonna Laura----" he +stopped. + +"The maid--what of her--no doubt with her mistress?" + +"Alas, no, excellency! She was killed by Pluto." + +"Pluto!" + +"Yes, your worship. A black bear that the cavaliere Paolo, who holds +the house, has as a pet," and he commenced to weep. + +I felt for the faithful fellow's grief, but said nothing, and after a +little he composed himself. + +"Come, Gian," I said, laying my hand on his shoulder, "be a man, and +we will have an eye for an eye." + +He ground his teeth but made no reply, I and went on-- + +"How far is the house from here?" + +"Close," he said. "We can reach it by the Porto San Angelo." + +"Come, then." + +"There is no need for the crutches now," he remarked, as he tucked +them under his arm. "I will use them when we come to the gate. Will +your excellency follow?" + +As we walked northward over the hills, I continued my questions: + +"Who is the Cavaliere Paolo?" + +"A cousin of Count Carlo Baglioni, your worship. A man in middle +life--my age--and a perfect devil." + +"I doubt not, the breed is a bad one. Has he many men with him?" + +"About six, excellency, and then, of course, there is the guard at the +Porta San Angelo always at hand." + +"Now listen to me, for we may not have time to talk further of this. +When you have shown me the house we must separate. Go to the Albergo +of the Rubicon--you know it?" + +"Alas! no, excellency." + +"It is behind the Palazzo Piccinino; you cannot miss it. Go there, and +await me a few steps from the doors--you follow?" + +"Yes, your worship." + +We had now crossed the Vici dell' Elce, but passing the gate of that +name, went onwards, and after a stiff climb reached the Porta San +Angelo. Here my companion, betaking himself once more to his crutches +and keeping ahead of me, turned southwards along the road which lined +the walls towards Santa Agnese. Shortly before reaching the church, we +came to a small but solid-looking building, half fortress, half +dwelling-house, and Gian, stopping dead in front of it, turned round +and began his whine: + +"A copper for the poor cripple--a brown copper. The house, signore," +speaking the last words under his breath as I came up. + +"Do you know the room?" I asked pretending to fumble for a coin. + +"In the tower behind," he answered rapidly, "may the saints bless your +lordship," and he limped away. + +In order to gain time to look about, I put back my purse leisurely, +and then, with the same object, proceeded to rearrange and retie the +bows on my doublet. The face of the house was a little way back from +the wall which it overlooked. The massive doorway was shut, and the +windows on each side of it, as well as those set above, heavily +grated. I was too near the house to see the tower behind, and it +looked so deserted that it was hardly possible for six men to be on +guard there. + +"An odd sort of bower to place one's lady-love in," I said, half +aloud, to myself; but then Baglioni's wooing was a rough one. There +was obviously nothing to be got by staring at the front of the house, +and I turned to my left, pausing between two dead walls, until I +obtained a view of the tower behind. The windows of the topmost room +were all closed and strongly barred, and it seemed deserted. I glanced +lower down, and to my joy saw that the room below was evidently +occupied, and once I caught a glimpse of a figure moving within. It +was a brief glimpse; but the eyes of love are sharp, and I knew it was +Angiola. I made up my mind at once, and stepping back quickly to the +front of the house, hammered loudly at the door with the knocker. +After a moment's silence, I heard the firm tread of a soldier. A small +barrier was let down, a bearded face looked up, and a rough voice +asked-- + +"Who knocks?" + +"Diavolo!" I exclaimed. "You are polite. Is the Cavaliere Paolo +within?" + +"He is not," replied the man shortly. + +"Expected soon?" + +"Cannot say." + +"If you do not answer more civilly it will be bad for you. Tell him +when he comes that the Cavaliere di Savelli"--I gave my proper +name--"has arrived from Rome on an urgent affair, and will call on +him to-morrow; forget, and it will be the worse for you." + +The man seemed a little surprised, and altered his tone at once. + +"I will give your message, signore." + +"Beware how you fail--harkee--is there a road to the Via Appia behind +this house?" + +"Yes, signore, straight on, after taking the passage." + +I did not even thank him, but turned on my heel, and walked off +whistling a catch. I went down the passage between the two walls, and +after some considerable stumblings up and down the vile roads, reached +the Via Appia and turned southwards to my hostel. I had formed the +somewhat daring plan of trying to force the house in broad daylight, +choosing my time an hour or so after dinner, and if done boldly this +would probably be successful, as my own force was nearly equal to that +of the garrison including Pluto. + +As I was approaching the Rubicon, I heard a voice at my side. + +"A copper, signore--a brown paul." + +"Gian." + +"Excellency." + +"Drop the beggar, and attend--can you ride?" + +"Yes, excellency." + +"Very well!" + +I said no more and went on in silence, but a little distance from the +hostel I bade Gian stop, and entering the yard, sought out Jacopo. + +"Has the landlord any horses for sale?" + +"Two, your excellency." + +"Good ones?" + +"Fairly so, excellency--about twenty crowns a piece with saddle +included." + +"Then buy one--and here--a few steps to the right of the entrance you +will find a cripple, he is one of my men, do not speak, but attend--go +out quietly--get him decently clothed, and bring him back here, the +horse will be for him. You can get clothes to fit him anywhere, for +the shops do not shut until late; get him a sword too, there are some +good and cheap weapons in Perugia." + +"It shall be done, excellency." + +"Then be off at once." + +I went on, and had a look at the horses. Bande Nere was with them, +seated on a rough wooden bench cleaning his corselet, which already +shone like silver. He rose to the salute as I came up. + +"How are the horses, Bande Nere?" + +"As well as possible, signore, they are all in high mettle." + +With a parting pat to Castor, I sought my chamber, reaching it a +little after the supper hour. I kept up an outward composure, but my +mind within me was aflame with excitement. I ordered another flask of +the Burgundy and forced myself to eat and drink a little. Then I +betook myself to the arm-chair, and my thoughts. So impatient was I, +that the idea came on me to make the attempt there and then, and it +was with difficulty I persuaded myself to abandon such a plan, which +could have only ended in disaster. Finally, I was about to retire for +want of something better to do, when Jacopo came in, followed by Gian. + +The latter was entirely transformed, except for the patch which he +still wore over his eye, and I was able to recall him now as the old +servant who had come somewhat fiercely up to me in the garden of St. +Michael. He had the art which I found so difficult, of completely +disguising himself when he chose. Jacopo had performed his task well, +and bidding them keep their tongues closed, I dismissed them with a +good night. + + + + + CHAPTER XXI. + + THE RESCUE OF ANGIOLA. + + +The next day as the big gun from the citadel boomed out the twelfth +hour, and all the bells of the town clanged forth the time, five +horsemen rode through the gate of St. Angelo, whose doors were spread +wide open. The single sentry on duty paced sleepily up and down, he +was longing for his noontide siesta, and the guard of a half-score of +Baglioni's lances, lay with their armour off, basking in the mellow +sun. A subaltern officer, who had evidently dined to some purpose, +reclined on his back, half in half out of the shade of a few olive +trees that grew to the left of the gate, and the ruby on his cheeks +showed up all the brighter against the green of the grass on which he +was stretched. The horsemen were myself and my four followers. We had +taken the route I went the day before with Gian, and the plan I had +formed was this. On my gaining admittance to the house, Jacopo and +Bande Nere were to put themselves at the door, and engage the guard +there in conversation. Gian and the lackey were to hold the horses. As +soon as I ascertained the position of Angiola's room, I would blow +shrilly on a whistle I had purchased for the purpose. My men at the +door, who were armed with arquebuses as well as their swords, would +hold the passage, and I should try and account for the Cavaliere Paolo +and bear off the prize. If we succeeded, we could easily make the +gate, and then, the road to St. Jerome lay open before us. The fact +that the attempt was to be made in broad daylight too would be a +safeguard, as no one would deem that such a deed, usually done under +cover of night, was to be adventured at this hour. I had partly paved +the way for my entrance by my call of yesterday, and was provided with +a sufficiently plausible story to keep the cavaliere engaged, whilst I +took stock of his surroundings. Jacopo too had been carefully drilled +as to how he was to announce me, and the question resolved itself into +hard hitting, and a little luck. I had dressed myself with particular +care, wearing my buff-coat under a gay jerkin, and a short velvet +cloak hung from my shoulders. This almost gala attire was to act as a +further blind, and give all the appearance of a mere visit of +ceremony. There was of course the possibility of my being refused +admittance, and of the Cavaliere Paolo declining to see me; but this +was not probable, and if it did happen, I was ready for a bold stroke, +and for this Bande Nere carried with him a grenade with which to blow +open the door. As it turned out, however, we had no difficulty on this +score. On reaching the house I glanced up, and saw a face peering at +us through the caging of one of the windows above; but it was almost +immediately withdrawn. Jacopo dismounted and knocked firmly. The same +performance, I have described, of opening a grating was gone through, +but on my name being mentioned the porter shut his peep-hole, there +was the sound of the removal of a bar, the clank of chains, and the +door swung open with a sullen groan, disclosing a hall, in which stood +two men, completely armed, their arquebuses at the ready in their +hands, whilst the doorkeeper himself, a sturdy knave, stood full in +the entrance, swinging a bunch of keys. + +"Is the Cavaliere Paolo Baglioni within?" I asked as I dismounted, +taking it for granted I was to be received, from the preparation I saw +was made. + +"He is, signore--be pleased to follow." + +With a warning glance to Jacopo I stepped in, finding myself in a hall +of middle size, the walls discoloured with age, and chipped and +cracked in many places--clearly the Casino Baglioni needed repairs. At +the end of the hall was a spiral staircase, whose stone steps, worn to +a hollow in the middle, by the passing and repassing of feet, marked +its great age. Up this narrow stairway I followed the man, until we +reached a corridor, hung on each side with rusty suits of armour, and +old and tattered banners. The place was very damp, and there was a +musty smell about it, as if no pure air ever came that way. It was +evident that the cavaliere was on the alert, for a man was on guard +here, armed like those below, with sword and arquebus. To him my guide +addressed himself. + +"He has come," he said, jerking his thumb backwards at me. + +"Well, announce him," said the sentinel. + +"That is for you," answered the janitor, "I had enough of Pluto this +morning." With this he turned on his heel and ran back downstairs, +jingling his keys. + +The sentry stood still, however, and after waiting for half a minute, +I spoke, my blood rising a little within me. + +"Will you be good enough to announce the Cavaliere di Savelli--on an +urgent affair?" + +The man turned round to a closed door behind him, rapping at it with +his mailed hand. From inside I heard a shuffling noise, a heavy body +lurched against the door, and there was a scratching at the wood. No +answer, however, came to the knock. + +"Knock again," I said, a little impatiently, and this time a deep +voice called out-- + +"Enter." + +I placed my hand on the door to open it when the sentry spoke with +unexpected civility. + +"Take care of the beast, signore!" + +"The beast--what beast?" I asked, pretending not to know anything of +Pluto's existence. + +"His excellency's bear--do not fear it--else it might injure +you--_cospetto!_ But it is a perfect fiend if you run from it. It +killed a poor woman the other day." + +"Thanks, friend, I will beware," I answered, and pushed open the door, +springing back a yard as I did so, for with a short roar that echoed +through the house, a huge bear rose on his hind legs, and struck out +at my face with his claws. + +"_Diavolo!_ go back," shouted the sentry to the brute, and I whipped +out my sword; but the animal merely stood in the open doorway, making +no further advance, his great jaws open, and puffing like a +blacksmith's bellows. + +"_Cospetto!_ excellency, call off the bear," shouted the sentry again, +indeed he seemed positively to hate the animal, and from inside came a +low deep-toned but mocking laugh. "Come back, Pluto--down, you +brute--down!" then there was a heavy "thud," the tinkling of shivered +glass, and the bear dropping on its fore feet, shambled back into the +room. I was considerably startled, and not a little angry; but +concealing these feelings, stepped boldly into the room, keeping my +drawn sword still in my hand. + +"The Cavaliere di Baglioni?" I enquired. + +"At the Cavaliere di Savelli's service," and a tall figure rose from a +lounge chair and surveyed me. I confess that my heart began to beat a +little fast when I saw the man against whom I was to pit myself. He +was far above the middle height, and proportionately broad. His +grizzled hair, parted in the middle, hung down straightly to his neck, +and a thick grey beard and moustache hid his mouth and chin. A cruel +hooked nose, almost Hebraic in shape, was set between a pair of small +and piercing eyes. His complexion was deathly pale, and by the light +which fell from the barred window, I saw beneath the skin the little +red lines of swollen veins which marked an intemperate life. At a +small table beside the chair was a pack of cards, and a glass half +filled with red wine, the bottle from which the wine was taken was +lying in fragments at the door, where it had fallen and broken to +bits, after being flung at Pluto. The bear was now beside his master, +facing me, his huge head held down and swaying from side to side. We +remained for a half minute staring at each other, and then Baglioni +spoke again, with his deep sneering accent, "Is it usual for the +Cavaliere di Savelli to pay visits with a drawn sword in his hand?" + +"Is it usual," I replied, "for gentlemen to be received by having a +savage beast set at them?" + +"Oh, Pluto!" and he touched the bear, "Pluto was not set at you, +man--you would not be here if he was." + +"Probably--if however you will call the beast to one side, I would +like to discuss my business with you, cavaliere." + +"Shut the door, and sit down there," he replied, "Pluto will not +disturb us--you can put back your sword. It would avail you little," +he grinned. + +It cost me an effort, but I did as I was bidden, and Baglioni sank +back into his lounge, the bear still standing, and keeping its fierce +eyes on me. Its master however kept running his hand up and down its +shaggy coat, whilst he asked in his measured voice-- + +"Well, and to what do I owe the honour of this visit?" + +"You would prefer no beating about the bush?" + +"It is my way." + +"Well, then, cavaliere, I have come from Rome with a special object, +and that is to ask you to change sides, and to use your influence with +your cousin, Count Carlo, to do likewise." + +"I follow the head of my house." + +"Exactly. You are aware that His Holiness is now over seventy years of +age." + +"The lambkin of God, Alexander--yes." + +"Well, he cannot go on for ever, and if he were to die, it is an end +to the Borgia." + +"Ho! ho!" he laughed, "it is an end to the Borgia--Cavaliere, your +employers are mad. It will take not a little to break Cesare--Cesare +Borgia, Duke of Romagna, Imola and Faenza, Marquis of Rimini, Count of +Forli, Lord of Pesaro and Fano, Gonfaloniere of the Church--good for a +low-born bastard--eh? Ho! ho! break Cesare! Not you." + +"Stronger trees have fallen, signore--remember we have France, and the +Florentines on our side, and twenty thousand men, under Tremouille and +Trevulzio, are not twenty miles from you." + +I was playing a risky game. If I did succeed in inducing this man to +listen to my proposals, and he actually persuaded his cousin to do +likewise, it would be a terrible blow to the Borgia. On the other hand +I ran the immediate risk of being arrested, and kept a prisoner, or +killed outright. But it was the only way to gain time, and look about +me; and whilst Baglioni reflectively stroked his strange pet, making +no reply to my last speech, I glanced cautiously but carefully around +the room. Like the passage outside, the walls were hung with old +armour and old flags. Time had defaced the pictures on the ceiling, +and such furniture as there was, was old, and the coverings of the +chairs and tables moth-eaten and wine stained. The stale odour of wine +mingled with the must of a long untouched room, and everywhere, on the +tables, on the chairs, and strewn here and there on the floor, were +cards. Evidently the cavaliere had a weakness in this direction, and +like lightning it flashed upon me, that if he were a gambler the game +was probably in my hands, and I would drop policy and turn to the +cards. My thoughts were interrupted by Baglioni, who broke the +silence. "What evidence have you, to show you are the person you +represent yourself to be?" + +"I can offer you none. In matters like this one does not carry +evidence about--but if you like to send a trusted messenger to Rome, +to the Cardinal d'Amboise--see the reception he will get--or nearer +still to Tremouille?" + +"And why come to me?" + +"Because of your influence with your cousin, and because you are a man +who will play for a big stake," and I risked the shot. His eyes +flashed, and his hand stopped in its movement through the fur of the +bear. + +"My influence with my cousin is--that," he snapped his fingers, "but a +big stake--yes--I like playing for big stakes." + +I stooped and picked up a card, holding it idly up between my finger +and thumb. + +"This, what I propose, is a bigger stake than you could ever get on +the king, cavaliere," and with a twist of my wrist I sent the card +from me, it hit the wall opposite with a smart tap, and then floated +slowly and noiselessly down to the floor of the room. + +The man's eyes followed the card, and he muttered as if to himself-- + +"A big stake--yes--Carlo gives me nothing--I am his jailor--I, who in +a single night have lost two lordships to Riario, have now not a ducat +to fling in the air, except what the niggard allows me." + +I did not like the part I was playing; but I knew enough of the state +of affairs to be certain that D'Amboise would richly reward the person +who could detach Baglioni from the Borgia. I said no more than the +truth therefore when I added quietly-- + +"You would have another lordship, or two maybe, to stake, if my +proposal were carried out." + +"_Cospetto!_" he said, "it is useless." + +"Then I am sorry," I replied, rising as if to depart, "but must wish +you good day." + +"_Diavolo!_ Cavaliere, you are not going without some refreshment. Ho! +without there," and his deep voice pealed out like a great bell. + +The bear, which had stretched itself on the floor, rose with a grunt, +but Baglioni pressed its head down, and it sank back, and began to hum +to itself between its paws, like an enormous bee, or rather with the +sound a thousand bees might make. + +After a little delay there was a knock at the door, but apparently, as +usual, the person outside, whoever he was, did not feel disposed to +come in. My host rose in anger, and stepped across the room, followed +by his beast, the latter passing unpleasantly close to me. + +There was an altercation at the door, my host went out with his pet, +and for a minute or two I was left alone. I moved my seat nearer to +the small table beside Baglioni's lounge, and taking up the pack of +cards began to shuffle and cut them. + +The cavaliere came back very soon, a flask in one hand and a glass in +the other. + +"Blood of St. John!" he exclaimed as he set them down with a clink on +the table, "those rascals--I will have their ears cut off--they fear +this poor lamb," and he fondled the great bear, which rose on its hind +feet and began muzzling its master. + +"I am not surprised. _Corpo di Bacco!_ The king again!" and I flung +down the pack in apparent disgust. + +"Down, Pluto!" and Baglioni turned to me, "The king again. What was +that you said?" + +"Cutting left hand against the right. I lost three times." + +"I lost ten thousand one night over cutting--but help yourself," and +he pushed the flask towards me, and then filled his own, which he +drained at a gulp. + +"Come, cavaliere--you are in no hurry--cut me through the pack." + +"With pleasure; but my purse-bearer is downstairs--will you permit me +to see him?" + +"By all means--the heavier the purse the better for me." + +"A favour--I cannot play with that beast near me--could you not send +him away?" + +"Send him away--my familiar," he said with an awful smile, "No, no, Di +Savelli--he is my luck; but I shall keep him at a distance if you +like." + +I rose and went down to Jacopo, and found him and Bande Nere already +on friendly terms with the guard. I took my purse from him, and found +time to whisper a warning to strike the moment he heard my whistle. +When I came back, I was relieved to find the bear fastened by a chain +to a ring in the wall. The chain itself was weak, and could have been +snapped with ease, but the animal made no effort to strain at it, and +lay down as contentedly as a dog. Baglioni had pulled a table into the +centre of the room, and was seated at it, impatiently ruffling the +cards. + +"Back at last," he said, and his voice had lost its measured cadence, +"heavens, I have not spread the cards for a whole year--what stakes?" + +"Simply cutting the cards?" + +"Yes. It is the quickest game I know." + +"Say a crown each turn to begin with." + +We cut through four times, and I paid over two crowns. Baglioni +laughed as he put them on one side, "peddling stakes these, +cavaliere--make them ten crowns a cut." + +"Agreed--three cuts and a shuffle." + +He nodded, and I paid ten crowns, feeling at this rate that my purse +would soon be empty; but I saw that the fever was taking hold of him, +and offered to double the stakes and won. From that moment luck +favoured me, and at the end of half an hour's play the cavaliere +had lost all his ready money, about sixty crowns, and owed me five +hundred besides. He did not take his losses well, all the restrained +self-command which he first exhibited, gave place to a wild +excitement, and his hands shook as he shuffled the cards, his white +face paling whiter than ever. + +"Curse the cards!" he said, "I have no luck." + +The moment had come for which I had been watching. Time after time I +felt inclined to strike a sudden blow; but held myself in. + +"No more to-day, cavaliere," I said, filling my glass, "I have +business and must away." + +A red flush came to his forehead, "I cannot pay you at once," he said +in a low tone. + +"Tush!" I replied, "the word of Baglioni is enough--but if you want a +last try for your revenge, I will cut you----" + +"Double or quits?" he burst in. + +"No, cavaliere," and I dropped the words out slowly, "the five hundred +against a five minutes' interview with the Lady Angiola." + +He leaned back in his chair in amaze, and I went on, "Listen to me, I +only want five minutes' speech with her--in your presence if you +will--come, shall I cut or will you?" + +"_Diavolo!_" he muttered, "if Carlo hears of this--well, yes--I will +cut first--the ten--a bad card to beat." + +I cut carelessly, and faced my card. It was a king. + +"Hell and Furies!" he burst out. "You have won. Come, sir," and rising +he advanced towards the bear. + +"A moment, cavaliere. I said in _your_ presence. I did not include +Messer Pluto there in the interview." + +He gave me an unpleasant look; but stopped short. + +"Very well," he said, and taking a large key from his girdle, went on +before me. + +It cost me a great effort to keep cool, up to now my luck had been so +great that every moment there was a temptation to put all to the +hazard of one stroke. I smiled, under my beard, as I thought of the +imposing fool Count Carlo had placed in charge of his prize, and when +I saw the huge shaking hand clutching the key, I could not help +thinking that nerves like that would never hold a sword straight, and +that for all his size and courage, the cavaliere was not a very +formidable foe. + +In a few steps we reached the door he wanted, and Baglioni, after +knocking once, simply turned the key and pushed open the door. + +Looking over his shoulder I saw a small but well-furnished room, and +standing in the middle of it, in startled surprise at this sudden +intrusion, the figure of Angiola. Quick as thought I made a warning +gesture, and almost at the moment Baglioni turned round with-- + +"A visitor for you, madam." + +She did not seem to recognise me, but at the warning gesture I made, a +faint flush came into her cheek. She stood looking at us half +frightened, half indignant, and at last spoke. + +"I do not recognise----" + +"Ugo di Savelli, madam," and I bowed. + +Her lips curled a little as she answered-- + +"Well, Messer Ugo di Savelli--Cavaliere Ugo di Savelli I should +say--is it not so? May I ask your business? If it is any message from +your master, I decline to hear it," and she turned away with a motion +of supreme disdain, thinking no doubt that I was a follower of Count +Carlo. + +"Ho! ho!" laughed Baglioni, at my look of discomfiture, "the future +countess can speak her mind. I pity Carlo. You had best cut short your +five minutes, cavaliere, and come back to the cards." + +At this moment I heard the bear whining below, impatient for his +master, and I knew his bonds were all too slender to hold him. There +was nothing for it, but to save Angiola in spite of herself. All this +happened in a flash, and with my full strength I hit Baglioni below +the left ear, just where the neck and head united. So sudden, so +unexpected was the blow, that the huge man rolled over like an ox, and +a short shrill scream broke from Angiola. My sword was out in a +moment, and I stood over Baglioni. + +"A cry, a movement, and I kill you like a dog," I gasped out, my +breath coming thick and fast; "throw the key to the lady--pick it up, +girl--quick--now run to the door and stand there--I am here to save +you." It was done at once, for Baglioni saw he must obey or die, and +springing back, I closed the door quickly and turned the key. Almost +as I did so, I heard footsteps hurrying below, and blew loudly on my +whistle. The sound of the whistle was followed by an angry shouting +that was drowned by a terrible roar, and I saw Pluto before me, +rushing up the stair, with the end of his broken chain still hanging +to him. Baglioni was battering at the door behind me. He was safe +enough, but my companion had dropped in a faint, and I wanted all my +hands and all my nerve to meet the beast, who was now on the stairway, +not ten feet away from me. Close to me was a heavy stool, I seized +this, and flung it at the animal with all my strength, and getting +between his forefeet, it caused him to stumble and slip back a +half-dozen steps; but with another roar Pluto gathered himself +together, and rushed up again, his jaws agape, and white with foam. I +gave him the point deep into his neck. It might have been a pinprick, +and he dented the steel with his teeth. Rising to his feet, he struck +at me, tearing my short cloak clean off my shoulders, and then, my +sword was up to the hilt in his side, and we grappled. My left cheek +was once touched by his claws, and seemed to be hanging in ribbons; +but although almost blinded with blood, and choked by his f[oe]tid +breath, I held my head well down, and drove my dagger again and again +into the beast. Angiola had recovered from her faint, and above the +grunting of the bear, the battering at the door, and the clash of +steel below, I heard her laughing in shrill hysterics. My strength was +failing. I was about to give up all for lost, when there was a loud +report, and with a howl the bear fell backwards. My hand somehow +fastened itself to the hilt of my sword, sticking in the animal's +side, and the weight of him, as he fell back, and as I shook myself +clear, freed the blade. I stood half dazed, watching the huge black +body sliding limply down the stairs, until it lay in a shapeless heap +on the landing. Jacopo's voice brought me to myself. + +"For the love of God--quick, excellency--quick!" + +God, I suppose, gives men strength sometimes, for his own purposes. +And so it must have been with me, for I picked my dear up in my arms, +and half giddy, and staggering, made my way to the entrance door. I +need not say I had no time to look about me; but Jacopo helped me with +my burden. Lifting her to the pommel of the saddle, I sprang up +behind, and drawing my darling close to me, with a shout of triumph, I +set free my plunging horse and let him go with a loose rein. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII. + + THE RIDE TO ST. JEROME. + + +We galloped at a break-neck pace to the gate, but the guard was +already alarmed, and half-a-dozen men came hastening towards us. +They were on foot, however, and had no mind to stand the shock of +meeting horses coming at full speed down an incline, so skipped +nimbly aside. The officer alone held his ground, paying for his +courage with his life, for Bande Nere sliced his head in two like a +ripe water-melon--poor wretch. Had they only closed the gates we were +lost, but we reached them just in time, and passing through like a +flash were free of the town. A bullet or two whizzed past us, but did +no damage. It was done, and another half hour of the pace we were +going would place us beyond pursuit. It was no easy matter, however, +to sit the horse and hold Angiola as I was doing, and I very soon +began to feel that the strain on my arm was getting beyond me, and +that she was slipping from my grasp. She lay still and passive, her +eyes closed, her head resting on my shoulder, and seemed in a faint. +Perhaps I spoke roughly, but it was no time to mince words. + +"Come, madam," I said, "you must rouse yourself--take another day to +swoon--hold me as closely as you can--quick." + +My words--and the tone they were spoken in--had the effect I wanted. +She looked a little indignant, but held on, leaving my left arm, which +was getting numbed, more free to guide the horse, and my sword arm +greater liberty should occasion arise. + +The country, rugged although it was, descended in a slope towards the +basin of Trasimene, but I turned sharp aside from the road, fearing +there might be a picquet thereon, and galloped across the open, far +out-pacing my followers, who I saw were coming after me in a bunch, +and at their utmost speed--the honest knaves. The glance over my +shoulder that I took to observe this also showed me a strong body of +horse spurring from the gate, and I chuckled to myself as I thought we +had gained a mile's start and that they had to deal with Castor. Five +leagues to go--it was nothing to the brave horse; and in answer to my +call he stretched himself out as he had never done before. As for me, +such thoughts as I had when I felt the arms of the woman I loved +clasped about me are to be recalled for one's self alone, and concern +none else beside. Once or twice I glanced down, meeting her eyes, and +as she dropped her lids over them they seemed to me to be alive with a +soft light. After a little I felt her arms beginning to relax. + +"Hold tight," I said. + +"I cannot; my strength is going." + +"Courage, take heart; see, to our left is the Tower of Magione--a few +minutes and we are safe." + +I drew her closer towards me. With an effort she rallied, her arms +again tightened in their clasp, and we sped down the long slope which +led to Trasimene, Castor stretching himself like a greyhound. I looked +again over my shoulder. Far behind my men were riding for their lives, +and farther still was the dark line of our pursuers, coming on with +dogged persistence, the sun lighting up their armour and flashing from +their spears. Once beyond Magione we were comparatively safe, but a +false step, a stumble, and all was lost. Magione itself was held by +the Baglioni, and from the old watch-tower, built by the Sforza, which +stood high above the country, we might have already been spied, and a +party sent out to intercept us. The thought seemed to grow into a +reality, and a despair began to come over me. "On, on, Castor!" I +spoke to the good horse, and he laid his ears back at the sound of my +voice, and even as he did so I saw a cloud of dust coming towards our +left, and knew that the danger I feared was at hand. Going as we were +I was riding right into the party from Magione, and therefore with a +touch on the rein, I swung Castor round to the north, and we raced on, +leaving the tower over my shoulder. The double burden and the +tremendous pace, however, began to tell on the horse, and within the +next five minutes he slackened perceptibly in his stride. To my horror +I saw that the ground began to be furrowed and cut up by ravines and +that we were approaching the bed of a river. I had therefore to +slacken the pace, and at the same time our new pursuers sighting us, +came on with all the speed of their fresh horses. Castor scrambled in +and out of the ravines like a cat, but we were going slowly now, and +the enemy had all the advantage of the level ground to come up, which +they did at a dreadful rate. With the failing strength of my companion +I dared not risk jumps, weighted as I was, but the brave horse did his +utmost, as if knowing our danger. + +"For God's sake hold on!" I cried out as we topped a deep ravine with +a plunge that almost caused Angiola to slip from my grasp, and as I +said this I heard a shot and a ball from an arquebus whistled over my +head. The enemy were in the rough ground now themselves, but they were +within gun-range, and I dreaded that some of them might dismount and +pick me off. This however did not occur to them, and on we went, with +every now and again a bullet, fired from horseback with an unsteady +aim singing past us. My charge had twisted her arms into my shoulder +belt and held on bravely, but I saw by her white face and the blue +coming into her lips that this could not last, and if she fainted +there was an end of all. + +At the outside it was a matter of a few minutes now, one way or the +other; but as I came to the crest of another ravine I saw before me a +steep bank leading down to a small stream that was swishing along in a +white flood, and on the opposite shore a sight that made my heart +leap, for drawn up in array, evidently roused by the sound of the +shots, was a strong body of men-at-arms, and over them fluttered the +pennon of Hawkwood, a red hand on a white field. I knew in a moment we +were within the king's outposts. + +"Saved!" I shouted in my joy. "Saved!"--and risking all I made the +horse fly the last ravine, and the next instant we had slid down the +bank, and the white water was churning round Castor as he dashed into +the stream. + +A puff of smoke above us, a flash as of lightning, a deafening roar, +and one of Novarro's nine pounders belched out a storm of grape, that +hissed over our heads in the direction of our pursuers, and stopped +them, beaten and baffled. One effort more, we were out of the stream, +up the bank, and panting, breathless and still bleeding, with my +companion in a dead faint in my arms, I reined in Castor. In a moment +we were surrounded, but the faces were kindly, and dismounting slowly, +I placed my lifeless burden on a heap of cloaks that were flung to the +earth for her, and then turning round, saw Hawkwood before me. It was +the first time we had met since the affair at Arezzo, when I was cast +forth a dishonoured man. I did not know how to greet him, and there +was a constraint in his face, for I saw he knew me, and was like +myself at a loss for speech. I had, however, to take the matter in my +hand. + +"Signore," I said, "accept my thanks. This lady is the Countess +Angiola Castellani, a ward of the Florentine secretary, whom I have +brought off from Perugia, and have to take to the convent of St. +Jerome." + +He tugged at his tawny moustache. + +"I have merely carried out orders--you have nothing to thank me for, +signore. My instructions were to prevent any of Baglioni's men +crossing the Sanguinetta, and to protect all fugitives from the +territories of the Borgia." + +I bowed and added, with a pain in my tone I could not conceal, for +this man was once my friend-- + +"All the same I thank you, signore; I have, however, four followers." + +"I can do nothing for them if they are on the other bank," he +interrupted, and went on, "St. Jerome is not a half-league from here. +My men will make up a litter, and help to bear the lady there. It will +be easier for her. I wish you a good day." He turned on his heel and +gave some orders to his men in English, a language I do not know, +leaving me standing by the body of Angiola. All the misery of the past +came back to me in a flash. Would the stain never be wiped out? All +the kindness I had received from Bayard and the cardinal, all the +efforts made by those who believed in me, seemed to be swept away as +dust in the wind. Almost did I feel that I would accept the ban cast +on me, and turn wolf in earnest. It cost me much to restrain myself +from drawing on Hawkwood, but a glance at the still pale face before +me recalled me to my duty. A man very kindly brought me a little wine, +I knelt down and forced some of it between her blue lips. In a short +time she revived, some colour came into her cheeks, and she attempted +to rise, with a look of fear on her face at the number of armed men +she saw around her. + +"There is nothing to fear, madam," I said to reassure her, "you are +safe, and in an hour will be at St. Jerome--a litter is being made +ready for you." + +Without a word she held out her hand, and thanked me with this and the +look in her eyes. + +The litter was now ready, half-a-dozen men volunteered their services, +and placing her therein, we started for the convent. Ere we had gone +half a mile we heard shouts behind us, and I was more than glad to see +Jacopo and my men riding up. + +"How did you get off?" I asked as they came up. + +"In the rear of the troop from Magione, excellency," was Jacopo's +reply, "they did not observe us, having eyes only for you; and seeing +you were safe, we forded the stream lower down and crossed--but, +excellency, your face--are you hurt?" + +"Somewhat, but at St. Jerome I will have it attended to." + +In truth the left side of my face appeared to be laid open, and +although I felt that the wound was not so dangerous as it seemed, yet +I had bled freely, and now that the excitement was over, began to +suffer much pain. Indeed at times I felt as if I could hardly hold +myself straight in the saddle, succeeding in doing so only by an +effort of will. I did not approach the litter. I was afraid that the +sight of my face would alarm Angiola, for now she was probably able to +look about her, and see that which she had not been able to observe +before. Once, however, in a bend of the road, that fortunately went to +the left and hid my wounded side, our eyes met, and I caught so bright +a smile of thanks, that it paid me for my hurt. I reined in, for I +knew my face showed too much, and henceforth kept well behind. I sent +Gian on to the convent with the good news of Angiola's rescue, and on +nearing the gates was met by St. Armande and the rest of my followers, +whom I was glad indeed to see. + +He came up with a merry greeting. "Welcome," he cried, "so, gallant +knight, you have saved the damsel in distress;" then catching sight of +my wounded face his tone changed. "Good God! you are hurt." + +"A little." + +"You should have it seen to at once--come--we are not allowed to enter +the convent; but the abbess has done all she can for us, and we camp +or lodge, whichever way you put it, in that house there," he pointed +to a small villa, set in what seemed a wilderness of holm-oak that hid +all but its roof from view. + +"Not so fast, chevalier. I must leave my charge at the convent first." + +He had to rest satisfied with this, but I was surprised that he made +no inquiry as to the condition of Angiola, an ordinary civility that +might have been expected. + +At the gates of the convent, within which we were not allowed to +enter, we were met by the lady abbess and her train. I dismounted, +intending to assist Angiola out of the litter, but as it was set down, +she sprang out of it of her own accord, and the next minute she was in +the arms of the abbess, and there was much kissing and many +congratulations, mingled with tears of joy. + +I did not stay to receive the thanks I saw would shortly be showered +on me, and thrusting a handful of crowns into the hands of the leader +of the good fellows who bore the litter, as some reward for himself +and his men, I looped Castor's reins into my arm, and set forward to +walk to the villa. The chevalier came with me, and by the time I +reached it I was quite giddy, being weak with the pain and the loss of +blood. The saturnine old abbé was there, with more concern in his face +than I had seen for a long time, and seeing me stagger, he put an arm +round me and, aided by St. Armande, assisted me to a couch. The +chevalier himself dressed my wound, with a gentle and skilful hand, +making as much of me as if I had been run through the vitals. As he +finished dressing the wound, the abbé remarked that I would have to +rest for a few days to enable it to heal, and I had replied with some +difficulty, my jaw being bandaged up, that this was impossible, when +Gian came in with a note. It was from Angiola, chiding me gently for +not waiting to receive her thanks and those of the abbess, and begging +me to come the following day, with a postscript to the effect that the +lady abbess would so far relax the rules of the order, as to admit me +within the courtyard. I dismissed Gian with thanks, and a message that +I would be at the convent, charging him to say nothing of my wound, +and then my thoughts went a wool-gathering, and I lay back with the +missive in my hands. St. Armande was leaning against the window, his +back to the light. He had taken up this position after whispering a +word or two to the abbé, who left the room. I did not, however, +observe him or anything else, my mind was full of mad thoughts, and +for the moment I let them have full play, making no effort to resist. +Folding the letter up carefully, I placed it under my pillow, and was +about to close my eyes, when the abbé returned, bearing a bowl in his +hands. This St. Armande took from him, and approaching me said-- + +"Come, cavaliere--you must drink this at once." + +His tone was sharp and incisive, and looking up in some surprise, I +saw he was pale to the lips, and wondered what bee had stung him. I +rose to a sitting posture to take the cup; but he would not have it +so, and passing his arm round my neck, made me drink like a child. The +draught was cool and refreshing, and as I sank back on my pillows, my +heart for a moment being gay at the thought of the letter, I said +jestingly-- + +"Chevalier, you would make a most excellent nurse. Shave off that +little moustache of yours, put on a black hood and gown, and +_diavolo!_ But you would break as many hearts as you cured wounds." +The words were barely out of my mouth, when he brought his foot down +with an angry stamp on the carpet, and with a face as scarlet now as +it had been pale before, turned on his heel and walked out of the +room. + +I looked to the abbé, who was sitting watching me, stroking his chin +with his hand. + +"St. John! But is he often taken this way?" + +The cleric rose, and not answering my question, spoke. + +"You had better try and sleep now, cavaliere, or else the potion may +lose its effect." He then followed St. Armande. + +I would have risen to apologise, but I felt a pleasant numbness +stealing over me, and in a minute or so my thoughts began to grow +confused, and I seemed to sink into a sleep. Not so profound a +slumber, however, as to be unconscious of what was going on around me. +I was sure I once heard Bande Nere and Jacopo in my room, and that I +was being carried apparently to a more comfortable bed. Then I felt +soft hands bathing my wound, and heard a gentle voice whispering words +of deep love in my ear. It was a dream, of course, but all through the +night that soon came, Doris d'Entrangues hung over me, and tended me +with words I cannot repeat. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII. + + THE PAVILION OF TREMOUILLE. + + +When I awoke the next morning, my head was still dazed, but I was +otherwise strong. At least, I felt so, as I lay still in my bed, all +sense of fatigue gone, and trying to collect my thoughts. After a +little, I glanced round the chamber, which was not the room where I +had taken the potion, but another and a larger apartment. It was no +fancy then, the voices of Jacopo and Bande Nere I heard and the +sensation of being lifted and moved, which I experienced in the night. +My removal was doubtless effected whilst I was under the influence of +the drug; but the voice of madame? The almost certainty that she was +by me through the hours of the night? I could not account for this, +and seeing any such effort was useless, ceased to rack my brain on the +subject, putting it down to a mad dream. For some while I lay +mustering up courage to rise, fanned by the mild breeze, which played +in from the open window on my right. Outside I could see the branches +of the trees, as they swayed to and fro in the wind, and the joyous +song of a mavis trilled out sweetly through the morning, from the +thorn bushes whence he piped. In about a half hour my head began to +grow clearer, I remembered Angiola's letter, and thrust my hand under +the pillow to find it. Of course it was not there, as I had been +moved, and a short exclamation of annoyance broke from me. + +"Excellency!" + +It was Jacopo's voice, and the good fellow, who had evidently been +watching me, came forward from behind the head of the bed. + +"Ah, Jacopo! Is it you? Here, help me to rise." + +"Signore--but is your worship able--the chevalier----" + +"Never mind the chevalier. I am as well as ever, and there was no need +of that to-do yesterday--_diavolo!_" and a twinge in my face brought +me up sharply, and recalled Pluto's claws. I put my hand up to my +face, and found I was still bandaged. + +"It was lucky he only touched your worship." + +"Luckier still your being there with your arquebus, else. St. Peter +and I had surely shaken hands--there--thanks--I will sit here for a +few minutes," and I sank into an easy chair, being really weaker than +I thought I was, the effects more of the narcotic than anything else. + +"Will your worship breakfast here?" + +"No--but before doing anything, go to the room where I was last +evening, and bring me the letter you will find under the cushions of +the couch there." + +"Excellency!" and Jacopo left the room. + +I now for the first time observed a bouquet of red and white roses, +whose fragrance filled the chamber. I had been conscious of their +perfume before, but thought the scent was borne in by the breeze from +the garden outside. Whilst I was admiring the flowers, Jacopo +returned. + +"The letter." + +"Is not there, signore, I have searched carefully." + +It was a disappointment, but I said nothing, having determined to see +for myself. As Jacopo assisted me to dress, I enquired to whom I was +indebted for the flowers. + +"I cannot say, excellency; they were here when I came this morning. +Possibly the Signor de St. Armande, who was with your worship all +night." + +"All night!" + +"Signore." + +I could not help being touched by this proof of devotion, and when I +had dressed went down, with the intention of finding my letter, and +thanking the chevalier for his kindness. I was, I saw, still a little +weak, but a few hours' rest would make me fit for action, and I could +not help thinking I had been made much over, on too small an occasion. +St. Armande was in the room where I had left the letter, and at the +first glance I saw he was haggard and worn, with dark circles under +his eyes, eyes which many a beauty would have been proud to own. He +seemed so slim, so small and delicate, as he came to meet me, that my +heart began to misgive me again, as to his powers to endure the labour +involved in the difficult adventure we had before us. He was much +concerned at my having risen, made many enquiries about my condition, +and put aside my thanks. + +"_Per Bacco!_ chevalier," I said, "you look more of an invalid than I. +I fear me, I shall have to be nurse in my turn." + +"It is but a touch of the megrims, I have; but you must not think of +doing anything for a week." + +"Or a month, or a year," I gibed, as I turned over the cushions of the +couch, and in answer to St. Armande's enquiring look, went on, "The +letter I received yesterday--I am certain I left it here." + +He came forward to help me, but with no avail. + +"It must have been blown away," he said. + +"But I put it under the cushions!" + +"True--but you forget you were moved, and the things were shifted. +Come to breakfast now, and I will have a thorough search made +afterwards." + +"Not yet; I will but step over to the convent, and enquire after the +Lady Angiola----" + +"What! With a bandaged face?" + +"It is a wound," I answered coldly, and turning, went out of the +villa. My lackey ran forward to enquire if a horse should be made +ready; but thinking the walk would do me good, I declined. I was right +in this, the fresh, air acted as a tonic, and when I reached the gates +of the convent, all the giddiness had passed. There, to my dismay, I +heard that Angiola was unable to leave her room, a thing I might have +expected, and sending a civil message I retraced my steps, entering +the villa by a side gate, and walking towards it through a deserted +portion of the garden. I went leisurely, stopping every now and again +to admire the flowers and the trees. In one of these rests, whilst I +idly gazed about me, my eye was arrested by a number of fragments of +paper, that lay on the green turf at my feet. Yielding to an impulse I +could not control, I stopped and picked up one of the pieces, and saw +in a moment it was a piece of Angiola's letter to me. I lost no time +in collecting the remaining bits of the paper, and carefully placed +them in my vest pocket. Then I retraced my steps to the villa. + +As we sat down to breakfast, the chevalier explained that he had made +a further search for the letter, but in vain. + +"I ought to have told you," I said, "I have found it." + +"Where?" + +"In the garden--in shreds and tatters." + +He became suddenly very silent, and so we finished our meal. All that +day I rested, more for the horses' sake than my own, and be sure I did +not fail to make frequent enquiry of Angiola's condition, hearing each +time she was better, and would certainly see me on the morrow. Whilst +I lay resting, my mind was active. I cast up the time I had left at my +disposal. I still had four clear days to carry out my mission, and to +make my plans to intercept Bozardo. But after my adventure in Perugia +I had need for extra care, and could not afford to throw away an hour +of the four days that were left to me. There were many points to think +of. Bozardo would no doubt be strongly escorted, and if the forty +thousand ducats he had with him were in gold, they would be difficult +to carry away, and would be a great temptation to my men. I could +answer for Jacopo and Bande Nere; of course St. Armande was beyond +suspicion, my doubts of him were at rest; but for the others? They +might or might not yield to temptation. If they did yield, affairs +would be serious indeed. I deliberated long and carefully, making up +my mind to adopt the following course. Tremouille was but a few miles +from me. I would see him, tell him of the enterprise which D'Amboise +had entrusted to me, and ask him to send a troop, or some trusted men, +to whom I could hand over the money in case I succeeded. If he could +send these men on to Sassoferrato, I meant to ambuscade on the banks +of the Misa, make my dash at Bozardo there, and if all went well, they +could receive the money in a few hours, and relieve me of that +anxiety. Of course Tremouille might refuse to see me; he might even do +worse; but I would give him the chance and accept the risk. + +When I came to think of it, it was hardly possible that he was +unacquainted with the cardinal's design, and I could form no better +plan than the one I had resolved upon. I would have to deny myself the +pleasure of seeing Angiola on the morrow, but the four days gave me no +margin. The day's repose did me much good, and, after supper, which we +took about six o'clock, I ordered Castor to be saddled. St. Armande +looked surprised, but I wasted no words, telling him briefly that I +was bound on business, and that on my return we should have to make an +immediate start. I refused all offer of companionship, and shortly +after Castor and I were galloping through the glow of a late sunset to +the camp of Tremouille. + +I skirted the shores of Trasimene, the road being easier there, and as +I went on, could not help wondering to myself what manner of reception +I would have from the duke. Good or bad, I was determined to see him, +and I soon caught sight of the line of tents, cresting the hills that +overhung the defile where Hannibal caught the Romans. The tents were +soon lost to view in the grey of the coming night. One by one the camp +fires began to light the hills; the mist that rises here after sundown +enveloped me, and slackening speed, I let Castor pick his way up an +ascending road, covered with loose stones, and cut into ruts and +fissures. In a while I came to an outpost, and at once challenged by +the sentry, and surrounded by the piquet. I explained that I was from +Rome to see the duke, and could not possibly give the pass word. The +officer of the watch replied that this was my affair, not his, and +that I would have to remain here until the morning, or until a field +officer inspected the posts, in which case he would take his orders. +There was no help for it, and I resigned myself to circumstances, with +an impatient heart So an hour or two passed, which I beguiled by +discourse with the subaltern, telling him of Rome; he was a cadet of +the house of Albani, and hearing petty items of news in return, the +chief of which was that the Seigneur de Bayard had returned to the +camp. Even as he said this, we heard the deep bay of a hound, and I +recognised Bran's throat. + +"_Per Bacco!_ It is Bayard himself going the grand rounds," exclaimed +the subaltern springing to his feet, and giving the order for the men +to stand at attention. In a few minutes we heard the sound of horse's +hoofs, the sharp clink of steel scabbards, and a half-dozen horsemen +rode up. As they approached, Castor neighed in recognition of his twin +brother, and an answering call showed that Pollux knew the greeting, +and gave it back. The hound too came up, and rising on his hind feet, +fawned a welcome on me. I made myself known to Bayard at once. + +"_Ciel!_" he said, "you are the last man I expected to meet, and you +want to see the duke, come with me then." + +On the way I told him of the success of my attempt to free Angiola. + +"We have just heard of it," he said, "and it has gone far in your +favour. In fact Madame de la Tremouille, who is back again, could +speak of nothing else at supper this evening. It was a brave deed, and +I envied your luck, cavalier." + +I told him of my plan, enquiring if he thought Tremouille would give +me the assistance I wanted, pointing out that the movement of any +troops, where I wanted the detachment to go, could not possibly be +taken as a breach of the truce. + +"As for the truce," he made answer, "it is in the air. The king has +really left Maçon at last. It is said that the advance guard under the +Seneschal of Beauçaire has already crossed the Ombrone. Tremouille +cannot possibly refuse, and here we are." + +We pulled up at the entrance to a large pavilion, out of whose open +door a broad band of light streamed into the night. + +"Follow me," said Bayard, and I did so, the guards saluting +respectfully as we entered. + +I had not time to look about me, but saw that Tremouille, who was in +his armour, was pacing up and down the tent, with his limping gait, +and dictating a despatch to his secretary. He stopped short in his +walk, and greeting Bayard cheerfully, looked at me with a grave +surprise. + +"This is M. di Savelli," said Bayard, "he has business of such +importance with your excellency, that I have taken it upon myself to +bring him here." + +The duke glanced at me keenly, the thin lines of his lips closing +together. + +"Are you aware of the risk you run by coming to my camp?" he asked. + +"I am perfectly aware, your excellency, but----" + +"You must either be a fool, or a very brave man," he interrupted. + +"I lay claim to neither honour, my lord, and I take the risk: will you +hear me?" + +He nodded, and I laid my proposal before him. When I had finished his +face expressed approval. + +"Very well," he said, "I will detach Hawkwood. If you succeed, hand +the money over to him." + +"I understand, my lord," and bowing I retired. As I reached the door +of the pavilion, I heard the duke's voice again: + +"M. di Savelli." + +"My lord," and I faced him. + +"Succeed in this, and count me as a friend. I give you the word of +Tremouille." + +"I thank your excellency," and turning again I went forth. Bayard +followed me out. + +"I have half a mind to ask you to let me share your adventure," he +said, "I am afraid, however, they will not allow me to go. At any rate +I will ride back to the outposts with you--down, Bran," and he swung +into the saddle. + +When I shook hands with Bayard on parting from him, his last speech +was--"Be careful, cavaliere, for Tremouille is a man of his word--if +you fail, however, remember the game is not yet lost--good-bye, and +good luck." + +I turned Castor's head towards the convent, and leaving the camp fires +behind me, went on through the darkness. It was midnight when I +reached the villa. Those tough old soldiers Jacopo and Bande Nere were +on the watch. Everything was ready; and after sharing a skin of wine +all round, we rode out--shadowy figures through the mist, now faintly +lit up by a young moon, whose thin crescent lay quietly in the sky. I +looked back at the walls of the convent; from a window of an upper +chamber a light was shining. Perhaps it was hers! And I bent down my +head in a silent prayer, for God's help in my fight back to honour. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV. + + TOO DEARLY BOUGHT. + + +About a mile from Arcevia, the road from Sinigaglia to Rome, begins to +ascend the oak-shrouded hills whence the Misa has its source, passes +Sassoferrato, and then, turning due south, goes on for some nine miles +over the mountains. At the point where this road, up to now following +the banks of the Misa, and advancing in a gentle slope, begins the +somewhat abrupt ascent of the outer chain of the Pennine Alps, on a +high overhanging rock, covered with twisted and gnarled oaks, stood a +ruined and deserted castle. It was of the eleventh century, and +originally belonged to the Malatesta, whose battered and defaced +scutcheon frowned over the half-falling arch of the gate. Now it was +ownerless, but there were tenants there, for the falcon had made her +eyrie in its rocks, in the crannies of the falling towers were +numberless nests of swallows, on the ruined _débris_ of the walls the +little red lizard basked in the sunlight, and, when the night came, +the melancholy hoot of the owl was heard, and tawny fox, and grey wild +cat, stole forth on plundering quests, from their secure retreats +amidst the thorn, the wild serpythum, and the fragments of the +overthrown outer wall, which afforded these bandits of nature so safe +a hiding place. + +For once, however, for many years, the castle was again occupied by +man. There were a dozen good horses under the lee of the north wall +which still stood intact, and in the great hall, part of whose roof +lay open to the sky, a fire of oak-logs was burning, whilst around it +were gathered Jacopo and my men, cracking jokes, and finding the +bottom of a wine skin. In a smaller chamber, a little to the right, I +sat with St. Armande and the abbé. We, that is the chevalier and +myself, had been dicing a little together to kill time, the abbé +improving the occasion by reading from his Breviary. We had now been +here for three days, on the watch for Bozardo's party, but there was +no sign of them. They had certainly not gone on, for we had carefully +enquired, and were doubtless detained by some reason, of which we knew +not the details. In order not to be taken by surprise, I had sent +Bande Nere on to scout, with instructions to come back with a free +rein, the instant he had news of the party. Two days had passed since +he went, there was no sign of him, and I was beginning to feel a +little anxious. + +"_Diavolo!_" I exclaimed, "I am getting sick of sitting like a vulture +on a rock here. I wish Monsignore Bozardo would hasten his steps." + +The abbé looked up in a mild surprise, and St. Armande put in +gently--"The compulsory rest has done your wound good at any rate." + +"I fancy, chevalier, I owe more thanks to your skilful doctoring than +to the rest. _Per Bacco!_ But I think I shall carry those claw marks +to my grave." + +"What one carries to the grave does not matter," said the abbé, "it is +what one carries beyond the grave that the signor' cavaliere should +think of." + +"True, reverend sir, I trust I may ever remember that," and rising, I +put my hand on St. Armande's shoulder, "come, chevalier, I go to take +a turn outside, will you join me?" + +He rose with pleasure on his face. On our way out we passed through +the great hall, and listened for a moment to Jacopo, who in a tuneful +voice was singing a Tuscan love song. So absorbed was he and his +audience, that they did not observe us, nor did our footfalls attract +any attention as we passed out into the open air. + +The moon was still young enough for all the stars to be visible, and +leaning over the ruined battlements we looked out into the night. Far +below us we heard the river, murmuring onwards towards the sea, behind +us the castle stood grim and silent, a red light showing from the +windows of the hall, through which we could catch the lilting chorus +to Jacopo's song. + +For a time neither of us spoke, and then to make some conversation I +turned to my companion. + +"Who is that abbé, chevalier, who accompanies you everywhere? Not a +tutor surely?" + +"In a way--yes," he answered, "he was born and brought up on our +estates, and is a faithful servant of our house--you must know," he +went on, "that in Picardy, the name of St. Armande is honoured as that +of the king. I would trust Carillon with more than my life; my honour, +if need be; for he and his fathers have served us more faithfully I +fear than we have served France." + +"Not more faithfully than you mean to though--eh, St. Armande?" + +"If I live," was the reply, as he made a slight gesture, a movement of +the head that brought back to me the shadowy memory I was always +trying to grasp. + +"Live--why of course you will live," I answered. + +"I shall not see the sun set to-morrow." + +I looked at him blankly for a moment. Moon and stars were sufficient +to light his face, so that I could see the sad, far-away eyes, eyes +more fit for a saint than a soldier. + +"_Animo!_ Do not talk like that. It is nonsense," but I felt a +foreboding myself that I could not account for, and it chilled me. + +"It is not nonsense," he said in his dreamy voice, and then, as if +rousing suddenly, "Cavaliere--di Savelli--I want you to promise me one +thing. Do not hesitate; but promise. It is about myself I ask--will +you?" and he held me by the arm with his slight fingers that I felt +were shaking. To soothe him I answered gravely, "I promise." + +"I know that I will not live beyond to-morrow. When I die, bury me as +I am--here--here in this ruin--and--and you will not forget me, will +you?" + +As he said this his voice took a cadence, his face took an expression +that suddenly brought back a hundred old memories, no longer vague and +misty, but clear and distinct. In a moment the scales fell from my +eyes, and I saw. I seemed to be once more hawking on the banks of the +Chiana with madame, I was once more in the aisles of the church at +Arezzo, treading down temptation, and bidding farewell to a woman who +was trying to be strong. + +"God in heaven!" I gasped to myself as I leaned back against the +parapet, and drew my hand across my forehead, as if to wake myself +from a dream. St. Armande did not notice my exclamation, he did not +even observe my movement. His own excitement carried him away. + +"Promise," he said, and shook my arm in his earnest entreaty. + +"As there is a God above me I promise." + +"I believe you," he said simply, "and now I am going in." + +I made no offer to bear him company, and his slight figure drifted +into the moonlight. I saw it clearly again, making a dark bar against +the red glare in the open door of the hall, and then vanished from +view. I was utterly thunderstruck by the discovery I had made. A +hundred actions, a hundred tricks of gesture, of speech, of manner, +should have disclosed St. Armande's identity to me. Now I knew it, it +was all so simple and clear, that I wondered at my denseness in not +having guessed through the disguise before. Now that I had discovered +it however, now that my blindness was cured, what was I to do? I +resolved on keeping the secret I had probed, and never once letting +St. Armande know he was other than what he pretended to be. A great +pity came up in my heart, for there was a time when I almost thought I +loved this woman, and it required little conceit to see, after what +had happened, that madame was prepared to make almost any sacrifice +for my sake. I was sorry, more sorry than I can tell, for I knew my +own hands were not clean in this matter, and I paced up and down, +flinging bitter reproaches at myself, and utterly at a loss to plan +out some way of escaping from the difficulty in which I was placed. I +made up my mind that St. Armande, as I will still speak of the +disguised chevalier, should be placed in no danger, resolving that as +soon as the affair on which we were engaged was over, that I would +send him, or rather her, with a message to the cardinal, and the +message was to be one that, I hoped and trusted, would have the effect +of making madame cease her foolish prank--I had it at this moment +almost in my heart to be angry with her; but I could not, for the +small voice that kept whispering to me-- + +"Thou art not free from blame." I was not; but nothing would induce me +to add another wrong to the one I had committed. That in itself was +sufficient to haunt me to the grave, and I shivered as I thought of +the abbé's words, "It is what one carries beyond the grave that the +Signor Cavaliere should think of." + +So alternately reproaching myself, and praying for aid, prayers that +brought no relief, I passed the night, and in the small hours of the +morning stole back into the castle. Round the fire in the great hall, +the figures of my followers were stretched, all but one, who kept +watch, but recognising me did not challenge. I passed by softly, and +entered the other room. The abbé had dropped asleep over his breviary, +the lamp burning low beside him. + +Rolled in a cloak, and half reclining against a saddle, St. Armande +was in a profound slumber. I took the lamp in my hand, and holding it +aloft, surveyed the sleeping figure. A last hope had come to my mind +that I was mistaken, that perhaps I was jumping too quickly to +conclusions. But no, there was not a doubt of it. There could be no +mistaking that fair face with its delicate features, the straight +nose, the curved bow of the lips, half hidden under its disguise, the +small shapely head with its natural curls of short golden hair--oh! I +knew all these too well. It was Doris d'Entrangues without shadow of +doubt, and no blind beggar, who groped his way through a life-long +darkness, was blinder than I had been. I set down the lamp softly, and +with a sick heart stepped back into the hall, where I found room for +myself until the morning, which indeed it was already. With the +sunrise, I was awakened from a fitful sleep by hearing Bande Nere's +voice. + +"What news?" I asked as I drew the old soldier aside. + +"I have been as far as Sinigaglia, excellency, and all goes well. The +party left Sinigaglia the morning I arrived, and I followed in their +track, letting them keep well ahead of me to avoid suspicion. Last +night, however, I passed them. They will be here about noon, maybe a +little before." + +"The numbers?" + +"Ten lances, excellency, for escort. It is those we have to deal with. +Then there are about a score of mounted servants, four laden mules, +and Monsignore Bozardo." + +"_Um!_ That is rather strong, if the servants carry weapons." + +"But they march as through a friendly country, signore, the servants +going on ahead to prepare for Monsignore's arrival. He himself keeps +close to the mules, with one or two men, and of course the escort." + +"Do you know who commands the escort?" + +"No, excellency--I did not wish to risk anything, and asked no +questions." + +"You are right, and have done well--here are ten crowns." + +"Your excellency is generosity itself." + +"It is not more than you deserve. Go and get something to eat now, and +take as much rest as you can within the next hour." + +"Excellency," and Bande Nere stepped back to join his fellows, who +surrounded him with eager questions, and there was a bustling and a +buckling-to of arms and armour. + +When we met a little later my face showed no signs of my discovery to +St. Armande, and whilst we breakfasted together I told him that the +time was come for which we had been waiting. + +"Remember your promise," he said with an affected gaiety, but his +voice nearly broke down and I saw the abbé glance at him with a deep +compassion. + +"I will not forget," I answered, "but God grant there may be no need +to keep it." + +"I should say 'Amen' to that," he answered, "only I cannot." + +My plans were already made, and as soon as we had breakfasted we set +forth from the castle. The road, as I have already explained, ascended +abruptly a short distance from the base of the rock on which the +castle was perched. Between the base of the rock and the road was a +narrow but thick belt of forest, which afforded admirable concealment, +and here we posted ourselves secure from all view. The abbé and St. +Armande insisted on accompanying us, and in order to put the chevalier +from harm I placed him a little way up the rock, with instructions to +charge down as soon as he heard my whistle, which I never intended to +blow. The abbé took his station beside him, saying where the chevalier +was it was his duty to be. St. Armande held out a small hand to me as +I was turning away, and I took it gently for a moment in mine. The +quick impulsive movement reminded me much of that day when madame had +held the flowers I gathered to her husband's face. Something almost +choked me as I turned away hastily, having only strength to repeat my +warning-- + +"Do not move till you hear my whistle." + +I borrowed an arquebus from one of my men, and the arrangement was +that we were to charge out after a volley, the first shot of which I +was to fire. All being now ready, it was only necessary for us to +wait. I would merely add that in order to prevent discovery by the +neighing of the horses, we had muzzled ours as far as possible. There +was now a dead silence, that was only broken by the rustle of the +leaves overhead, an occasional crack amongst the dry boughs as a +squirrel moved against them, or the uneasy movement of a horse, which +caused a clink of a chain-bit, and a straining sound made by the +leathers of the saddlery, that was not in reality so loud as it +seemed; but caused Jacopo and Bande Nere to scowl fiercely at the +unfortunate rider, a scowl which was only equalled by their own +stolidly impassive faces, when their own beasts sinned. We had not +long to wait; presently we heard voices shouting, the clatter of +horses trotting, a rapid reining in at the ascent, and a number of +followers and lackeys, some mounted on horses, others on mules, with +led mules beside them, came past, and went on, heedless of the eager +faces watching them through the trees. One or two of our horses became +so uneasy that I was afraid of immediate discovery, but so occupied +were the knaves in babbling together, all at once, that what with +this, and the thwacking of their animals, and in some cases the +efforts to remain on, we remained unnoticed. Then there was a short +interval, and the suspense was strained to breaking point. In a while +we heard the firm beat of a war-horse's hoof, and our quarry came in +view. First came Monsignore Bozardo, a tall thin man, wrapped in a +purple cloak, with a fur cap on his head. He rode a strong ambling +mule, and by his side was the commander of the escort. Immediately +behind were four troopers, then the mules with the ducats, behind +these again six other lances, whilst the rear was brought up by +half-a-dozen lackeys, without a sword amongst them. But what struck me +almost dumb with surprise was that the leader of the escort was none +other than D'Entrangues himself. There could be no mistake, his visor +was up, and I saw the sallow face, the long red moustaches, and almost +caught the cold glint of his cruel eye. At last! I raised my arquebus +and covered him. At last! But a touch of my finger and the man was +dead. I could not miss, my heart was mad within me, but my wrist as +firm as steel. In another moment he would be dead, dead, and my +revenge accomplished. It was already in my hand. I looked aside for a +second at the line of breathless faces watching me, then back again to +the muzzle of my weapon. D'Entrangues was now not twenty yards away. I +could scarcely breathe as I pointed the arquebus at his heart. I had +already begun to press the trigger, when something seemed to come +across my mind like lightning. I saw in a moment that lonely room in +the Albizzi Palace, where I had kneeled to my God and sworn to put +aside my vengeance. The weapon shook in my grasp. + +"Fire, signore," whispered Jacopo hoarsely. + +With an effort I jerked the muzzle in the air, and pulled the trigger. +The report was followed by four others, and two of the troopers fell. +The next moment we were on them with a shout, and there was the clash +of steel, as fierce blows were struck and received, now and again a +short angry oath, and sometimes a cry of pain. I did not want to take +life, but a trooper came at me, so I had to run him through the heart, +and the man fell forward under Castor's hoofs, with a yell I shall +never forget. The next instant D'Entrangues and I crossed blades, and +whether he recognised me or not I do not know, but he fought with a +skill and fierceness I have never seen equalled. At last I lost my +temper, and cut savagely at him. He parried on the forte of his blade, +but so furious was the stroke that it broke the weapon in his hand, +and almost unhorsed him. Reining back skilfully he avoided another cut +I made at him, and drawing a wheel lock pistol from his holster, fired +it straight at me. At the flash, someone dashed between us. I heard a +scream which froze the blood in me, and a body lurched forwards and +fell to my side, whilst a riderless horse plunged through the press, +and galloped away. I saw the light of the golden head as it fell, and +forgetting everything, forgetting D'Entrangues, forgetting all but the +fact that a dreadful deed was done, I sprang down from Castor, and +raised St. Armande in my arms. As I did this a hoarse yell from my men +told me the day was won; but I had no ears for this, no eyes for +anything, except the slight figure, which lay in my arms gasping out +its life. + +"Congratulations, signore, we have taken the lot," and Jacopo, +bleeding and dusty, rode up beside me. + +"At too great a price," I groaned; "help me to carry----," I could say +no more. + +"Here, two of you secure those mules--Bande Nere, see to the +wounded--Queen of Heaven--the chevalier----" and Jacopo, giving his +sharp orders, sprang down beside me, and together we bore our +unconscious burden under the shadow of the oaks. A dark figure stepped +to our side, and kneeling down supported the lifeless head on his arm, +whilst hot tears fell from his eyes, as he prayed over her. It was the +abbé. + +"How did this happen?" I asked, "did I not say you were not to move?" + +"It was done at once," he answered, "I could not prevent it--alas! How +can I carry this tale back to St. Armande?" + +"Water, excellency." + +Jacopo had brought some clear water in his helmet. I thanked him with +a look, and he stepped back, leaving us three together, two who were +living, and one who was going away. + +I bathed the forehead and drawn lips, from which flowed a thin stream +of blood, and as I did so her eyes opened, but the film of death was +on them. + +"Di Savelli--Ugo--," and she was gone. + +Gone like a flash, flung swiftly and fast into eternity, struck down, +perhaps unwittingly, by the arm which should have been a shield to +her. I have often wondered if D'Entrangues ever knew who fell to his +pistol shot. If he did, God pity him! In the one glimpse I caught of +his white face, as he swung round and rode off, I thought I saw a look +of horror. But everything went so quickly, that then I had no time to +think, and now I can recall but the end. + +To her dead lips Carillon pressed his crucifix, into her dead ears he +mumbled prayers. I knelt tearless, and prayerless, beside him, +thinking only of the great love that had laid down a life. + +One by one my men stole up, and stood in a half circle, leaning on the +cross-handles of their swords, over which the grim, bearded faces +looked down on us in pity. + +Suddenly Carillon raised his crucifix aloft. + +"My Father," he cried, "receive her soul!" + +And someone said softly, + +"Amen!" + + + + + CHAPTER XXV. + + THE VENGEANCE OF CORTE. + + +We buried our dead; and madame slept beneath the ilex, in the +courtyard of the castle, below the north wall. Over her nameless grave +we raised a rude cross, and after it was done, Carillon bade me +farewell. He was going, he said, to bear the story to St. Armande, and +when he reached it, I wit there was sorrow in the Picard chateau, +whence madame took her name. It was with a heart of lead that I rode +into Sassoferrato, and there, as arranged, made over my prize to +Hawkwood. The tale of the ducats was complete, and the Englishman, +giving me my quittance, held out his hand, saying bluntly-- + +"I wronged you, Di Savelli; but I know now. We all know, for Bayard +has told us." + +I hesitated. Many memories came to me, and there was bitter resentment +in my soul. They had all been too ready to believe. They had flung me +forth as a thing too vile to touch, and now--it was an easy matter to +hold out a hand, to say, "I am sorry," to think that a civil word +would heal a hideous wound. The kind world was going to forgive me, +because it had wronged me. Such as it was, however, it was the world, +and things had made me a little humble. After all, if the positions +were reversed; if I stood in Hawkwood's place, and he in mine, how +should I have acted? I would not like to say. + +"Come," said Hawkwood, "let the past be covered. Come back--we want +you." + +"As you will," and I took his grasp; "I will come back in a little +time. Till then adieu!" + +"Good-bye!" and we parted. + +Five minutes later, I was spurring to Rome, my following at my heels. +It was, in a manner, putting my neck on the block, for Bozardo was +probably making his way thither with all speed, and doubtless +D'Entrangues as well. Recognition was almost certain; but risk or no +risk, I was bound to see the cardinal, and tell him my task was done. +Little did I think, however, as Castor bore me, with his long, easy +gallop, across the oak forests of the Nera, that the face of affairs +in Rome had been changed in an hour, and that, had I so wished, I +might have, in safety, proclaimed what I had done from the very +house-tops. As we came nearer the city, it was evident that there was +some great commotion within, for, from every quarter pillars of dim +smoke rose up in spiral columns, and then spreading out like a fan +hung sullenly in the yellow of the sunset. It was clear that houses +were burning, and swords were out. We soon began to meet parties of +fugitives, hurrying from the city, and making across country in all +directions. They avoided us like the plague, and the mere glint of our +arms was sufficient to make them scatter to right and left, leaving +such property as they could not bear with them, to the tender mercies +of the road-side. Some of my men were eager to ride after the +runaways, and question them; but I forbade this, knowing we should +hear soon enough, and that if there were danger, it would be best to +hold together. + +"_Per Bacco!_" and Jacopo, riding up beside me, pointed to a black +cloud, which slowly rose, and settled above the vineyards of the +Pincian Hill, "we had best go with a leaden boot, excellency. There is +a devil's carnival in Rome, or I am foresworn." + +At this juncture, we turned an abrupt corner of the road, coming upon +a crowd of fugitives, who seemed to be running forwards, caring little +where they went, so that they put a distance between them and Rome. +Amongst the throng was a figure I recognised; and in a mean habit, +mounted on a mule, which was seized with an obstinate fit, and refused +to budge, although soundly thwacked, I saw the Cardinal of Strigonia. +Bidding Jacopo keep the men together, I rode up to him, and asked-- + +"Can I render your eminence any aid?" + +His round eyes, starting out of his head like a runaway hare's, +glanced at me in fear, and the stick he bore dropped from his hand, no +doubt much to the satisfaction of the mule. At first he was unable to +speak, for my words seemed to fill the man with terror, and I had to +repeat the question, before he stammered out-- + +"You are mistaken, sir; I am no eminence, but a poor brother of Mount +Carmel, on my way to Foligno, out of this hell behind me," and he +glanced over his shoulder towards Rome. + +"I see," I answered with a smile, "but if the poor brother of Mount +Carmel will look more closely at me, he will see a friend. In short, +your eminence, I am Di Savelli." + +"_Corpo di Bacco!_ I mean our Lady be thanked. And so it is you, +cavaliere! Take my advice, and turn your horse's head to Foligno. On +beast!" and he kicked at the mule, which moved not an inch. + +"I am for Rome, your eminence; but what has happened?" + +"Oh, that I had a horse!" he groaned. "What has happened? Everything +has happened. Alexander is dead or dying. Cesare dead, they say, and +burning in Hades by this. Orsini and Colonna at the old game of hammer +and tongs----" + +"And the Cardinal--D'Amboise?" + +"Safe enough I believe, as the Orsini hold the Borgo, and have +declared for France." + +"Trust me, your reverence, you will be safer in Rome than out of it. +The whole country will rise at the news, and the habit of Mount Carmel +will not save the Cardinal of Strigonia. Turn back with me, and I will +escort you to the Palazzo Corneto." + +To make a short story, D'Este agreed after a little persuasion, and +the mule was kind enough to amble back very willingly to Rome. We +placed his eminence in the centre of our troops, and went onwards, +entering the city by the Porta Pinciana, riding along leisurely in the +direction of S. Trinita di Monti, and thence straight on towards the +Ripetta. It was a work of no little danger to make this last passage, +for everywhere bands of plunderers were engaged in gutting the houses, +many of which were in flames, and we continually came across dead +bodies, or passed houses from which we heard shrieks of agony. We +could help no one. It was all we could do to keep our own heads on our +shoulders; but by dint of shouting, "_A Colonna!_" with the Colonna, +and "_Orsini_! _Orsini!_" with their rivals, and sometimes hitting a +shrewd blow or two, we crossed the Ripetta, and in a few minutes were +safe in the Palazzo Corneto. + +Here we were received by Le Clerc, who comforted the trembling +Strigonia, with the assurance that an excellent supper awaited him, +informing me, almost in the same breath, that D'Amboise was in the +Vatican. I lost no time in repairing thither, which I did on foot, +accompanied by Jacopo alone, and made my way without let or hindrance +to the Torre Borgia. Here everything was in the wildest confusion, and +the Spanish soldiers of the Pope were plundering right and left. I +stumbled across De Leyva, who, with a few men at his back, was trying +to maintain order. He gladly accepted the offer of my sword, and we +did what we could to prevent the wholesale robbery from going on. In a +brief interval of rest, I asked, + +"Do you know where D'Amboise is?" + +"In the Sistine Chapel, with half-a-dozen others; De Briconnet guards +the entrance." + +"And Alexander?" + +"Dead or dying--I do not even know where he is; Don Michele has seized +as much as he can, and carrying Cesare on a litter, has escaped to +Ostia." + +"Then Cesare is not dead----" + +"No. Cross of St. James! see that?" and he pointed to a reeling +drunken crowd, full with wine and plunder, who passed by us with +yells, into the great reception rooms. + +Followed by the few men who remained steady, De Leyva dashed after +them, and with Jacopo at my heels, I made for the Sistine Chapel. I +reached the Scala Begia, and although I knew the Sistine Chapel was +but a few feet distant, yet, owing to the darkness that prevailed, I +missed the way, and Jacopo was of course unable to help me. Groping +onwards we came to a small door, and pushing it, found it to open +easily. It led into a narrow, vaulted passage, where the darkness was +as if a velvet curtain of black hung before us. "I like not the look +of this, excellency," said Jacopo, as we halted in front of the door. + +"Keep a drawn sword," I answered, "and follow me." + +We could only go in single file, and picked our way with the greatest +care, our feet ringing on the stone floor. Except for this, the +silence was intense, and we could hear no sound of the devilry +outside. The passage continued, until we almost began to think it had +no end, but at last the darkness gave way to a semi-gloom, and a faint +bar of light gleamed ahead of us. At this we increased our pace, +finding a sharp corner, a little beyond which rose a winding flight of +stairs, ending before a half-open door, through which the dim light +came. I put my foot on the first of the steps, and was about to +ascend, when we were startled by hearing a moan of mortal agony, +followed by a laugh, so wild and shrill, so exultant, and yet so full +of malice, that it chilled us to the bone. It pealed through the door, +and echoed down the passage behind us, until the horrid cadence became +fainter and fainter, finally dying away into the black darkness. + +"God save us!" exclaimed Jacopo, "it is a fiend laughing its way to +hell." + +He went on, with chattering teeth, to adjure me to go no further; but +crossing myself, I bade him be silent, and stepped forwards. Since +that moan of agony, and terrible laugh of triumph, there was no sound, +and I could almost hear my heart beating, as I reached the door. +Jacopo had nerved himself to follow me, and stood pale and trembling +at my shoulder, his sword quivering in his shaking hand. I was myself +not free from fear, for no man may combat with spirits, but after a +moment's hesitation, I looked cautiously in. I saw before me a room of +great size, dimly lighted by two tall candles, burning on each side of +a massive bedstead, on which lay a man bound, and writhing in the +throes of death. The light, though faint around the room, fell full on +the face of the man, and horribly as the features were changed, +distorted as they were, I saw they were those of Alexander, and +that he was in his last agony, alone and friendless in his splendid +palace. Yet not alone, there was another figure in the room. As I +looked, it stepped out of the gloom of the rich curtains at the +window, and standing over the bed, laughed again, that terrible laugh +of devilish joy. At the sound, the dying man moaned through his black, +foam-clothed lips, and Corte, for it was he, bent over the body and +mocked him. + +"Roderigo Borgia, Vicar of Christ, hell yawns for you; but a few +moments, Borgia, but a few moments of life; think you, that you suffer +now? There is more coming--things I even cannot dream of." In the face +of Alexander came so awful a look of entreaty that I could bear it no +longer. I stepped into the room, and putting my hand on Corte's +shoulder, said, + +"Come, let him die in peace." + +He turned on me with a snarl, but recognising me, laughed again. + +"Ha! ha! Let him die in peace. Why, man, you saw her die, and can say +this? But he is going too. It is a week since his doctor, Matthew +Corte, bled him for an ague, and touched him with a little knife, just +a little pin-prick. He began to die then; but hell is not yet hot +enough for him. He dies in too much peace. Why, my dog died in more +agony! But he has felt something. See those torn curtains! See this +disordered room! He tore those curtains in his madness. He bit at the +wood of the chairs, he howled like a dog at the moon, and they tied +him here, and left him. I alone watch. I will let him die in peace. +Ha! ha! It is good. I do not want him to die yet. I give him food, and +he lives. In a little while perhaps he will die. But in peace! ha! ha! +I could almost die with laughter, when I hear that. It is too good! +Ha! ha!" + +I saw it was hopeless to do anything with Corte, and the Pope was +beyond repair. I might have cut down the madman, but it would have +served no purpose. For a moment I thought I would pass my sword +through the Borgia, and free him from pain. It would have been a +mercy, but I luckily had the sense to restrain myself. Again, +Alexander deserved his fate, and a few minutes more or less would make +no difference. So I left the wretch to die the death of a dog, that +befitted his life, and turning on my heel, went back through the +passage. + +Jacopo heaved a sigh of relief as we came out, and I felt a different +man as I ran down the steps of the Scala Regia. Here I met with De +Leyva again, and told him what I had seen. + +"The Camerlengo has just gone to him," he answered, referring to the +Pope, "and you have missed D'Amboise. He has returned to the Palazzo +Corneto. I can do nothing here, and am going myself. Do you walk or +ride? I have no horse." + +"Walk," I answered, and the Spaniard linked his arm in mine, as, +followed by Jacopo, we took our way back to the cardinal's house. + +On reaching I sought D'Amboise at once. He had heard of my arrival, +and was awaiting me. After a brief greeting, I told him his business +was done, and handed him the quittance I had received from Hawkwood. +He was mightily pleased, as may be imagined. I felt it my duty to +inform him of the death of St. Armande, telling him how it occurred, +without in any way disclosing my knowledge of the secret. He was much +affected. + +"It is a sad business," he said, "but we have other things to think of +now. _Mon Dieu_! _mon Dieu!_" And to this day I am unaware if he knew +or not. + +But the night was not yet over, and late as it was, there were yet +things to be done. About midnight we heard that Alexander was dead, +and a few minutes later Gentil' Orsini hurried to the cardinal. They +held a hasty council, and De Briconnet and I were summoned. News had +come that Cesare had not yet left Ostia, that he was too ill to +travel, and D'Amboise and Orsini resolved on a bold stroke. It was +nothing less than the capture of Borgia. Orsini offered to lend two +hundred lances for the purpose, but a leader was wanted. He could not +go himself, as his archenemy, Fabrizio Colonna, held all Rome on the +left bank of the Tiber, and was in sufficient force to make a dash for +the Borgo at any moment. The short of it was, that at the cardinal's +recommendation, I received the command, and about two in the morning +set out for Ostia. If the ships Cesare had hired had arrived the +matter was ended, and we could do nothing; but if not, there was every +chance of his surrendering without a blow, as although he had about +five hundred men with him, they were not to be relied on, except the +half-dozen cut-throats who formed his personal guard, and who might be +trusted to fight to the last. The luck which had followed me so far +favoured me again, and pressing on as fast as our horses could bear +us, we came up with the fugitives in the early morning. Only one ship, +too small to hold all, had come, and they were crowded on the banks of +the Tiber, making every effort to embark. The river-shore was strewn +with the enormous quantity of baggage they had with them, and a scene +of the utmost confusion took place on our arrival. The ship was +drawing up to the quay, and we could see the litter of the Borgia, +surrounded by the few men who meant to fight. The affair was over in +five minutes, and Cesare was my prisoner. Seeing how matters stood, +the master of the ship anchored in midstream, heedless of the yells +and execrations of the followers of the Borgia, who were not spared by +my men. Indeed, I had great difficulty in keeping Cesare from harm. He +was in truth very ill, but was able to gasp out as he yielded:-- + +"_Maldetto!_ It is my fate. I had prepared for everything except being +ill." He then lay back in his litter, and spoke no more. + +One short and desperate attempt was made to rescue him. About a dozen +horsemen charged right at us, and for a moment it appeared as if they +would succeed. But we were too strong, and although they inflicted +severe loss on us, killing Bande Nere amongst others, they were cut +down, all but one, who led them. This man, seeing all was lost, and +determined not to be taken himself, galloped to the quay, and striking +his spurs home, leaped his horse far into the river, and made for the +vessel. The stream was running fast and strong, but the good beast, +despite his burden, struggled bravely against the flood. To relieve +the horse, the cavalier, having torn off his morion, slipped from the +saddle, and with his hand on the pommel, attempted manfully to swim +beside the animal. The weight of his cuirass, however, bore him down. +Twice his head sank below the water, twice he rose again and battled +with the flood. Those on the ship made no effort to save him, and we +on shore could do nothing. He had now, fighting every inch of his way, +drifted astern of the vessel, and someone flung a rope at him. His +hand reached out to clasp it, but missed, and then the under-current +caught man and horse and dragged them down. He rose yet once again, +his white despairing face turned towards us, and with a supreme effort +of hate, shook his clenched hand at me, and was gone. + +So died Crépin D'Entrangues, the death of a brave man, unyielding and +fighting to the last. The yellow Tiber hissed in white foam over the +spot where he sank. Perchance the mad currents dragged his body down +to the slime of the river-bed, picked it up again in their swirl, +tossed it in sport from one to another, and finally flung it to rot on +some lonely bank, where the gulls screamed above it, and the foxes of +the Maremma gnawed at the rusty armour, and snapped and snarled over +the white bones in the moonlight. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVI. + + CONCERNING MANY THINGS. + + +Everyone knows the history of the times, and it is not my intention to +dilate on this, but merely to set down, without comment, those matters +of state in which Fortune allowed me to play a part. When Cesare +surrendered at Ostia the Borgia were broken for ever, and Valentinois +allowed, after a short confinement, to escape to Spain, where he died +like a soldier. Now that the game was in their hands, the allies began +to quarrel amongst themselves, the French king to drivel away his +opportunities in gaiety, and the Venetians to step in, in their Most +Serene way, and claim a share of the spoils for the Lion of St. Mark. +Events moved quickly, the genius of the Great Captain won victory +after victory for Spain, the death of Francis Piccolomini paved the +way for the accession of Rouvere to the Papacy as Julius II., and the +Holy League was formed, by means of which the French were finally +driven from Italy. Thus, in a few years, the work of D'Amboise was +scattered to the winds, but long before that time I had sheathed my +sword, and concerned myself no more with war. + +But on the day that I surrendered my prisoner to D'Amboise and Orsini, +the former already in thought sat in St. Peter's Chair, and the +latter, at the very least, imagined himself the Lord of the Romagna. I +sent forward couriers, with the news of my success, to the cardinal, +and ere we reached Malafede, met with a return messenger from +D'Amboise, bearing a brief note of congratulation, and adding that +Colonna had made terms to evacuate the portions of the city he held. +The messenger informed me, that the Bailly of Caen had already entered +Rome by the Porta Pia, and that, finding himself between two fires, +old Fabrizi Colonna had made a virtue of necessity, and by yielding +now, reserved himself for another day. This enabled me to go back by +an easier route than we had come, and as we rode through the Ostian +Gate, I could not help contrasting my present entry to the day when +Jacopo and I had reined in our weary steeds to let the Borgia pass, +and give his following the road. At the Ponte S. Angelo, I surrendered +my prisoner to Orsini in person, and truly thought he would have but a +few hours more to live, for Gentil' Virginio had a long score to +settle with the Borgia, and a longer memory for a wrong. The blood, +too, of Paolo, whom Cesare strangled at Sinigaglia, and that of the +Cardinal Orsini, whom he brutally murdered in Rome, called aloud for +vengeance. Cesare himself seemed to be aware of this, for whereas up +to now he had remained in a sullen silence, he found tongue to implore +me, in the most servile manner, not to deliver him to Orsini, and when +I told him I had no option, he tried to creep out of his litter, and +lay his cap at the feet of his enemy. Orsini spoke nothing, merely +ordering him to be borne to S. Angelo; but as the Borgia shrank back +into his litter, he said with a grim smile that he trusted the duke +would find his entertainment to his liking. How it happened that +Cesare came off with a whole skin I never knew, but he did, as I have +mentioned above, and it surpasses belief. He turned cur at the last, +and the low blood showed in him; but he was one of those men who knew +how to be thoroughly bad. Orsini took back his lances, saying he had +need of them, so that it was with my own few men that I reached the +Palazzo Corneto. I must except Bande Nere from this number, and I was +truly sorry for his death, for his was an honest sword. The cardinal +received me in the little chamber where we had supped with +Machiavelli. He had thrown aside his clerical habit and was in mail, +but wore his barettina on his head. He was more than kind, +congratulating me heartily on my success, going so far as to say that +by capturing Cesare I had given a kingdom to France. I then left him +with further assurances of his goodwill towards me, and saw him no +more for the day. + +Towards the small hours of the next morning I was aroused from a deep +sleep by Jacopo. Starting up, I inquired what was astir, and was told +that Defaure, the page, was waiting to see me. I gave orders for his +instant admission, and, on coming in, he informed me that his eminence +desired my immediate attendance. Telling Jacopo to have Castor +saddled, for I smelt work afoot, I flung myself into my clothes, and +hastened to D'Amboise. + +He had evidently not slept all night, and was pacing the room in +agitation. + +"St. Dennis!" he burst out, as I entered, "do you know what they have +done? The king holds a tourney at Arezzo instead of marching on at +once. What is worse, he has granted an extension of the truce to +Spain, and Tremouille and the rest of them are off to the junkets. +They are making a May-day with those ducats you captured. By God! they +would dance away a kingdom." + +"Your eminence has no doubt sent news of the capture of Cesare?" + +"That was only yesterday, man," he snapped, "and De Briconnet is +riding for his life to the king. But it is about this I sent for you," +he went on rapidly. "De Briconnet may come to harm. Here are other +despatches. Take them and follow him; overtake him if you can. When +can you start?" + +"Now." + +"Good--here are the papers. And this for Tremouille. Adieu!"--and he +held out his hand--"_Monsieur le Compte_." + +I started a little at the last words which he uttered in French, but +had no time to ask for explanation or make inquiry. I hurried to my +apartments and found Castor ready. Bidding Jacopo follow me to Arezzo +with my men as soon as possible, I gave Castor the rein and rode out +of Rome. At Citta del Pieve I got my first news of De Briconnet. At +Cartona he was but two hours ahead of me, and when on the afternoon of +the second day I reined in the staggering Castor at the gates of the +Villa Accolti, where the king was, I saw in the courtyard a dead +horse, his sides still bleeding from the spur marks, and judged that +De Briconnet had barely beaten me by a head for all his twelve hours' +start. So once again had I entered the Villa Accolti! And as I sprang +to the ground, loosed the girths over Castor's heaving flanks, and +resigned the reins to a willing groom who led the poor beast to rest, +all the past came back to me with a vivid force, and I looked around, +almost expecting to meet again the glances of scorn and contempt, to +hear once more the hisses, the mockery, and the foul reproach of that +day. + +The cardinal was right enough when he said that high junkets were to +be held. And the day seemed to be one of merry-making. Flags were +flying from all parts of the villa, and the wide grounds were full of +the followers of the court, and the townspeople either watching, or +engaged in sports of wrestling, archery, and other games. + +For the great ones, however, the out-of-door amusement of the day came +to an end with the dinner-hour, and they were now disporting +themselves within. From the open windows strains of music floated out +into the sunlight and gay figures passed and repassed, or moved in and +out of the balcony overhanging the grand entrance which seemed, from +the constant movement and the brilliant dresses of those who crowded +thereon, to be like a bed of flowers stirring in the wind. As I came +below the balcony, I did not dare to look up, but with my sword in the +loop of my arm and my despatches clenched in my right hand, walked up +the marble steps. + +"Post from Rome! Post from the Lord Cardinal!" + +The sonorous voice of the ushers pealed this out, and I found myself +at the entrance to the gallery leading to the great hall where I had +been tried. + +"Not here, sir--to the left." My way was barred by an equerry in +violet and gold. + +"Not so, De Brienne, the king receives these despatches in person," +and Bayard had linked his arm in mine. + +"But, my lord!" + +"I take the blame," and Bayard, blazing in full mail, led me through +the gallery whose sides were lined with the archers of the Scottish +Guard. Archers in name only now, and little as my time was, I could +not forbear glancing at these fine troops, who, although few in +number, bore an unequalled reputation for service in the field. The +doors at the entrance to the hall, which were guarded by two gigantic +men-at-arms, were opened only at fixed intervals to let people in and +out, and by this means an attempt was made to avoid overcrowding. +There were a considerable number before us, and having to go slowly, +we had time to exchange a few words. + +"I suppose De Briconnet has passed in?" I asked, "he could only have +just arrived, for his horse lies dead at the gates." + +"I doubt it. All posts are received by De Vesci, whose wrath we are +going to brave. If De Briconnet came in here direct, he was probably +stopped and sent to the seneschal's apartments." + +"If so, as he was the first-comer, he should present the despatches," +I urged; "I bear but duplicates?" + +"There is no time to think of that now," replied Bayard, and as he +spoke the doors unfolded, and in a crash of music and the murmur of +voices, above which now and again trilled a peal of clear feminine +laughter, we entered the hall. At first we were unobserved, for the +interest of every one was gathered to the centre of the room, where to +the strains of music a game of chess was being played with living +figures. The king himself took part in it, and I had good opportunity +of observing him. Time had not changed Louis much, although his +reckless life had enfeebled his constitution. He had the features of +his house, the wide forehead, the oval face, the pointed chin, below +which his short brown beard was neatly trimmed. His grey eyes were set +somewhat wide apart, and his hair, which was naturally straight, he +wore carefully curled, in a length that all but touched his shoulders. +He was dressed in a tight-fitting surcoat of green, with green +trunk-hose and stockings of the same colour. A short cloak, also of +green, fell from his shoulder, and below his left knee was bound the +ribbon of the English Order of the Garter, of which he was very proud. +On his head was a velvet cap lapelled in front and on either side, and +alive with the light of jewels, with which it was studded. He was +playing king in the game, Madame de la Tremouille acting as queen, and +the rival king was Tremouille himself, who had for his partner Isabel +the Good, the wife of Gonsaga of Mantua, a princess distinguished +alike for her beauty and her virtue. A little apart from the players, +and watching the game with a grave interest, stood Etienne de Vesci, +the Seneschal of Beauçaire, who was, after the cardinal, the most +powerful man in France, and, indeed, was supposed by many to have more +of the king's ear. Close by him were a number of ladies, and I ran my +eye amongst them and around the hall, hoping in vain to catch sight of +the one face I longed to see. Whilst so engaged De Vesci observed me, +and seeing the papers in my hand, made an imperious gesture, beckoning +me towards him. This I pretended not to observe, and the seneschal, +biting his lip, edged his way towards me. It was easy to see from my +travelled and stained appearance, the red on my spurs, and the packet +in my hand, that I was the bearer of news. + +"Is not monsieur aware," he said in a harsh voice, speaking in French, +"that papers for the king should be brought to me?" + +"These are for the king's hand," I answered. + +"It is enough. Give them to me," and he held forth his hand. + +"I have said, my lord, that they are for His Majesty's own hands." + +Bayard, who was watching the game now drawing to a close, turned round +at this, and grasping the matter, cut in. + +"_Ciel!_ My Lord, let the cavaliere deliver his packet. It will come +to you soon enough. Take a holiday for once." + +De Vesci frowned, and was about to make a hot answer, when there was a +sudden shout and a clapping of hands, and Louis, who had won the game, +came forward leading Madame de la Tremouille in triumph. The last move +was made but a few feet from us, and as the king faced round with his +partner he caught sight of our group and called out as he advanced-- + +"Victory! We have won. Why those black looks, De Vesci? Come and +congratulate us." + +With an effort the seneschal smoothed his face, "Victory always +attends your majesty, and with so fair a partner defeat would be +impossible," and he bowed with a courtly grace; but the wrinkles of +his frown were still on his forehead. The duchess grew red with +pleasure at the compliment, and Louis clapped his hands like a boy. + +"Excellent! Trust a courtier's lip for a soft speech;" and then, +observing me, "but what have we here?" + +"From Rome, your majesty," and dropping to my knee, I presented my +papers, which the king took irresolutely in his hand. + +"_Diable!_" he exclaimed, with an impatient gesture, "from my lord +cardinal no doubt?" And he glanced at me. + +"Your majesty, and of the most vital import," and I rose. + +"I must read them, I suppose. A plague on the cardinal! We were just +going to the minuet----" + +"I will deal with the matter, sire. The papers should have come to +me," and De Vesci, saying this in his harsh, grating voice, reached +forth his hand. Usually a perfect master of his temper, he had +somehow, for once, let it get the better of him; and his closing words +and manner were almost those of command. Louis, though a brave man, +had a weak nature and a hasty temper. A temper that was often aroused +to fits of obstinacy, little short of mulish. He caught the +seneschal's tone, and perhaps also the suppressed smile that nickered +on the faces of his courtiers. His forehead darkened, "You mistake, my +lord, these papers come rightly to me," and turning his back on the +seneschal, he tore open the packet. + +De Vesci stepped back, white to the lips, and the court gathered round +the king in silence. Seeing Tremouille at hand, I made bold to step up +to him, and give him D'Amboise's note. He glanced at it, and turning +to me said, "I gave my word, and it shall be kept. The honour of +Tremouille is pledged." + +I was at a loss to understand; but had no time to think, for Louis +suddenly called out, "Tremouille--Bayard--gentlemen! The Borgia is +taken! Rome is ours!" + +At once there was a buzz, and a murmur of voices, in eager +congratulation at the glad tidings. Standing alone and apart from all, +I could barely see Louis, so closely did the court press around him; +but it seemed that Tremouille was urging something on him, and the +duchess too, for I caught the flash of the jewels on her fingers, as +in her eagerness she laid them on the king's arm. Then Bayard's deep +voice came to me clearly, "If done, 'twere well done quickly, sire." + +I do not exactly know how it happened; but I found myself kneeling +before the king, who stood above me, his drawn sword in his hand. + +"M. di Savelli," he said, "one king of France owed you his life, +another all but owes you a kingdom. Wear again your cross. It was +nobly won. Take back your knighthood." He laid the blade gently on my +shoulder, "for God, for your King, for your Lady. Arise, Sir Knight!" +He stretched forth his hand to aid me to my feet, and I stood up +again, with my honour white, in the very hall, almost on the very +spot, whence I had been cast out in ignominy and shame. + +I could not speak--I was choked--my eyes were wet with tears. Seeing +my emotion, Louis placed his hand kindly on my shoulder. + +"Remember, Di Savelli," he said, "France needs you yet. To the minuet, +my lords and ladies--to the minuet!" + +And he turned down the hall, not waiting for my thanks. But friends +sprang up everywhere. The first to give me her good wishes was the +Duchesse de la Tremouille, then came the duke, old Ives d'Alegres, and +others I can scarcely name. It was whilst in their midst that I saw a +face I knew well, and Machiavelli came up. + +"Late, but not the less warm in my congratulations," he said; "so the +good ship is safe in port at last! We owe you too much for speech, and +can never thank you enough." + +"Your excellency is most kind. Is the Lady Angiola well?" + +He was silent for a moment, and laughed to himself, as if something +stirred him. "As well as ever she was," he answered at length, and +added, "You must sup with us this evening. We lodge in the Borgo di +San Vito, and never mind your attire. My wife longs to see you, and +thank you in person." + +Other friends coming up, our converse was brought to an end, and I +managed to effect my escape, and take refuge in the pavilion of +Bayard, who insisted on my being his guest. I would have willingly +foregone the supper at the Borgo di San Vito, as I was weary; but +having promised, borrowed a horse from my host, and set out. I reached +the secretary's lodging, punctually to the hour, and was received by +Gian, who, after a respectful inquiry concerning my health, ushered me +into an apartment, where, on entering, I found myself alone. I had to +wait some little time, and wondering at the strangeness of my +reception, I walked towards a window, overlooking the private gardens +of the house. As I reached it, I heard the rustle of trailing +garments, and turning round beheld Angiola before me. She came up with +outstretched hands, and I took them in mine, and looked into her eyes. +Then I found words; they come to every man at the right time, and I +spoke. She made no answer as I pleaded my cause, and fearing the +worst, I dropped her hands, with a bitter reproach against my age and +my scarred face. When I had done she remained still, with her eyes +down, and there was a silence. Then she looked up again. + +"Di Savelli," and her voice was very low, "you say your face is +scarred by wounds. Do you know, cavaliere, I would I were a man, that +I too might bear wounds on my face, and looking in my mirror, see how +they became me." And the rest concerns not anyone. + + * * * * * + +We were married before the end of the truce, and on my wedding day, I +received from His Majesty the King, the patents of the county of +Fresnoy, in Guienne, a distinction that was extended to me in Italy, +by His Holiness Pope Pius III., who, on my purchasing a portion of my +ancestral estates back from Amilcar Chigi, confirmed to me the title +in my native land. But the gift I valued most of all, was a tari of +Amalfi, to which still clung a shred of the gold link, by which it had +been attached to a bracelet. And this was from my wife! + + + + + CHAPTER XXVII. + + MY LORD, THE COUNT. + + _Portion of a letter from the Countess di Savelli to her + cousin Vittoria Ordelaffi of Forli_. + + + * * * * * + +It is, as you know, gentle cousin, six years since my lord, having +lost his sword-arm at the storming of Santa Croce, retired to his +castle of Aquila in the Sabine Mountains, and ceased to help further +in stirring the times. In truth, he has yielded to my wish in this +matter, and although, in the war of the Holy League, he was offered a +command, Di Savelli, at my entreaty, refused the honour. + +The count, my lord, is well, but his wounds troubling him in the +winter, he may no longer follow the wolf in our mountains, yet still +hunts the stag in the Ciminian Forests of our kinsman, Amilcar Chigi, +to whom we have been reconciled, and whom we visit yearly. + +Last winter we spent in France, at the château of the Seigneur de +Bayard, which lies on the Garonne, and met there, amongst others, +Madame de la Tremouille, who is now a widow, the Duke having died of a +tertian ague at Milan. There also was a very gay and noble gentleman, +the Viscompte de Briconnet, who avers that my lord owes him a county +for having forestalled him in bearing to the king the news of the +surrender of Borgia. My Lord of Bayard, whom the Count thinks above +all men, visits us in the autumn; and, gentle cousin, come you too, +for we are to have a house full. The children are well, and Ugo grows +a strong boy, but wilful. He has his father's features, but my eyes. +They have just gone a riding, my lord on his great war horse Castor, +and Ugo on his little white pony, bred on our farm in the Bergamasque. +I see them as I write, going down the avenue. + +Your namesake Vittoria, sends you a hundred kisses, and bids you come +and be heartily welcome. I send this by a sure hand, that of my lord's +esquire, Messer Jacopo Jacopi, a faithful servant and a good sword, +though his tongue be ever wagging. Give him an answer, to say you are +coming. + + * * * * * + + + + THE END. + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Honour of Savelli, by S. 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Levett Yeats"> + +<meta name="Publisher" content="D. Appleton and Company"> +<meta name="Date" content="1895"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +body {margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; background-color:#FFFFFF;} + + + + +p.normal {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify;} +.center {text-align:center; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + + + +p.right {text-align:right; margin-right:20%;} + +p.continue {text-indent: 0in; margin-top:9pt;} +.text10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} +.text20 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:20%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} + + +.poem0 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 0%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem1 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 2em; + margin-right: 10%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem2 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + +.poem3 { + margin-top: 24pt; margin-left: 30%; + margin-right: 30%; text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt; font-size:90%} + + + + + +figcenter {margin:auto; text-align:center; margin-top:9pt;} + +.t0 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:0em; margin-right:0px;} +.t1 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:1em; margin-right:0px;} +.t2 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:2em; margin-right:0px;} +.t3 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:3em; margin-right:0px;} +.t4 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4em; margin-right:0px;} +.t5 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:5em; margin-right:0px;} +.t6 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:6em; margin-right:0px;} +.t7 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:7em; margin-right:0px;} +.t8 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:8em; margin-right:0px;} +.t9 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:9em; margin-right:0px;} +.t10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10em; margin-right:0px;} +.t11 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:11em; margin-right:0px;} +.t12 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:12em; margin-right:0px;} +.t13 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:13em; margin-right:0px;} +.t14 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:14em; margin-right:0px;} +.t15 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:15em; margin-right:0px;} +.t16 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:16em; margin-right:0px;} + + +.quote {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify; font-size:90%; margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt} +.ctrquote {text-align: center; font-size:90%; margin-top:36pt; margin-bottom:36pt} + +.dateline {text-align:right; font-size:90%; margin-right:10%; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 {text-align: center;} + +span.sc {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:100%;} +span.sc2 {font-variant: small-caps; font-size:90%;} + +hr.W10 {width:10%; color:black; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt} + +hr.W20 {width:20%; color:black; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt} + +hr.W50 {width:50%; color:black;} +hr.W90 {width:90%; color:black;} + +p.hang1 {margin-left:1em; text-indent:-1em;} +p.hang2 {margin-left:2em; text-indent:0em;} + + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's The Honour of Savelli, by S. (Sidney) Levett-Yeats + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Honour of Savelli + A Romance + +Author: S. (Sidney) Levett-Yeats + +Release Date: December 9, 2011 [EBook #38250] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HONOUR OF SAVELLI *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Booka + + + + + +</pre> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Note:<br> + + +1. Page scan source:<br> + +http://books.google.com/books?id=jQM1AAAAMAAJ</p> + + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h1>THE</h1> + +<h1>HONOUR OF SAVELLI</h1> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h3><i>A ROMANCE</i></h3> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h5>BY</h5> + +<h3>S. LEVETT YEATS</h3> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h4>NEW YORK<br> + +D. APPLETON AND COMPANY<br> + +1895</h4> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h4><span class="sc2">Copyright, 1895</span>,<br> + +<span class="sc">By</span> D. APPLETON AND COMPANY.</h4> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Is writing this book the Author has made no effort to point a moral; +all that has been done is an attempt to catch the "spirit of the true +Romance," and to amuse. The book was partly written in the intervals +of work in India, and was completed during the leisure allowed by +furlough on medical certificate. In dealing with this period of +Italian history, in which the story is set, the Author would say he +has taken Dumas for his model, but hopes that he has worked out his +scheme on original lines; and he has used, as far as possible, the +language in which an Italian living in the beginning of the sixteenth +century would express himself. At the time the book was written the +Author had not read Mr. Stanley Weyman's brilliant novel, "A Gentleman +of France." Had he done so the style of the present book would +doubtless have been much improved from the lessons taught by a +master-hand. The Author, in bringing this to the notice of the reader, +would humbly add that he is making no challenge to break a lance with +so redoubted a knight as the creator of Gaston de Marsac.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<table cellpadding="10" style="width:90%; margin-left:5%; font-weight:bold"> +<colgroup><col style="width:10%; text-align:right"><col style="width:90%"></colgroup> +<tr> +<td><span class="sc2">CHAPTER</span></td> +<td> </td> +</tr><tr> +<td>I.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_01" href="#div1_01"><span class="sc">A Bolt from the Blue.</span></a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>II.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_02" href="#div1_02"><span class="sc">Ruin.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>III.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_03" href="#div1_03"><span class="sc">Madame D'Entrangues.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>IV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_04" href="#div1_04"><span class="sc">A Fool's Cap and a Sore Heart.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>V.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_05" href="#div1_05"><span class="sc">D'Entrangues Scores a Point.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>VI.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_06" href="#div1_06"><span class="sc">Bernabo Ceci.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>VII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_07" href="#div1_07"><span class="sc">The Garden of St. Michael.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>VIII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_08" href="#div1_08"><span class="sc">Temptation.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>IX.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_09" href="#div1_09"><span class="sc">The Marzocco Inn.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>X.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_10" href="#div1_10"><span class="sc">Niccolo Machiavelli.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>XI.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_11" href="#div1_11"><span class="sc">The Letter to D'Amboise.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>XII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_12" href="#div1_12"><span class="sc">The Ambuscade.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>XIII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_13" href="#div1_13"><span class="sc">Rome.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>XIV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_14" href="#div1_14"><span class="sc">George of Amboise.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>XV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_15" href="#div1_15"><span class="sc">The Gift of Bayard.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>XVI.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_16" href="#div1_16"><span class="sc">Friend or Foe.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>XVII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_17" href="#div1_17"><span class="sc">The Vatican.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>XVIII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_18" href="#div1_18"><span class="sc">The Opal Ring.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>XIX.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_19" href="#div1_19"><span class="sc">Exit the Ancient Brico.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>XX.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_20" href="#div1_20"><span class="sc">"A Brown Paul--a Little Copper."</span></a></td> +</tr><tr> +<td>XXI.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_21" href="#div1_21"><span class="sc">The Rescue of Angiola.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>XXII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_22" href="#div1_22"><span class="sc">The Ride to St. Jerome.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>XXIII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_23" href="#div1_23"><span class="sc">The Pavilion of Tremouille.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>XXIV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_24" href="#div1_24"><span class="sc">Too Dearly Bought.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>XXV.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_25" href="#div1_25"><span class="sc">The Vengeance of Corte.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>XXVI.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_26" href="#div1_26"><span class="sc">Concerning many Things.</span></a></td> + +</tr><tr> +<td>XXVII.</td> +<td><a name="div1Ref_27" href="#div1_27"><span class="sc">My Lord, the Count.</span></a></td> + +</tr></table> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>PRELUDE.</h2> +<hr class="W10"> +<div style="margin-left:20%"> + +<p style="text-indent:10%"><b>I.</b></p> + +<p class="t0">He rydes untoe ye Dragon's Gate,<br> + +And blowes a ryngynge calle:<br> + +A gallant Knyghte in armoure bryghte,<br> + +'Twere sadde toe see him falle.<br> + +Deare Sayntes of Mercy steele hys harte,<br> + +And nerve hys arme withalle!</p> +<br> + +<p style="text-indent:10%"><b>II.</b></p> +<br> + +<p class="t0">Noe glove bears he uponne hys creste,<br> + +And lettynge droppe hys visor's barres,<br> + +I sawe hys starke soule lookynge forthe,<br> + +Toe meete ye whysperes of ye starres.<br> + +True Knyghte of God, whose arme is stronge,<br> + +Whose harte is pure, whose lance is longe.</p> +<br> + +<p style="text-indent:10%"><b>III.</b></p> +<br> + +<p class="t0">Lette wyn, lette lose, belyke 'tis true,<br> + +Ye issue of ye daye will bee,<br> + +Notte toe ye dreamers; butte toe those<br> + +Who stayke their alle on victorie.<br> + +Notte to ye skiffes uponne ye streames,<br> + +Butte ye stronge shippes uponne ye sea.</p> +</div> +<p class="right"><i>Vanity Fair, 12th October, 1893</i>.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h1>THE HONOUR OF SAVELLI.</h1> +<hr class="W10"> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_01" href="#div1Ref_01">A BOLT FROM THE BLUE.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">"I do not drink with a thief!"</p> + +<p class="normal">D'Entrangues spoke in clear, distinct tones, that rose above the hum +of voices, and every one caught the words. In an instant the room was +still. The laughter on all faces died away, leaving them grave; and +twenty pairs of curious eyes, and twenty curious faces were turned +towards us. It was so sudden, so unexpected, this jarring discord in +our harmony, that it fell as if a bolt from a mangonel, or a shot from +one of Messer Novarro's new guns, had dropped in amongst us. Even +that, I take it, would have caused less surprise, although for the +present there was a truce in the land. Prospero Colonna turned half +round in his seat and looked at me. Our host and commander, old Ives +d'Alegres, who was pouring himself out a glass of white vernaccia, +held the decanter in mid-air, an expression of blank amazement in his +blue eyes. Even the Englishman, Hawkwood, who sat next to me, was +startled out of his habitual calm. Every eye was on us, on me where I +sat dazed, and on D'Entrangues, who was leaning back slightly, a +forced smile on his face, the fingers of one hand playing with the +empty glass before him, whilst with the other he slowly twisted his +long red moustache. I was completely taken aback. Only that afternoon +I parted from D'Entrangues, apparently on the best of terms. We had +played together, and he had won my crowns. It is true he was not paid +in full at the time; but he knew the word of a Savelli. On leaving, +Madame D'Entrangues asked me to join her hawking party for the morrow, +and he urged the invitation. I accepted, and backed my new peregrine +against D'Entrangues' old hawk Bibbo for ten crowns, the best of three +flights, and the wager was taken. Never indeed had I known him so +cordial. I did not like the man, but for his wife's sake was friendly +to him. Of a truth, there were few of the youngsters in Tremouille's +camp who were not in love with her, and some of us older fellows too, +though we hid our feelings better. I was grateful to Madame. She had +been kind to me after the affair of San Miniato, when a Florentine +pike somehow found its way through my breastplate. Indeed, I may say I +owed my recovery to her nursing. In return, I had been of some service +to her in the retreat up the valley of the Taro, after Fornovo--she +called it saving her life. In this manner a friendship sprang up +between us, which was increased by the opportunities we had of meeting +whilst the army lay inactive before Arezzo. Long years of camp life +made me fully appreciate the society of a woman, remarkable alike for +her beauty and her talent; and she, on the other hand, felt for me, I +was sure, only that friendship which it is possible for a good woman +to hold for a man who is not her husband.</p> + +<p class="normal">I do not for one moment mean to imply that Doris D'Entrangues was +perfection. I knew her to be wayward and rash, sometimes foolish if +you will; but withal a pure woman. I soon found she was unhappy, and +in time she got into a way of confiding her troubles to me, and they +were not a few, for D'Entrangues was--what all men knew him to be. +Finding that I could be of help to Madame, I avoided all difference +with the husband, and for her sake was, as I have said, friendly to +him. Perhaps my course of action was not prudent; but who is there +amongst us who is always guided by the head? At any rate, I expiated +my fault, and paid the price of my folly to the end of the measure.</p> + +<p class="normal">As I sat in the now silent supper-room with the man's words buzzing in +my ears, a curious recollection of a scene that occurred about a month +ago came back to me. Madame and I had over-ridden ourselves hawking, +and I had dismounted at her request and gathered for her a posy of +yellow coronilla and scarlet amaryllis. This, in her quick impulsive +way, she held to her husband's face when we met him, a half-league or +so on our way back, saying, "See what lovely flowers Di Savelli has +given me!" He snatched them from her hand, and flung them under his +horse with an oath, adding something which I did not catch. Madame +flushed crimson, and the incident ended there, for I did not care to +press the matter.</p> + +<p class="normal">It all came back to me now, in the oddest manner, as I sat staring at +D'Entrangues. He had come in late to the supper, and, after greeting +D'Alegres, slipped into the seat opposite me in silence. Across him +two men were discussing a series of thefts that had recently disturbed +us. They were not common thefts, such as are of daily occurrence in a +military camp; but were the work of some one both daring and +enterprising. Even then the matter would not have attracted the +attention it did but for the loss of a ruby circlet by the Duchesse de +la Tremouille, which, besides its intrinsic value, was the gift of a +king. Madame de la Tremouille made an outcry, and the duke, as the +matter touched him, was leaving no stone unturned to find the thief. +It had come to be that every robbery in the camp was put down to this +same light-fingered gentleman; and Visconti, one of the two men who +were discussing the question, was loudly lamenting the loss of a rare +medallion of which he had just been relieved. Throughout their +conversation D'Entrangues, though once or twice addressed, spoke no +word, but maintained a moody silence. When the wine was circling round +I, being warmed, and wishing to stand well with the husband of Madame, +made some rallying allusion to our match for the morrow, and offered +to drink to him. His reply is known.</p> + +<p class="normal">The silence which followed his speech was so utter that one may have +heard a feather fall; and then some one, I know not who, laughed +shortly. The sound brought me to myself, and in a fury, hardly knowing +what I was doing, I jumped up and drew my dagger, but was instantly +seized by Colonna and Hawkwood. The latter was a man of great size, +and between him and Colonna I was helpless.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give him rope," whispered Hawkwood, and his voice was kind, "this is +not an affair to be settled with a poniard thrust."</p> + +<p class="normal">The whole room was in an uproar now, all crowding around us; +D'Entrangues half-risen from his seat, his hand on his sword, and I +quivering in the grasp of my kind enemies. Old Ives d'Alegres rushed +forwards, "Silence, gentlemen!" he called out, "remember I command +here. Savelli, give up that dagger; D'Entrangues, your sword. Now, +gentlemen, words have been used which blood alone cannot wash out. M. +d'Entrangues, I await your explanation!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Liar!" I shouted out, "you will give it to me at the sword's point," +and big Hawkwood's restraining arms tightened over me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thanks," replied D'Entrangues, "you remember the sword at last; a +moment before I saw in your hands your natural weapon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A truce to this, sirs! I await you," interrupted D'Alegres.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your pardon," said D'Entrangues. "Gentlemen, you want an explanation. +It is simple enough. We have a thief in our midst, and he is there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A thief--Di Savelli!" called out a dozen voices, and Ives d'Alegres +said, "Impossible! you are mad, D'Entrangues."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No more so, sir, than you, or any one of us here. I confess, though, +I thought I was mad when I first knew of it, for this man has been my +comrade, we have fought side by side, and he has borne himself as a +gallant soldier. I thought I was mad, I say, when I first knew of +this; but the proofs are too strong."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are they?" D'Alegres spoke very shortly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You shall have them. You all know there have been a series of +unaccountable thefts amongst us lately. The duchess's rubies have +gone. Hardly a lady but has lost some valuable, my wife, amongst other +things, a bracelet. The thief did not confine his attentions to the +fair sex; but visited us men as well. They were not common thefts. +From the circumstances attending them, the robber must have known us +intimately, and had easy access to our quarters. Up to now the matter +has been a mystery. A lot of people have been wrongly suspected, and +two poor wretches are now swinging on the gibbet, condemned for +nothing that I know of."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was done by my orders, sir," said D'Alegres, "the matter is beside +the point."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I stand corrected, General. Some little time ago a fortunate chance +revealed to me who the culprit was. I made no sign, but set to work +until complete proofs were in my hands."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have said so before. Why beat about the bush? If you have proofs, +produce them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A moment, sir. May I ask any of you to state what your most recent +losses have been?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My medallion by Cimabue," put in Visconti in his drawling voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fifty fat gold crowns in a leather bag," grumbled Hawkwood, "the +residue of the Abbot Basilio's ransom. God send such another prize to +me, for I know not how to pay my lances."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a little laugh at Hawkwood's moan, but it soon stilled, and, +one by one, each man stated his latest loss.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will add to these Madame's bracelet," said D'Entrangues, "and shall +not be surprised if the duchess thanks me for her rubies to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tremouille has sworn to crucify the thief if he is found."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The duke knows the value of his gems."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He ought to be consoled, for he has a true wife left, and, his +eminence of St. Sabines tells me, such a possession is more precious +than rubies," drawled Visconti.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gentlemen, you interrupt M. D'Entrangues. Let us end this painful +scene."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is but one thing more, sir. I ask you now to have +this"--D'Entrangues indicated me with an insolent look--"this person's +quarters searched."</p> + +<p class="normal">Whilst he was speaking, D'Alegres gave a whispered order to a young +officer, who left the room immediately, although with a somewhat +discontented air at being sent away. As D'Entrangues finished, the +door was opened, a couple of files of Swiss infantry entered, and with +them Braccio Fortebraccio, our provost-marshal. At a sign from +D'Alegres one of the files surrounded me, the other D'Entrangues, and +Braccio called out in a loud voice, "Ugo di Savelli, and Crépin +D'Entrangues, I arrest you in the king's name!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"At your service, provost," said D'Entrangues with a bow, "my sword is +already given up. May I ask, sir," he continued, turning to D'Alegres, +"if you will put my proofs to the test?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"At once. Provost, lead your prisoners to M. di Savelli's quarters."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank God!" The expression burst from me, so great was my relief. I +was sure of being acquitted, and madame or no madame, I should kill +D'Entrangues the following day, even though I knew Tremouille had +sworn to hang the next man caught duelling within the jurisdiction of +his camp. We were, as I have stated, at Arezzo, and had passed the +winter there, in the truce following the expulsion of the Duke of Bari +from Lombardy. It had, however, become necessary to menace the Pope, +who was hilt deep in intrigue as well as crime, and Tremouille leaving +Monsignore d'Amboise in Milan, marched south, and with the aid of our +Florentine allies, held the Borgia and Spain in check. Acting under +the advice of Trevulzio, Ives d'Alegres, and others, the duke had not +entered the town; but kept us in camp near Giove, outside the walls. +The gates of the city and the citadel were, however, at the same time +strongly garrisoned, and Trevulzio held command within. It was all the +more urgent to keep the main body of the troops outside the walls, as +they were composed, with the exception of a few French regiments, +mainly of mercenaries, and by holding the town with picked men, upon +whom he could rely, Tremouille would be able, in case of any change of +front on the part of his mercenaries, to have them between two fires. +Ives d'Alegres, who then acted as lieutenant-general to the duke, was +immediately in command of the camp, and had fixed his headquarters in +a large villa, the property of the Accolti, and it was here that the +supper, which ended so disastrously for me, was given. My own quarters +were but a bow-shot or two away, in the direction of the town. When we +reached them, I was surprised to find at the door, my servant Tarbes +in the hands of two of the marshal's men, a half troop of French +lancers drawn up before my tent, and my own small <i>condotta</i> of ten +lances, which I had raised for the war by pawning my last acre, all +under guard. As if any attempt at rescue were possible! I saw in a +moment that this accounted for D'Entrangues' late arrival at the +supper: but entered the tent sure of the results. A dozen blazing +torches threw a clear enough light, and D'Alegres briefly requested +the provost to begin the search. The practised hands of the field +police did this very effectually, but to no purpose, and I felt that +the faces of all were looking friendly towards me. D'Entrangues seemed +nervous, and his sallow cheek was pale.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Send for Tarbes," he said, and at a word from the provost my knave +was led in. This man was a Spaniard, whom I had taken into my service, +some little while ago, on the recommendation of D'Entrangues. Except +on one occasion when he lost, or maybe stole, a pair of silver spurs, +for which I cuffed him roundly, he had served me well. At the present +moment he seemed overcome with fear, trembled in every limb, and +refused to look at me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Signor Tarbes," said the provost, "do you know what the wheel is?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The man made no answer, and Braccio went on--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Signor Tarbes, we want a little information which I am persuaded you +possess. If you give it freely, we will be merciful; if you +prevaricate, if you attempt to conceal anything, we will do to you +what we did to the death hunters after San Miniato--you remember?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Speak freely, Tarbes. There is no fear," I added.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Even your master, the excellent cavaliere, advises you, and I must +say advises you well," continued Braccio. "Signor Tarbes, you will now +show us," and he rubbed his hands together softly, "where the valiant +knight, Ugo di Savelli, keeps his prizes of war, the spoils of his bow +and spear--I was going to say fin----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have a care, sir," said D'Alegres sternly, "you are here to do your +duty, not to play the jester." Braccio shrank back at his look, and +the general turned to Tarbes, "In brief, we want to know, if your +master, M. di Savelli, has any concealed property here? Will you +answer at once, or do you prefer to be put to the question?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will speak--say anything, my lord--only have mercy. I swear what I +say is true. His excellency, my master, has nothing beyond what you +have seen--and what lies in the leather valise under this rug."</p> + +<p class="normal">Now this rug in question lay flat on the turf, on which my tent stood, +and at the time of the search D'Alegres and others were standing on +it. Owing to this, and to the crowded state of the tent, it had +hitherto escaped the attention, which it would doubtless have received +sooner or later, for nothing ever passed Braccio's eyes. In a moment +the rug was swept aside, and, as the torches were held to the turf, it +was evident that it had been dug away and then replaced somewhat +carelessly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Braccio was in his element.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Pouf!</i>" he exclaimed, "a clumsy amateur after all! I thought better +of his valour. Here! give me a pike! And hold the torches so!"</p> + +<p class="normal">With a sharp point of the pike he quickly cleared away the turf, and, +stooping down, lifted up from the hole he exposed, a small brown +valise, which had been concealed in the earth. The interest was now +intense. Every one crowded round Braccio. Even the vigilance of the +guards over me completely relaxed. I felt a touch on my shoulder, and, +looking back, saw Hawkwood.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would you like to go?" he whispered rapidly. "My horse is ready +saddled--you know where to find him."</p> + +<p class="normal">I thanked him with a look; but shook my head, and the giant fell back.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall I break it open, excellency?" and Braccio held the bag out to +D'Alegres.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My master has the key," put in Tarbes; "I know no more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I--the key!" I exclaimed. "Villain, the bag is not mine!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It bears your arms, however;" Braccio pointed to a little metal plate +on which they were distinctly engraved.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must, I am afraid, submit to the further indignity of being +searched," said D'Alegres.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was no hope in resistance and I endured this. Braccio himself +searched me, and almost as soon as he began, pulled from an inner +pocket of my vest a small key, attached to a fine gold chain.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here is the noble knight's key," he exclaimed, "and see; it fits +exactly!" He turned it in the lock, opened the valise, and emptied the +contents out on a rough camp table. A low murmur went up, for amongst +the small heap of articles was Hawkwood's leather bag, and madame's +bracelet, whilst something rolled a little on one side, and fell off +softly to the turf. A soldier picked it up, and placed it face upwards +on the table--the lost medallion.</p> + +<p class="normal">One by one D'Alegres held up the articles sadly, and I looked round in +my agony on the faces of those who but an hour ago were my friends. +They had all shrunk back from me, and I was alone within the circle of +the guards. D'Entrangues stood with folded arms, and a smile on his +lips, and Tarbes glanced from side to side, like an ape seeking chance +for escape. I looked towards Hawkwood, but even his face was hard and +set.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not see the duchess' rubies here," said D'Alegres.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am prepared to produce them to-morrow," replied D'Entrangues; "in +the meantime, I trust you have sufficient proof?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give M. d'Entrangues his sword. You need not fight this man," +D'Alegres added, pointing to me, "even if he challenges you. Were you +a French subject," he said to me, "I would hang you in your boots; as +it is I will submit the case to the duke. D'Entrangues, I hold you to +your word about the rubies. Provost, see that your prisoner is +carefully guarded. You will answer for him with your life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Prisoner, your excellency! There are two."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have restored M. d'Entrangues his sword."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is still another," and the provost pointed to Tarbes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pah!" exclaimed D'Alegres, "hang him out of hand--come, gentlemen!"</p> + +<p class="normal">One by one they went out. Not another look did they give me. I heard +the tread of feet, and the sound of voices in eager conversation, +dying out in the distance. I stood as in a dream. Tarbes had been +dragged away speechless, and half fainting. When he was outside he +found voice, and I heard him alternately cursing D'Alegres, and +D'Entrangues and screaming for mercy. Braccio touched me on the arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, signore," he said, "<i>you</i>, at any rate, have a few hours left."</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_02" href="#div1Ref_02">RUIN.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">I started at the man's words, and my rage and despair may be imagined, +when I saw that he proposed to bind me, a noble, like any thief! From +this I hoped to escape by bringing on death, and, on a sudden, hit the +guard next to me on the face, with all my force. Down he went like an +ox, and I made a rush to the tent door, little doubting that I should +be cut down, and put out of my misery. But they were too quick. I was +one, and they were many. In a hand turn I was tripped up, my wrists +securely fastened behind my back, and any further resistance on my +part impossible. The man whom I felled, scrambled up, and attempted to +brain me with the butt of his pike as I went down; but Braccio struck +him senseless with the hilt of his sword, and this time he lay in a +huddled heap, quiet enough.</p> + +<p class="normal">I besought Braccio to give me my parole, swearing on the faith of a +gentleman, on the honour of a Savelli, that I would not attempt +escape, and would go with him quietly, if I were but free from the +ignominy of the cords that bound me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shut the cage door, keep your bird," he laughed brutally, "I have to +answer for you to-morrow, and I weigh the faith of a gentleman, and +the honour--God save the mark--of a Savelli, as <i>that</i>," he snapped +his fingers, "when it comes to a consideration of Braccio +Fortebraccio's head. So your knighthood must even go as you are, with +my love-knots on you. Here, two of you, take charge of this tent, and +see after Arnulf there--I never thought his skull so thin--march!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And in this manner was I led out, two men in front of me, two behind, +one on either hand, all with their weapons ready, whilst the provost +himself brought up the rear, with his drawn sword in one hand and a +lighted torch in the other. Not that light was needed, for the moon +had risen, and was in its full. I believe, however, that Braccio held +the torch, so that the additional light might the more clearly show +who his prisoner was, and I hung down my head as, with quick steps, we +marched to the military prison.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Qui vive là</i>," the challenge rang out crisply, and on the instant +the provost replied, "France and Tremouille."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pass on," and the sentry, one of Bucicault's arquebusiers, looked at +us curiously as we went by. And now, to add to my shame, we met, face +to face, a group of late revellers returning to the camp.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Diable!</i>" called out a gay voice, "our respectable provost is at +work I see. What have you got there, Braccio?"</p> + +<p class="normal">I shuddered, for I recognised Bellegarde, a young noble of the Franche +Compte, who had come to seek glory in the Italian war.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Close up, men--another of my strayed lambs brought back to the fold, +Viscompte--pardon me--it is late, and I must hurry on."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Bellegarde was merry with wine. "Not till you have drunk our +health," he laughed, barring the way with his drawn rapier, as he +added, "Lowenthal here has a skin of wine from the Rhineland, have a +pull at it, man, and let us see the prisoner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Blitzen!</i> Der brisoner first, he will hang pefore der herr brovost," +and the half-drunk Lanzknecht thrust his wine-skin towards me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gentlemen--gentlemen! have you a care! See here, Viscompte," and +Braccio whispered to Bellegarde.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My God!" said the latter; and then hastily, "Come on, Lowenthal! Let +them go."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let der brisoner drink. Would you debrife a boor man of his liquor?" +replied Lowenthal, and to hide my face, I seized the skin, and raised +it to my lips. Even Braccio held the torch away, and Von Lowenthal +failed to recognise me in the half-light. My throat was red-hot with +thirst, and sick as I was with shame, I drank greedily, and handed the +wine-skin back to the German.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Blitzen!</i>" he said, giving it a shake, "you drink like an honest +man. Now, herr brovost, a health to Germany, in honest German wine. +What! No! Then drink to der halter, man, and Lowenthal will knight +you," swaying to and fro, he attempted to draw his sword.</p> + +<p class="normal">Matters were at a crisis, for Braccio was not to be trifled with any +longer. At this juncture, Bellegarde and the others with him again +intervened, and dragged Von Lowenthal away. The provost instantly +pressed forwards with a hurried good-night. We did not go so fast, +however, as not to perceive, from the noises behind us, that the +Lanzknecht had subsided to earth, and was apparently abandoned there, +with his wine-skin, by his companions. The sound of his voice, engaged +in a drunken monologue, reached us.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Der rascal Braccio, der knight of der noose und halter. I will gif +him der accolade. I----" But we lost the rest as we hurried on, the +guards smiling to themselves, and Braccio very ill-tempered.</p> + +<p class="normal">In a few paces we passed D'Alegres' headquarters, and through an open +window, I saw half-a-dozen of my late companions playing at dice, and +heard Hawkwood's bass calling the mains. A few steps more brought us +to our point, a fortified wing of the Villa Accolti itself, and +Braccio, thrusting me into a strong room, turned the key of the door, +and with a gruff order, which I did not catch, walked away. Now, +indeed, was I in a distressful state, and the agony of my mind so +great, that I heeded not the pain of the cords, but paced up and down +like any caged animal. I fully recognised that I was the victim of a +deeply laid plot on the part of D'Entrangues, and saw clearly that I +was completely in his hands. It was a stroke of genius on his part, +not to interfere in any way to save his creature, the wretched Tarbes. +That hasty order of D'Alegres had removed the only danger of his +scheme being laid bare. I tried to think out some plan of action; but +to no purpose, for my mind was altogether confused and bewildered, and +I was incapable of thought. The room in which I was confined was bare +of all furniture, not even a camp-stool. There was only one window, +and that, iron-grated, was set high up, near the ceiling. The +moonlight straggled through the grating in long white ribbons, and +dimly showed up the walls around me. Hour after hour passed away. I +could hear the occasional barking of dogs, the distant cries of the +sentinels as they called to one another, and the sound of the guard +being relieved at my door. Then the moon sank and the morning came. +From sheer weariness I threw myself on the floor, and fell into a +troubled sleep, from which I was aroused by the cords biting into my +flesh. This, and the constrained position in which my arms were held, +gave me torture. I attempted by shouting to attract the attention of +the sentinel over me; but though I heard the clod tramping up and +down, I received no answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">At length, about the sixth hour, I made another effort to get some one +to hear me. I fortunately chose a moment when the guards were being +visited. After a short discussion outside, an under-officer entered +the cell. I begged him to free me from the cords, pointing out that +escape was impossible, swearing that I would not attempt it, and ended +by offering him five crowns for the good office. He hesitated at +first, but either pity for my condition, or the bait of the crowns +moved the man, for he freed me with a touch of his dagger, and for +another five crowns I obtained from him the promise of procuring for +me a change of attire from my tent. I had, hidden in a belt, worn +under my shirt, thirty crowns, and this I reached with some +difficulty, owing to the stiffness of my arms, and paid him the money. +I specially begged he would get for me a pair of Spanish leather +boots, that were lying in my quarters, for the sole of one of my +<i>contigie</i> had come off during the struggle of last night. The honest +fellow promised to do his best, and shortly returned with the articles +I wanted, and in addition brought me some food and a cup of wine, for +which he refused all payment, saying that I had treated him generously +enough. To eat was out of the question, but the wine was grateful, +and, after drinking it, I devoted myself to putting my attire in +order. And here I may mention an odd circumstance, to wit, that my +gold cross of St. Lazare, which I wore pinned to my breast at the +supper, had by some chance remained intact, despite the struggle I had +gone through, and was still hanging in its place by a shred of the +ribbon. I carefully unfastened it, and placed it for security in my +belt. To me it seemed an omen of fortune, this lost little tag of +honour which clung to me. I succeeded indifferently well in arranging +my dress, and so passed a full hour. Heavens! when I recall that +night, although more was to befall me, I do not think I ever endured +such misery; nor has the noiseless file of time ever been able to +eradicate the memory of those hours.</p> + +<p class="normal">At about noon Braccio entered the cell. He raged beyond measure at +finding me loosed of my bonds, and insisted at first on securing me +again. I shrewdly suspected, however, that Messer Braccio was a trifle +afraid of the consequences of his violence the night before, and that +his furious language was in this case but bluster. I showed a bold +front therefore, and the under-officer putting in a word for me, the +provost gave in with apparent reluctance. He informed me that my +affair was to be dealt with by the duke in person, and that I should +make ready to go with him. I replied that I was prepared to go at +once, and without more ado was escorted to the main building of the +villa. I could see that a considerable crowd was collected, and from +the litters and riding-horses that were being led to and fro, +perceived that some ladies had heard the news, and were come to +gratify their curiosity at my expense, and see such trial as I was to +undergo. I was led into the great hall, which was full of people, and +in the gallery above the dais saw, amongst other ladies, the Duchesse +de la Tremouille, and by her side Madame d'Entrangues. The latter kept +her eyes down, and fanned herself with a fan of peacock feathers, +which, even at that moment, I was able to recognise as my gift. On the +dais was a table with seats set about it, which were as yet empty. At +the steps of the dais stood D'Entrangues, and beside him a small man +cloaked in a sad-coloured mantle, with a keen, cleanly-shaven face, +and watchful eyes. He held in his hand a small packet, and surveyed me +with no little interest. D'Entrangues did not meet my look, and his +hang-dog face was turned towards the doorway immediately opposite to +him. In a moment or so that door was opened, and the duke entered, +talking earnestly with a cavalier of a most gracious and distinguished +presence. Tremouille himself was a small, slightly-built man, of +features in no way remarkable; but redeemed in some part by the alert +intelligence of his glance. In early life he had met with an accident +which left him lame ever after. Yet he was a good horseman and of a +constitution that nothing could tire. As for his companion, his face +was then strange to me; but in after times when I was admitted to his +intimacy and honoured with his friendship, I came to know him as great +beyond all men; and this I do not say in gratitude for the debt I owe +him; but simply to add my humble testimony to that of others, his +companions-in-arms, and equals in station, who with one consent allow +him to be the glory of his age, and of knighthood. Immediately behind +Tremouille came D'Alegres and Trevulzio, who had raised himself to his +present high position, and was a most capable soldier. These four took +their seats at the table, and the numerous and brilliant staff of +officers who accompanied them ranged themselves behind. From the +manner in which the stranger took his seat, I gathered, and I was not +mistaken, that he was there as one of my judges, and for the moment I +wondered who he was. That he was of the highest rank was clear from +his aspect and bearing, and from the fact that he wore round his +neck the collar of the Holy Ghost. The proceedings of this public +court-martial began at once. It is needless to set them down in full +detail. D'Entrangues stated his case, D'Alegres briefly set forth the +action taken by him, and Visconti and Hawkwood testified to having +found their property in my possession, under the circumstances already +explained. I will do them the justice to say that they did so with +evident and genuine reluctance. Tremouille, who had doubtless heard +all this before, listened patiently to the end, and then asked me what +I had to say. What could I say? I looked at the faces around me and +saw no sympathy. I looked up at the gallery where the ladies sat, and +caught a whisper:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not care--I know it is false; he is not guilty."</p> + +<p class="normal">The words gave me courage. The charge was false. As false as hell. +Then I found tongue. I asked if it were possible that I, a noble, +whose career had hitherto been blameless, could have suddenly become +so vile as to sink to common theft? I pointed out my long years of +service, and called D'Alegres and Trevulzio, under whose banners I had +served, to witness if they had ever known me sully my honour.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is known, M. di Savelli, that you are hard put for money," said +Tremouille.</p> + +<p class="normal">I admitted the fact, and also admitted that at the time I stood there +I owed money lost at play; but that the sum did not amount to more +than fifty crowns, and there was twice that amount due to me from the +military chest. I then went on to point out how unlikely it was that, +even if I had stolen the jewels, I should have hoarded them up and not +turned them into money, for which I allowed I was pressed, and wound +up by saying I was the victim of a conspiracy, and that I was prepared +to assert my honour, man to man, against D'Entrangues, or any other +who would take up his cause.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What say you, my lord of Bayard?" and Tremouille turned to the +stranger who sat beside him. Even whilst waiting for his answer, and +on the cross with anxiety as I was, I could not help looking with the +greatest interest at the man. This then was the celebrated Pierre du +Terrail, the noblest knight in Christendom. Vague rumours that he was +about to join the army of Tremouille, with a high command, had +reached us. But we had merely looked upon them as rumours. And now he +had come, apparently suddenly, and without warning. I felt sure that +he brought war with him, but had no more time to think, for he +answered--"A fair offer--M. d'Entrangues can do no less than accept."</p> + +<p class="normal">But Trevulzio then cut in, pointing out, that practically the case was +proved. That to allow me the ordeal by combat would upset all the +course of military discipline, under which he thought the matter +should be decided. Even if the ordeal of battle was allowed, and I +won, it would not prove my innocence in the face of the damning +evidence against me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If there is any shadow of doubt, your excellency," and D'Entrangues +advanced to the table, "this will clear it up. Messer Vieri, kindly +hand that package to the duke."</p> + +<p class="normal">The man whom he addressed, who was no other than he whom I had +remarked, on entering the justice room as D'Entrangues' companion, +stepped forward and placed the packet before Tremouille, who opened it +amidst a dead silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Messer Vieri, how did you obtain this?" asked Tremouille.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The matter is simple, excellency," replied the banker, "but first may +I ask if madame the duchess recognises the trinket?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The circlet was handed to the duchess, who said in a low voice--</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is mine: it was stolen from me a month ago--on the seventh of +March."</p> + +<p class="normal">"On the eighth of March a packet was delivered to me at my house of +business by one Tarbes, calling himself servant to the Cavaliere di +Savelli. He did not know the contents of the parcel; but it was sent +to me for safe keeping by his master, so he said. I gave him a receipt +for it. I myself did not know what the nature of the packet was until +to-day; but hearing the charges preferred against the cavaliere, I +opened the case and at once recognised madame's circlet, which I have +the pleasure to restore."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How did you come to hear these charges against the Cavaliere di +Savelli?" asked Bayard.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was informed of them by the knight, Messer d'Entrangues."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is to say, M. d'Entrangues must have known that the jewels were +pledged to you. Is this not odd?"</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a straw of hope that floated to me, and I could scarcely +breathe. D'Entrangues, however, replied boldly, "I was told of the +matter by one Tarbes, a servant to M. di Savelli."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You forget to add," I burst out, "that he was a creature of yours, +whom I employed on your recommendation."</p> + +<p class="normal">D'Entrangues made no reply, and Bayard said, "M. d'Entrangues appears +to have usurped the functions of the provost and played catchpole. +Could we not see this Tarbes?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Call Tarbes," said the duke.</p> + +<p class="normal">Braccio came forward and explained that he had been dealt with +summarily, under the orders of the lieutenant-general.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mine!" said D'Alegres in astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, excellency, he was the prisoner whom your excellency ordered me +to hang last night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A pity," remarked the duke, and Trevulzio, between whom and D'Alegres +there was little love, smiled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I suppose you have nothing to say to this?" said Tremouille to me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was not in the camp on the seventh."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where were you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But this question I could not answer for I caught Madame d'Entrangues' +eye imploring me to silence. I looked back at the duke, and as I did +so felt that Bayard had followed my glance, and that his eyes were +resting on madame's face. He glanced down almost as soon as I did and +turned to me, and there was a grave encouragement in his look from +which I took heart. To me it was a great thing to show I was not at or +near the camp on the seventh; and yet if I did so I would ruin a +woman's name. It had been a harmless frolic, I swear this, as I know I +will come to judgment before a higher tribunal than that of man; and +yet had I spoken there would have been but one construction. I hated +D'Entrangues, too, and this would have struck at a vital part. For a +second I hesitated, and looked up once more at madame. She was pale as +death.</p> + +<p class="normal">I looked at Bayard, and his glance seemed to penetrate my thoughts.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot say!"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a sound of a gasping sigh, and a heavy fall. The peacock fan +fluttered slowly down from the gallery to my feet, and lay there with +its hundred eyes staring at me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This ruins you," exclaimed D'Alegres.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Think again before you reply," said the duke: "I will give you time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank your excellency; but I have no further answer."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tremouille shrugged his shoulders with a disappointed air, and dropped +his chin between his clasped hands, his elbows resting on the table, a +favourite position of his. Whilst he was thus considering, Bayard was +whispering earnestly to Trevulzio, and the old soldier seemed to +assent, and his hard face almost softened as he looked at me. They +then turned their gaze on D'Entrangues, and Trevulzio, with a shake of +his head, noted something briefly on a slip of paper and passed it on +to D'Alegres. The lieutenant-general looked surprised; but after a +moment nodded assent, and in his turn passed the paper on to the duke, +saying "I agree." Tremouille read the paper slowly, and then they +consulted together in low tones.</p> + +<p class="normal">And now, in a few brief words I heard my sentence, and it was carried +out at once. Braccio himself hacked off my spurs, my sword was brought +in and solemnly broken, and I was warned to leave the camp within an +hour, on pain of being hanged as a thief. Such property as I had was +declared confiscate, and the men of my <i>condotta</i> were to be enrolled, +by force if necessary, under another banner. How I went through it all +I do not know. I cannot say how I passed down that great hall with the +eyes of all fixed on me, a dishonoured man, an outcast, and a leper. +One thing, however, did happen. Whilst the sentence was being carried +out, Tremouille sat apparently absorbed in thought. When the provost +broke my sword he rose to leave the room, and as he passed +D'Entrangues the duke stopped.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Monsieur," he said, "you have mistaken your vocation. His majesty +does not desire his officers to be thief-hunters. For such talents as +yours you will doubtless find room elsewhere, and I have to tell you +that the king--my master--regrets he has no further need of your +services."</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_03" href="#div1Ref_03">MADAME D'ENTRANGUES.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">When I left the door of the justice room I had to pass through the +main court-yard, and run the gauntlet of open scorn and contempt, +bestowed upon me by all assembled there. It was a great thing for +them, for those whom the French call <i>canaille</i>--we have no such +appropriate word in our own tongue--to see a noble dragged in the dust +and covered with infamy. And they did not spare me, taunt and jeer +passed from mouth to mouth. Some even would have gone so far as to +strike at me, had not their officers prevented them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, <i>Croque-mort!</i>" exclaimed an arquebusier, "you should hang;" but +the man stepped back a half-pace at my look, and, gaining the outer +gate, I pressed on, hardly knowing whither my steps led me. I soon +found out I was going in the direction of Arezzo itself, and as that +was as good as any other place for me at present, I made no alteration +in my course; but anxious to get on as fast as possible, quickened my +pace almost to a run, until I was tired out, and perforce compelled to +go slower.</p> + +<p class="normal">This happened when I had covered about a mile, and was beginning the +ascent leading to the town; and here I heard behind me the clatter of +horses' hoofs, and looking back beheld a party riding in my direction. +I turned aside, and, concealing myself behind the stem of a locust +tree, waited until the riders should pass. This they did in a few +moments, and I saw it was Tremouille and his staff returning to the +town. By the side of the duchess, who was riding with her husband, was +Bayard, mounted on a bay English horse, which he managed with infinite +grace and dexterity.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame de la Tremouille was in the best of humours, most probably at +the recovery of her circlet, for she was laughing gaily as she said +something; but they went by too rapidly for me to catch the words. I +waited until the troop was lost in the yellow dust which rose behind +them, and then, stepping forth from my hiding-place, became aware that +I was not alone; but that a body was hanging from a branch of the tree +close to where I was standing, and this I had not noticed in my +eagerness to escape observation. It needed but a glance to recognise +Tarbes, my scoundrel, who had paid so long a price for his treachery; +he was swinging there dead enough, overreached and destroyed by the +master-villain.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sight of my dead knave brought up an angry wave of hatred in my +heart towards D'Entrangues, and I prayed that I might not die until I +was even with him. So great was the uprising of my anger, that at the +time I bitterly regretted not having seized the opportunity to wound +him, by plainly answering Tremouille's last question. With my rage +against D'Entrangues, there came an almost similar feeling towards +Madame, and I began to accuse her in my heart of being the original +cause of my misfortunes, and of conspiring, by her silence, to set the +seal of my ruin. I did not stop to think that I was ruined already, +and that it mattered little whether Madame allowed me to be silent or +not. I only felt that she had made me pay too great a price for her +reputation, and that she had sacrificed me mercilessly.</p> + +<p class="normal">When I hastened from the scene of my condemnation, I had no other +idea but of death, of self-destruction rather than life as it would be +now to me; but I put aside all these thoughts for I had to live for +revenge. That would be my first object, and until it was achieved I +would not rest. With this in my mind I gained the St. Clement Gate of +Arezzo, passing through without notice.</p> + +<p class="normal">Walking down the Via San Dominico, I turned to the right by the +Borgo di San Vito, and here I was recognised and hooted. Pressing +hurriedly forwards, and aided opportunely by the passage of a body of +men-at-arms, coming through the street in a direction opposite to that +of my followers, I succeeded in shaking off my tormentors, and turning +again to the right up a narrow street, entered a barber's shop to have +my beard removed in order to disguise myself as far as possible. The +barber, a fussy little fellow, placed me before a mirror of polished +steel, and as he set to work stropping a razor on the palm of his +hand, I removed my cap, and for the first time observed that the hair +of my head was thickly streaked with grey.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your excellency has doubtless come to join the army," said the barber +in a tone of inquiry as he drew his razor across my face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, yes, yes; I have just come," I replied, and the little man went +on--</p> + +<p class="normal">"There have been great doings to-day. 'Tis said the duke has ordered +the Count di Savelli to be executed for having in his possession a +favour of Madame. They say the count stole it, but we know better, +don't we, your excellency?" and the little fool chuckled to himself. +He went on without waiting for an answer. "Ah, yes; the ladies can +never resist us soldiers. I may tell you that I served with Don Carlo +Baglioni, and can bear my pike--there now, I think that side is clean +shaven--as I was saying before, it was hard on the Marquis di Savelli, +a gallant noble whom I frequently saw--pardon, your excellency, it is +but a scratch after all--had you not moved so suddenly, still only a +scratch, nothing for a soldier. The Marquis di Savelli, as I said, was +a regular customer of mine, and he had a lovely head of hair, your +excellency. It was not so much before I took him in hand. <i>Ecco!</i> but +in a month you should have seen! He came in here in his free easy way, +and flung me ten crowns. 'Buy a ribbon for Madonna Giulia with that, +Messer Pazzi,' says he; 'and harkee, send me over six more bottles of +your elixir of St. Symmachus. <i>Maldetto!</i>' he exclaimed, twisting his +curls between his fingers, 'but she adores me now.' Now who, I say, +could <i>she</i> have been but--<i>tchick</i>? <i>Diavolo</i>? it is done; never a +cleaner shave in Rome itself. If your excellency's fortune grows as +well as your hair, I could wish you no better luck."</p> + +<p class="normal">I rose in silence, and, flinging him a crown, bade him pay himself, +and receiving my change, hurried out, declining all Messer Pazzi's +entreaties to bear with me a bottle of his precious elixir of St. +Symmachus or any other accursed balsam. I saw at a glance that the +removal of my beard caused a considerable alteration in my appearance, +and imagined if I could but change my attire, my most intimate friends +would not know me unless they observed closely; and even then might +perhaps fail to recognise me. This view, as it turned out, was not +quite correct, and I had yet to learn how difficult a thing it is to +arrange a complete disguise.</p> + +<p class="normal">A few doors further on I laid out some of my money in the purchase +of a stout leather buff coat, along dark mantle, and a cap to match. +The cap was ornamented with a single black feather; and when I had +donned these garments I felt that, wrapped in the cloak, with the cap +pulled well over my eyes, and the feather standing defiantly out to +the side, that I wanted but a fathom of sword to make myself as +ruffianly-looking a bravo as ever trod the purlieus of Naples or Rome. +But the sword was some difficulty, for my crowns had dwindled to +sixteen. Fortunately I had on my finger a sapphire ring, and this I +pledged for twenty crowns, and made my way to the armourer's. I there +selected a long straight weapon, with a plain cross handle and a +cutting blade, such as would be useful for rough work, and, after some +haggling, got it for ten pieces. The armourer assured me that it was a +sound blade, and I may say it did me good service. It now hangs in my +bed-chamber, a little chipped, it is true, but as bright and as fit +for use as the day I paid for it, with a heavy heart, in Don Piero's +shop, near the gate of St. Lawrence in Arezzo.</p> + +<p class="normal">I began now to feel the want of food, for beyond the cup of Chianti +brought to me by the under-officer I had tasted nothing since +yesterday evening, and therefore stepping into an ordinary called for +a flagon of wine and a pasty. Whilst engaged in assaulting these, +half-a-dozen men, whom I recognised as belonging to the garrison, +entered the hostel, but to my joy I saw I was not known to them, and +after a casual glance at me they fell to eating their meal.</p> + +<p class="normal">I was however perforce compelled to listen to their conversation, +which was carried on in the loud tone men of their class affect, and +found to my annoyance that they were discussing me, and the events of +the day. In order to escape this I was about to rise, when I heard one +of them mention D'Entrangues' name, and stopped to listen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has left for Florence, and, it is said, intends to offer his sword +to the Signory," said one.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the other?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven knows! Perhaps Braccio's arm has reached him, poor devil!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, he was a good soldier and a stout lance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Basta!</i>" said the first speaker. "What does a little lightness of +finger matter? Play it in a small way, you're a thief, and food for +Messer Braccio, curse him! Play it on a big scale and you're a prince. +I for one don't think the less of Di Savelli because perhaps his hand +at cards was always too good, and he made that little error in the +matter of the rubies. A gentleman is sometimes driven to hard straits. +I was a gentleman once and ought to know. I give you a toast--Here's +to a long sword and a light hand!"</p> + +<p class="normal">They drank with acclamation, and then set to a-dicing. I had however +heard enough, and settling my account with the host, stepped forth +into the street, intending to depart from the town by the Porta San +Spirito or Roman Gate, leaving the camp over my shoulder, and to make +my way to Florence as soon as possible. There I would meet +D'Entrangues, and kill him like a mad dog. I ground my teeth with rage +when I thought I had no horse, nor even the means to purchase one, and +must trudge it like any <i>contadino</i>. But if I had to crawl on my hands +and knees, I was determined to reach Florence and D'Entrangues.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was however not yet sundown, and my idea was to leave the city when +it was well dusk to avoid all possible chance of recognition. I meant +to have passed the interval in the inn; but, as I felt this was +impossible, it was necessary to find another spot where I could lay in +quiet. With this end in view I crossed the Piazza di Popolo in an +easterly direction, and went on until I came to the Franciscan church, +into which I entered, not, I am sorry to say, with any desire for +devotion, but merely because I was less likely to be disturbed there +than anywhere else I could imagine. I was right, in so far that on +entering the church I found it, as I thought, empty, but on looking +round I saw beneath the newly-completed wheel-window, the work of +Guillaume de Marseille, a kneeling figure, apparently absorbed in +prayer. I had approached quite close before I became aware that I was +not alone, and was about to turn away, when, perhaps startled by the +sound of my footfalls on the marble pavement, the person rose +hurriedly and looked towards me. It was Madame D'Entrangues. Her +glance met mine for a second as that of a stranger, but as I was +moving away some trick of gesture, or perhaps the hot anger in my +eyes, told her who I was, for, calling my name, she came towards me +with outstretched hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Di Savelli," she said, for I made no advance, "do you not know me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madame," I bowed, "I am unfit to touch you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, no--a thousand times no! It is I who am unworthy."</p> + +<p class="normal">I still remained silent, and she asked with a passionate emphasis--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Man, have you never sinned?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The words struck me like a shot. I felt in a moment I had no right to +stand in judgment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God knows," I replied, "I have, and I have been punished."</p> + +<p class="normal">With that she took hold of my hand, and then suddenly burst into +tears, weeping over me with words I cannot repeat. It was not for me +to fling reproaches, and I softened and did what I could to appease +her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I could not help it," she said, "I was not strong enough to speak or +to let you speak. Oh, you do not know what such a thing is to a +woman!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let it pass, madame. What is dead is dead."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot. And yet, what can I do?" Her tears began afresh.</p> + +<p class="normal">In a little time she grew better, and I seized the opportunity to +point out the danger she ran of being seen speaking to me, and +suggested that she should make her way home. It was impossible to +escort her myself, but I would walk a little way behind, keep her in +sight, and see she came to no harm. I urged this all the more as I saw +it was growing late, and that she was without any attendants and far +from the camp.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You mistake," she said; "I have not far to go. In fact I am at +present the guest of the convent here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And----" I did not finish the sentence, but she understood. I had +forced myself to ask, to hear, if possible, confirmation of +D'Entrangues' movements.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He," she answered--"he has left the army and gone towards Florence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I stay here for the present."</p> + +<p class="normal">Her tone more than her words convinced me that she had been abandoned +by D'Entrangues, and it added another mark to my score against him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should I not tell you?" she continued. "After, when it was all +over, the duke struck his name off the army, and he left in an hour. +Before he went, he came and told me all, laughing at your ruin. I did +not know man could be so vile. God help me--it is my husband I speak +of! He offered to take me with him, but I refused; and he left, +mocking like a devil, with words I cannot repeat. He was not done with +you or with me, he said, as he went. I came here at once, and perhaps +when Madame de la Tremouille returns to France, I shall be enabled to +go with her in her train."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excuse my asking it," I said, "but have you----?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes," she smiled sadly, "it is not that in any way."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment I looked up and saw that it was sunset. Through the +wheel-window the orange beams streamed in a long banner, and lit up +the figure of the saint above us. The rays fell on madame's pale face, +and touched with fire the gold of her hair. We stood before each other +in a dead silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good-bye," I said, extending my hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">She placed her own in it and our eyes met.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a moment of danger to both. Leper as I was, I had but to lift +my hand, but to say a word, and here was one who would have followed +me like a dog. I felt her weakness in her look, in the touch of her +hand, which shivered as it lay in mine like a captive bird. At once a +fire leapt up within me. I had lost all--everything. Why not throw +revenge after my losses, and with her by my side seek a new fortune +with a new name? The grand Turk needed soldiers, and what mattered it +whether it was cross or crescent that I served?'</p> + +<p class="normal">But the woman became strong as I grew weak.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Go!" she said faintly.</p> + +<p class="normal">I dropped her hand, and, turning without a word, strode down the +aisle. As I reached the church door the bells of the Angelus rang out, +and yielding to a sudden impulse I looked back.</p> + +<p class="normal">Madame was on her knees before the saint.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_04" href="#div1Ref_04">A FOOL'S CAP AND A SORE HEART.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">I was not so dense as to fail to grasp the extent of the peril I had +escaped, or to fully realise the evil strength of the temptation, +which came upon me as suddenly as a sneeze. It is rare in matters of +this kind for wicked thoughts to be of slow growth; they spring at +once to life, full-armed. I thanked God in my heart that I was able to +sweep aside the base desire, which covered my soul like a black cloud, +and refrained from taking advantage of madame's momentary weakness. I +could not but see I was to blame myself.</p> + +<p class="normal">I, the elder and the stronger, should have foreseen the probable +consequences of a friendship such as ours, and my sorrow for her was +mixed with the deepest regret for my part in the transaction. I +banished all idea of attacking D'Entrangues through his wife, +wondering at the littleness of spirit which had ever conceived such a +thought. If it were possible, I would have kicked myself. Perhaps such +victory as I gained over my heart was due to the secret springs of my +vanity being touched, to the fear of the loss of my self-respect, and +this mingling with my pity and regret, gave me the strength to win at +the moment of temptation. It is difficult to tell; I have lived long +enough in the world to know that the mysteries of the heart will +remain veiled to the end. Occasionally we may lift the curtain a +little, but more no man has done.</p> + +<p class="normal">What had happened, however, explained clearly to me the motive for +D'Entrangues' conduct. He, at any rate, must have seen, long before +either of us, how affairs stood with the wife whose life he +embittered; but he made no effort to save her, contenting himself with +striking an assassin's blow, which had taken from him the last shred +of respect madame may have felt for him, and which had in part +recoiled on his own head. Be this as it may, his stroke was +successful, in that to all intents and purposes it had utterly blasted +me. I was worse than dead. It was no ordinary revenge. In those +troublous times, a blow from a dagger could have easily rid him of a +wife of whom he was sick, or a man whom he hated, and no one would +have thrown the matter in his teeth. But with devilish cruelty, he +inflicted wounds which could never heal, and left his victims to live. +It was impossible to hit such a man back, in a way to make him feel to +the utmost extent the agony he had administered; the only thing was to +take from him his worthless life: this he doubtless valued most of all +things, and I meant to deprive him of it, if he stood at the altar of +Christ. Moved by such thoughts, and with my cloak drawn well over the +lower part of my face, I hastened towards the Roman Gate, reaching it +just as it was to be closed for the night. In fact, as I passed out, +the huge doors came together behind me with a groaning, and at the +same time I heard the dull boom of the evening gun from the camp, +followed immediately by the distant peals of the trumpets of the +cavalry brigade.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sun had now set, and night came apace; a grey haze enveloped the +town behind me; above, in the deep violet of the sky, a few stars were +shining, soon to be dimmed by the rising moon; from the east a bank of +clouds was rapidly approaching, the advance guard of a storm from the +Adriatic. To the west, there was still light enough to see the Chiana, +lying like a silver thread, flung carelessly to earth in long folds, +and the rugged outlines of the roadless Chianti hills stood up in +fantastic shapes against the horizon. South-east was the peak of Monte +Eavulto; due west, beyond Bucine, Mount Luco was yet visible. I halted +for a moment, hesitating what course to take; whether to cross the +swamps of the Chiana valley, and make my way over the Ambra to +Montevarchi, and on to Florence; or to skirt the camp, cross the Arno +at one of the fords between Laterine and Giove, and go on through the +Prato Magno.</p> + +<p class="normal">As the crow flies, Florence was but a few leagues distant; but I +obviously would have to journey by side-paths, over hill and across +valley to avoid observation, and this would occupy at least two days, +unless my travels were permanently stopped by my being cut off by a +privateering party from the camp, or by any other untoward accident. +Neither contingency was unlikely, for the writ of the king ran barely +a league from the army, and the country was full of banditti. In fact, +for a half-pistole one might have had a priest's throat cut. I decided +on the former route. So muffling myself well in my cloak, for the wind +blew chill, with my sword resting in the loop of my arm, I set forward +at a round pace, and avoiding the camp, directed my steps towards +Bucine. As far as Chiani I knew the road. Beyond that there was +nothing but quagmire and swamp; still I had little doubt of finding my +way by the moon, which would soon show, and if, perchance, I fell in +with nighthawks, well then, there was little to be gained from me but +hard knocks; and it would be an opportunity to test the temper of the +blade I had purchased from Don Piero, the armourer.</p> + +<p class="normal">In this mind I pressed on, intending to lie at Bucine for the night, +or, if no better accommodation offered, to sleep as a soldier should, +wrapped in my cloak, with the sky for a roof. As I went on, I found I +was relying a little too much on my knowledge of the road, and a blue +mist, which rose from the ground, made it impossible to pick my way by +landmarks. Stumbling along, I took a good two hours to do what should +have been done in one, and, by the time I reached Chiani, began to +think it would be well to reconsider my decision in regard to making +Bucine that night. It was then that I suddenly remembered that Chiani +was held by a piquet of Swiss infantry, and any attempt to enter would +be impossible, as the gates were doubtless shut. I was a little put +out, for had I only recollected the fact before, I might have been +saved the extra mile or so of hard work I had to reach within a few +yards of Chiani, merely for the pleasure of turning back. The moon, +come out by this time, shone fitfully through the bank of clouds, +which was shifting uneasily overhead, and the wind, rising steadily, +marked rain. I stirred myself all the faster, for I was in no mind to +add a wetting to my misfortunes, and a drop or two of rain that caught +me, showed I had but little leisure to lose. I made out a narrow +cattle track, and hurried along this; but before I covered a mile the +moon was obscured, and the wind dropped. It now began to rain, and the +darkness was so thick, that I could only just follow the road. Soon +the track died away into nothing, and I found myself floundering, over +my ankles in mud, and up to the waist in wet rushes. At any moment I +might strike a quicksand, with which these marshes abound, so I used +my sword as a search-pole, stepping only where I found foot-hold, a +dozen inches or so below the surface of the bog. In this perplexity, +imagine my relief to see the blaze of a fire shoot up beyond a small +rising ground before me, and throw an arc of light into the darkness, +against which the falling rain glittered like fine wires of silver. I +shouted aloud and to my joy got an answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is there? What is the matter?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A traveller," I replied, "who has lost his way in this cursed swamp. +Whoever you are, you will make a friend and find a reward if you lead +me out of this."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come straight on, there is no danger beyond getting your feet wet."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are that already," I answered, and pressed on, having absolutely +to force my way through the wet rushes, which wound themselves round +me impeding my progress terribly. Moreover, so sticky was the slime +below, that I thought every moment it would pull the boots off my +feet. Struggling on in this manner for a hundred yards or more, guided +by the fire, and an occasional shout from my unknown friend, I at last +touched hard ground, and with a "Thank heaven!" got out of the swamp, +and found myself at the foot of the hillock, behind which the fire was +blazing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Which way to Bucine?" I called out.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you out of the swamp?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then come round the shoulder of the hill to your right, and follow +your nose. You will find shelter here. Bucine you could never reach +to-night, and a dog should not be out in this weather."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, friend," I muttered, and with a loud "thanks" to the apparently +hospitable unknown, I followed his directions, and rounding the +hillock, saw before me, spluttering in the rain, a huge fire of +pine-logs, at the entrance to a hut of the rudest description. Inside, +I perceived a sitting figure, over which the light from the fire +alternately cast a glare, and then left it in darkness. I made my way +to the open door, which hung back on hinges of rope, and entered +without further ceremony.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Humph!" snorted my host, without moving from his position. "I said it +was no night for a dog to be out, I did not say anything of a wolf."</p> + +<p class="normal">This change of tone was not so surprising, for dripping wet, covered +with mud, and white with fatigue, my general appearance was but little +calculated to re-assure any one. Yet, as I hung my cloak on a rough +wooden peg which caught my eye, I could not help laughing in mockery +as I answered:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wolves, friend, come to wolves' lairs."</p> + +<p class="normal">He took no notice of my remark; but pointing to a heap of rushes +opposite to him, said, "Sit down there." He then rose, and went +towards the fire with an unlit torch in his hand. This gave me some +opportunity of observing him. I saw he was of spare, but elastic +figure. His head was bare, and his white hair hung in matted locks +over a lean neck to his shoulders. His dress was fantastic, and +entirely out of place with his surroundings. It consisted of a tight +fitting jerkin of parti-coloured velvet, with puffed breeches to +match, pulled over thick black hose. On his feet were the ordinary +sandals of the peasantry, and, as he stooped to light the torch-wood, +I saw his face was seamed with wrinkles, and that his lips moved +rapidly, as if he was speaking, although no sound issued from them. He +did not delay about his business; but hastened in, and sticking the +torch in a hole in the floor between us, resumed his seat, and said +abruptly--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let me look at you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Apparently his scrutiny was satisfactory, and I did nothing to +interrupt him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hungry?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. All that I ask is to be allowed to rest here till to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is well, for I have no food to offer you; but here is some wine +in this skin."</p> + +<p class="normal">He reached to a corner and pulled out a small wineskin. This he placed +before me with the single word "drink."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, thanks." The whole manner and aspect of the man were so peculiar, +that, although I was much fatigued, I judged it prudent to decline. +His quick eye seemed to read my thoughts, for he laughed a little +bitterly as he said--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tush, man! There is no fear. You bear too long a sword to have a +purse worth the picking, and you are not supping," a look of hate +passed over his features as he dropped out slowly, "with the Borgia. +See, I will give you a toast--Revenge." He took a pull at the skin and +flung it to me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I drink to that," I said, tasting the wine in my turn. Here then was +another who, like me, sought for consolation in vengeance. We sat in +silence for some minutes, each absorbed in his own thoughts. The heat +from the fire had warmed the hut so, that the blue steam began to rise +from my damp clothes. My companion reclined on his elbow tracing some +diagram on the floor with a poniard, which from its shape was +evidently of Eastern make. The rain, which now increased in violence, +had almost quenched the log-fire, and was invading our shelter, for +the roof began to leak. There being no wind the torch burned steadily, +throwing sufficient light for us to distinguish each other. I began to +wonder what manner of man this was before me, dressed in a motley of +court-fool and peasant, and my curiosity was aroused to such an +extent, that for the time I forgot my own troubles. Nevertheless I +made no sign of inquiry, knowing there is no means so sure of +obtaining information as to seem not to desire it. My new friend +kept his eyes fixed on the point of his dagger, the muscles of his +queer-webbed face twitching nervously. At length he became conscious +of my scrutiny, for lifting his eyes, he looked me in the face, and +then made a motion of his hand towards the wine-skin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No more, thanks."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There will be that left for to-morrow before we start."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you also are a traveller?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you so put it; but I have been here for a week."</p> + +<p class="normal">"An odd retreat to choose."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Any hole will do for a rat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True; but we were wolves a moment ago," I smiled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not say I was," he replied drily, "but you looked wolf all over +when you came in. Give me your hand."</p> + +<p class="normal">I stretched out my hand, and he held my open palm near the torch, bent +over it, and examined the lines keenly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," he muttered half to himself, "strong fingers that can close +over a sword-hilt, a soldier too, and one who has seen wars. Too much +conscience ever to be great. You will never die a prince as Sforza +did. Stay--what do I see? A man changed to a wolf--no--wolf you will +never be. A bitter enemy, a woman who loves you, and a free heart for +yourself. Sorrow and danger, bale and ruth, then calm waters and +peace. There! Are you satisfied? If the devil does not upset this, it +is the map of your life. Can you read mine?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," I replied, withdrawing my hand, and somewhat surprised at the +general accuracy of this man's knowledge of my past. Yet, I could not +help crossing myself as I thought of his allusion to the foul fiend.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay!" he sneered, "cross yourself. Peter and Paul are old and blind. +They do not see. Pray if you like. God is too far above the stars to +hear you. Go on your knees and beat at the skies with your +lamentations. You will surely see the light of a seraph's wings. Do I +not know--have I not seen the deep? Some day you will know, too."</p> + +<p class="normal">He stopped as suddenly as he burst out, and betook himself to his old +trick of moving his lips rapidly, forming words without any sound. I +began to think I was with a madman, and rapidly cast up the chances of +a struggle. I was physically the stronger, but armed as he was, with +an unsheathed dagger, the odds were against me. Perhaps it would be +prudent to begin the assault myself, and taking him by surprise, +overpower him. When, however, I came to consider that I was in a +manner his guest, that he had shown me kindness, and given no signs of +personal violence, I was ashamed of my fears.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You say you are going to Bucine?" He asked the question in his usual +abrupt manner; but his tone was composed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It lies on my road."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And on mine, too. Shall we travel together? I could point out the +way."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Certainly. It is very good of you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, it is time to sleep, and the torch has burnt to an end."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he spoke he stretched himself out at full length, and, turning his +back to me, appeared to sink at once into slumber. I watched him for +some time by the embers of the torch, wondering if I was wise in +accepting his companionship, and then, overpowered by fatigue, lost +myself in sleep, heedless of the rain, which dripped in twenty places +through the roof.</p> + +<p class="normal">I slept profoundly, until aroused by my shoulder being gently shaken, +and looking up, beheld my host, as I must call him, bending over me. I +thought I had slept for a few minutes only, and saw to my surprise +that it was well in the morning, and the sun shone brightly. All +traces of cloud were gone, though soft billows of mist rolled over the +olive gardens, and vineyards of Chianti grape, that stretched towards +Montevarchi.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heavens, man! How you sleep! I was right when I hinted you had a good +conscience."</p> + +<p class="normal">I scrambled up with a hasty Good-morning; and a few minutes +afterwards, having finished the remains of the wine in the skin, we +started off in the direction of Bucine. My companion had politely +never inquired my name, and I had been equally reticent. He placed on +his head a silken fools'-cap, and the bells on it jingled incessantly +as he walked along with a jaunty air, at a pace that was remarkable +for a man of his age. He seemed to have lost the melancholy that +possessed him during the night, and conversed in so cheerful and +entertaining a manner, that in spite of myself, I was interested and +withdrawn from my unhappy thoughts. He kept up his mood to Bucine +where, notwithstanding our strange appearance, we attracted, to my +relief, less attention than I imagined we should draw.</p> + +<p class="normal">With appetites sharpened by our walk, we did full justice to the meal +I ordered at the only hostel in the place. Here I played host, as a +return for my entertainment, and in conversation my acquaintance said +that he was bound for Florence. I told him that also was my point, and +invited him to bear me company on the road, to which he willingly +agreed. I made an attempt here to hire a horse; but not even a donkey +was procurable, all available carriage having been seized upon for the +army. So once more descending the hill on which Bucine is situated, we +forded the river and continued our journey.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the albergo we heard that a body of troops were foraging along the +banks of the Arno, and resolved to make a detour, and, crossing Monte +Luco, to keep on the sides of the Chianti hills, if necessary avoiding +Montevarchi altogether. My companion maintained his high spirits until +we reached the top of the spur of Monte Luco, known to the peasantry +as the Virgin's Cradle. Here we stopped to breathe and observe the +view. I looked back across the Chiana valley, and let my eye run over +the landscape which stretched as far as the Marches. In the blue +splash, to the south of the rugged and conical hill of Cortona, I +recognised Trasimene, and beyond it lay Perugia. I turned to call my +friend's attention to the scene, and at first did not perceive where +he was. Another glance showed him standing on the edge of the cliff, a +little to my left, shaking his clenched hand in the direction of +Perugia, whilst on his face was marked every sign of sorrow and hate.</p> + +<p class="normal">Curious to see what this would result in, I made no attempt to attract +his attention, but in a moment he shook off the influence which +possessed him, and rejoined me with a calm brow. We thereupon +continued our journey with this difference, that my companion was now +as silent as hitherto he had been cheerful. My own dark thoughts too +came back to roost, and in a gloom we descended the Cradle, pushing +our way through the myrtle with which it was covered, and walked on, +holding Montevarchi to our right.</p> + +<p class="normal">We kept a sharp look-out for the foragers, and seeing no signs of +them, made up our minds, after some consultation, to risk going to +Montevarchi, which we reached without mishap a little after noon. It +was not my intention to halt there more than an hour or so, which I, +hoping I would have better luck than at Bucine, intended to spend in +trying to hire an animal of some kind to ride.</p> + +<p class="normal">We stopped at the Bell Inn, near the gate, and after a deal of +bargaining, which consumed a good hour, the landlord agreed to hire me +his mule for two crowns. The rascal wanted ten at first. Just as the +matter was settled a dozen or so of troopers rode in, and, spying the +mule, in the twinkling of an eye claimed it for carriage purposes.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was in vain the landlord protested that it was his last beast, that +it had been hired to the noble cavaliere, meaning me, and many other +things beside. The soldiers were deaf to his entreaties, and although +I had more than a mind to draw on the villains, I had the good sense +to restrain myself, for the odds were too many against me. I therefore +hid my chagrin under a smile, and the mule was led away amidst the +lamentations of mine host, who was further put out of pocket by a +gallon or so of wine, which the troopers consumed, doubtless in honour +of the prize they had taken, neglecting in the true fashion of the +<i>compagnes grandes</i> to pay for it. It was a fit lesson to the +landlord, for had he not, in his cupidity, haggled for an hour over +the hire of the animal, he might have been the richer by two crowns +and still owned his mule. Thus it is that avarice finds its own +punishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">On going off, the leader of the troop, a man whom I knew by sight and +by reputation as a swashbuckler, if ever there was one, made me a mock +salute, saying, in allusion to my quietness in surrendering my claim +to the mule, "Adieu, Messer Feather-Cap--may your courage grow as long +as your sword." This taunt I swallowed ruefully, and immediately set +about my departure. My companion, who was not mixed up in the +altercation, joined me silently, and we followed in the direction +taken by the troopers, pursued by the maledictions of the innkeeper, +who vented his spleen on us as the indirect cause of his misfortune.</p> + +<p class="normal">The foragers, who owing to the warmth of the weather had all removed +their breast-plates, which were slung to their saddles, were going at +a walking pace; and it was amusing to see how the mere sight of their +presence cleared the streets. Noting, however, that they did not +appear to be bent on personal injury, we did not think it necessary to +go out of our course, or delay our departure until they left the town, +and as we walked fast and they went slowly, by the time they reached +the main square, we were not more than a dozen yards behind them.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment we noticed the figure of a woman, apparently blind, for +she was guided by a little dog attached to a string. The poor creature +was crossing the pavement almost in front of the leader of the troop, +and as she was right in the path of the troopers, we attempted to warn +her by shouting, and she stooped irresolutely, hardly knowing which +way to turn. The troop leader, without making any effort to avoid her, +rode on in a pitiless manner, and she was flung senseless to the +ground. In this her hood fell back, uncovering her face, and my +companion, suddenly uttering a loud cry, ran forward, and seizing her +in his arms, began to address her with every term of endearment, in +the manner of a father to his child.</p> + +<p class="normal">The troopers halted--discipline it will be observed was not great--and +one of them with rough sympathy called to my friend to bear the girl, +for so she looked, to the fountain, at the same time that their +commander gave a loud order to go on, and to leave off looking at a +fool and a beggar. I had, however, made up my mind there was a little +work for me, and, drawing my sword, stepped up to the swashbuckler's +bridle, and asked for a five minutes' interview there and then.</p> + +<p class="normal">He burst into a loud laugh, "<i>Corpo di Bacco!</i> Here is Messer +Feather-Cap with his courage grown. Here! two of you bind him to the +mule."</p> + +<p class="normal">But the men with him were in no mood to obey, and one of them openly +said--</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is always thus with the ancient Brico."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you intend to give me the pleasure I seek," I asked, "or has the +ancient Brico taken off his heart with his corselet?"</p> + +<p class="normal">For a moment it looked as if he were about to ride at me: but my sword +was ready, and I was standing too close to him for any such treachery +to be carried off. Flinging the reins, therefore, to the neck of his +horse, he dismounted slowly and drew his sword. A number of the +townsfolk, attracted by the scene, so far forgot their fear of the +foragers as to collect around us, and in a few moments a ring was +formed, one portion of which was occupied by the troopers.</p> + +<p class="normal">Brico took his stand so as to place the sun in my eyes, a manifest +unfairness, for we should have fought north and south; yet I made no +objection, and unclasping my cloak let it fall to the ground behind +me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>À vous!</i>" he called out, and the next moment we engaged in the lower +circle, my opponent, for all his French cry, adopting the Italian +method, and using a dagger to parry. For a few seconds we tried to +feel each other, and I was delighted with the balance of my sword. It +did not take me a half minute to see that he was a child in my hands, +and I began to rapidly consider whether it would be worth the candle +to kill him or not. Brico, who had commenced the assault with a stamp +of his foot, and a succession of rapid thrusts in the lower lines, +became aware of his weakness as soon as I did, and began to back +slowly. I twice pricked him over the heart, and his hand began to +shake, so that he could hardly hold his weapon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Make way there," I called out mockingly, "the ancient would like to +run a little."</p> + +<p class="normal">Maddened by this taunt, he pulled himself together and lunged +recklessly at me in tierce; it was an easy parry, and with a strong +beat I disarmed him. He did not wait, but with the rapidity of a hare +turned and fled, not so fast, however, but that I was able to +accelerate his departure with a stroke from the flat of my sword.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Adieu, ancient Brico!" I called out after him as he ran on, followed +by a howl of derision from the crowd, in which his own men joined.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was lucky that I adopted the course of disarming him, for had the +affair ended otherwise, I doubt not but that the men-at-arms would +have felt called upon to avenge their leader, poltroon as he was. As +it happened they enjoyed his discomfiture, and an old trooper called +out to me--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well fought, signore--you should join us--there is room for your +sword under the banner of Tremouille. What--no--I am sorry; but go in +peace, for you have rid us of a cur."</p> + +<p class="normal">Saying this, they rode off, one of their number leading the ancient's +horse by the bridle.</p> + +<p class="normal">I turned now to look for my companion. He was nowhere to be seen, and +on inquiry I found that he had lifted the girl up, and supporting her +on his arm, the two, followed by the dog, had turned down by the +church, and were now not in view. It would, no doubt, have been easy +to follow, and as easy to trace them; but I reasoned that the man must +have purposely done this to avoid me; and after all it was no business +of mine. I therefore returned my sword to its sheath and walked on.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_05" href="#div1Ref_05">D'ENTRANGUES SCORES A POINT.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Before I had gone fifty paces, however, I became aware that there was +some law left in Montevarchi, for a warning cry made me look over my +shoulder, and I saw a party of the city-guards, who had discreetly +kept out of the way when Brico and I crossed swords, hurrying towards +me. The same glance showed me that the ancient was already in their +hands, and was being dragged along with but little regard to his +comfort; and I felt sure that now, as the troop was gone, the citizens +would wreak their vengeance on this hen-roost robber, and he would be +lucky if he escaped with life. As for me, the catchpolls being out, +they no doubt reasoned that they might as well net me. To stop and +resist, would only result in my being ultimately overpowered, and +perhaps imprisoned; to yield without a blow meant very much the same +thing, and, in the shake of a drake's tail, I resolved to run, and to +trust for escape to my turn for speed. So I set off at my roundest +pace, followed by the posse, and the rabble who but a moment before +were cheering me.</p> + +<p class="normal">More than once I felt inclined to turn, and end the matter for myself; +but the fact that this might mean laying aside all chance of settling +D'Entrangues, urged me to my best efforts. Some fool made an attempt +to stop me, and I was compelled to slash him across the face with my +sword, as a warning not to interfere with matters with which he had no +concern. I hardly knew where I was going; but dashed down a little +bye-street, and was, after a hundred yards, brought to a halt by a +dead wall. I could barely reach the top of it with my hands, luckily +this was enough to allow me to draw myself up, and drop over to the +other side, just as the police reached within ten feet of me. I did +not stop to take notes of their action, but was off as soon as my feet +touched ground, and found to my joy that I was close to one of the +unrepaired breaches in the city wall, made six months ago by +Tremouille's cannon. Through this I rushed, and scrambling down a +slope of broken stone and mortar, found I would be compelled to climb +down very nearly a hundred feet of what looked like the sheer face of +a rock, before I could reach level ground. There was not even a goat +track. My agility was, however, spurred on by hearing shouts behind +me, and preferring to risk death in attempting the descent, rather +than fall into the hands of messer the podesta, I chanced the venture, +and partly by holding on to the tough broom roots, partly slipping, +and aided by Providence and Our Lady of San Spirito, to whom I +hurriedly cast up a prayer, I managed to reach the bottom, and fell, +exhausted and breathless, into a cistus hedge.</p> + +<p class="normal">I was too beaten to go another yard, and had my pursuers only followed +up, must have become an easy prey. As it was I heard them reach the +breach, where they came to a stop, all shouting and babbling at the +same time. One or two, bolder than the others, attempted to descend +the ledge of rock, down which I escaped, but its steepness damped +their courage. They, however, succeeded in loosening some of the +débris so that it fell over the cliff, and a few of the stones dropped +very close to me; but by good hap I escaped, or else this would never +have been written. One great block indeed, just passed over my head, +and I vowed an altar-piece to Our Lady of San Spirito, who alone could +have diverted that which was coming straight to my destruction; and I +may add I duly kept my word. After a time the voices above began to +grow fainter, and to my delight I found that the citizens, thinking it +impossible I should have escaped like a lizard amongst the rocks, were +harking back, and ranging to the right and left. I waited until all +sound died away, and cautiously peeped out. The coast was clear. I had +recovered my wind, and without more waste of time, I rose and pressed +on in the direction of the hills, determined to chance no further +adventures near the towns. Indeed, I had crowded more incident into +the past few hours, than into the previous five-and-thirty years of my +life, and my sole object, at present, was to reach Florence without +further let or hindrance.</p> + +<p class="normal">Keeping the vineyards between me and the town, I avoided all +observation, and at a small wayside inn, filled a wallet which I +purchased, with food and a bottle of the rough country wine, so that +there might be no necessity for my visiting a human habitation during +the remainder of my journey. With the wallet swung over my shoulder, +an hour or so later I was ascending the slopes of Mount St. Michele, +cursing the fallen pine-needles, which made my foothold so slippery, +that I slid rather than walked.</p> + +<p class="normal">Turning the corner of a bluff, I suddenly came upon half-a-dozen men, +reclining under the pines in various attitudes of ease. They sprang up +at once on seeing me, and one of them, presenting his arquebus, called +on me to halt.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must pay our toll before you pass, Signore," said the man, who +appeared to be the leader of the party.</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you please," I replied, "but my only metal is cold steel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Corpo di Bacco!</i>" he exclaimed. "I thought I knew you, and your +voice makes me certain. Surely I address the Cavaliere di Savelli?"</p> + +<p class="normal">I bowed, a little confused at the thought of my disguise being so +easily penetrated, and the bandit went on, turning to his comrades--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Put down your gun, Spalle, this gentleman is one of us, and--hawks do +not peck out hawks' eyes. Signore," he added, "you pass free. I had +the honour to serve in your <i>condotta</i> during the Siena war, and +doubtless you remember Piero Luigi?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do," I said, and the memory of a bag of florins which accompanied +this same Luigi on his disappearance one fine day came to my mind. I +had not however seen the man for three years, but he was apparently of +those who do not forget faces. As it turned out, however, he had seen +me very recently without my knowing it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is a pleasure to think I am not forgotten, and in a way, +Excellency, you have paid your footing." The rascal was alluding to my +stolen florins. "To think," he continued, "that you should have joined +us! But I suppose it was the dice, and, to be sure, the rubies were +worth ten thousand. You should have realised at once and vanished; but +experience will come, and mayhap another chance. I saw the trial, +Excellency, and we do not war with the profession, least of all with a +new recruit. You are free to pass, or, if you prefer it, to accept our +hospitality for a while."</p> + +<p class="normal">I declined the proffered invitation with a brief thanks, and went on, +my blood boiling at the impertinence of the scoundrel who so +familiarly claimed me as one of his own kind. Innocent myself, I was +tasting to the dregs all the humiliation of the guilty, and it was +only perhaps a lucky chance that saved me from the rope, or the still +worse fate of the galleys at Pisa. Turn which way I would, my own +country would never be a country for me again. I was cut out from my +order, my infamy would be known wherever my name was heard, and my +associates would henceforth have to be the vilest of mankind. Had I +committed a murder, or even an act of treachery in war, that could +have been wiped out; but to have sunk to the condition of a common +thief, this was ignominy beyond repair. I therefore resolved, as soon +as I pushed matters to a conclusion with D'Entrangues, that I should +leave Italy and seek a new life in the strange countries beyond the +seas which Messer Columbus, the navigator, had discovered, and there, +my past being unknown, perhaps find a future of peace or the rest +which fears no disturbing from this world.</p> + +<p class="normal">My original idea had been to seek the dominions of the Turk, but they +were too close to my shame; even the New World was hardly far enough. +So I planned, and so doubtless would I have acted had not +circumstances worked to give me back what I lost, as I thought +hopelessly, and to bring home to my mind the certainty of that tender +mercy of God, of which we on earth take too little account.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was late in the evening before I halted and ate my dinner under an +overhanging rock, sheltered from the north wind by a clump of pines. +When I finished I rolled myself up in my cloak, and fatigue, together +with a good conscience, combined to send me to a sleep as sound as it +was refreshing. I was up before the sun and continued my way, +determined to reach Florence by evening. I took no particular notice +of the view, where I could see to my right the Prato Magno, and to my +left all the valley of the Greve; but kept my eyes before me, intent +on my thoughts.</p> + +<p class="normal">At length, when passing Impruneta, where the black virgin is, Florence +came in sight. There was a slight haze which prevented me from seeing +as clearly as I could wish; but I plainly made out the houses on the +banks of the Arno, Arnolfo's Tower, the Palace of the Signory, the +Cathedral, the Bargello, and the unfinished Pitti Palace, whilst +beyond rose the convent-topped hill of Senario, where the Servites +have their monastery.</p> + +<p class="normal">As I looked, there was little of admiration in my heart, although the +scene was fair enough; but I could give no mind to anything beyond the +fact that I was at last within measurable distance of D'Entrangues, +and that in a few hours my hand was like to be at his throat.</p> + +<p class="normal">With these thoughts there somehow mingled up the face of Madame, and +the scene of our last meeting. I put this aside, however, with a +strong hand, and determined to think no more of her, although no such +recollection could be anything but pleasant and sweet. Until I met her +I had managed well enough without womankind, and for the future I +would leave bright eyes alone. Yet I knew I was the better man for +holding the privilege of her friendship. However, she had passed out +of my life, and across the seas I would have other things to think of +than the memory of my platonic friendship with Doris D'Entrangues.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was close upon sunset when I entered the San Piero Gate, and found +myself in Florence, and in a difficulty at the same time, in +consequence of my wearing a sword. I luckily, however, remembered that +La Palisse, the French leader, was then in the city, and explaining +that I was from the army at Arezzo with a message to him, inquired +particularly his abode, which I was told was in the palace of the +exiled Medici in the Via Larga. It so happened that La Palisse was in +constant communication with Tremouille, and this and my confident +bearing imposed upon the guards. I supplemented my argument with a +couple of crowns, and they let me pass without further parley. It will +thus be seen that whatever the regulations may have been, they were +easily broken. Indeed I found later on that they were, even at that +time, a dead letter, and that the zeal of the guards was merely +inspired by the prospect of making something out of me, which they did +on this occasion. I knew Florence fairly well, having been there under +circumstances very different to the present; but as I hurried along +the crowded streets, I began to feel I was somewhat uncertain as to +whither the roads led. I judged it prudent, however, not to make +inquiries, but kept my eyes on the sharp look-out for an hostel +suitable to my purse, which was diminishing at a fearful rate. I +stopped for a while at a street stall to satisfy my hunger with a cake +of wheat and a glass of milk, a wholesome but unpalatable beverage, +and entered into conversation with the stall-keeper. It came out that +I was in a difficulty about a lodging, and the man very civilly told +me where one could be procured, and added to his kindness, seeing I +was apparently a stranger to the place, by directing his son, a small +bare-legged urchin, to guide me to the house, which he said was an old +palace of the Albizzi, that had passed into the hands of the banker +Nobili, and was rented out in tenements.</p> + +<p class="normal">Heaven only knows through what bye-lanes and alleys the imp led me, +chattering like an ape the whilst; but at last we reached the house +which lay in the street di Pucci. An arrangement was soon entered into +with the person in charge, and I paid in advance for two weeks the +small rent asked for the room I took. I selected the room, because +there was in it some furniture, such as a bed, a table and a couple of +chairs, which, I was informed with some emphasis, had been seized from +the last tenant in default of rent. I sent the boy away rejoicing, and +was surprised to find that the housekeeper did not depart as well; but +this worthy soon made it clear to me that a further payment was +requisite on account of the furniture. I was too tired to haggle, so +paid him the three broad pieces he wanted, and bid him get me some +candles. He returned after a little delay with what I needed, and I +may say at once that under a rough exterior I found this man, with all +his faults, was capable on occasions of displaying true kindliness of +heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">I would like to pay him this tribute, for subsequently, as will be +seen, we had a grave difference of opinion which ended in disaster for +him. At the time this happened I could not but condemn him strongly, +for in order to further a plot in which he was engaged, he tried to +induce me to crime, and when, by a happy chance, I was able to +frustrate his design, joined in an attempt to murder me. I fully +believe, however, now that I can look back on affairs coolly, that, in +common with others of his age, he thought it no wrong to adopt any +means to further a political plot, whilst in the every day observances +of life he displayed, in an underhand manner, much virtue.</p> + +<p class="normal">When he was gone I sat down to count my money, and found I had but ten +crowns in all the world. With prudence however this would last some +time. Still it was gall and wormwood to me to have to weigh each item +of my disbursement. It would be necessary as well to renew my attire, +which, with the exception of the leather buff coat, was almost ruined +by the hard wear it had been exposed to on my journey. I sat down to +rest, but now that I had reached Florence a reaction set in, and +assailed by a full sense of my position I gave way to despair. In a +little time I became more composed; but it was impossible to keep +still with the fire in my heart, and I sallied into the street, taking +care to note landmarks, so as to find my way back. In this manner I +must have gone for about a quarter of a mile, when I was brought to a +standstill by the coming of a gay party down the street, in the +direction opposite to mine, all marching by the light of many torches, +to the music of a band. The musicians led the procession, which was +flanked on each side by a number of flambeaux bearers, and a retinue +of servants, all bearing swords despite the law.</p> + +<p class="normal">The merry-makers walked in pairs, each lady resting her fingers +on her cavalier's arm, and all laughing and talking with the utmost +good-humour. I was compelled to draw myself to the wall to admit of +their passing, and whilst thus giving them the road, the light fell +brightly on me, and I became an object of alarm to some of the fair, +who gave utterance to pretty little exclamations of terror, with the +result that I came in for haughty looks from the gallants.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the middle of the promenaders were two ladies, who, apparently not +having partners of the opposite sex, had linked themselves together, +and the attention of the taller of these was bestowed upon me for a +moment, and it was not flattering. As she wore a mask, I could see +little of her face beyond the half contemptuous look in her eyes which +were dark as night, and a short curl of the upper lip, with which she +no doubt intended to express the same sentiment as her glance. I +waited calmly until the whole party passed on, admiring the grace of +the demoiselle who had favoured me with her scornful survey. I watched +them until they turned off into another street, and then went on, idly +wondering who the people were, and more especially the dark-eyed lady.</p> + +<p class="normal">The street behind me was in gloom, a few yards in front of me a lamp +hanging from a wall threw a dim radiance; beyond that there was gloom +again. Through the darkness before me I heard the sound of hurrying +feet, coming in my direction, and almost before I was aware of it, the +newcomer and I fell into the circle of the light, and met face to +face.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was D'Entrangues! He knew me as if by instinct.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You!" he exclaimed, and on the instant his sword was out. I said +nothing. I was blind, mad with anger. My whole soul hungered for his +life as I thrust at him, and in doing so slipped my foot over the edge +of the narrow pavement and fell heavily. He was on me at once; +something flashed in his left hand, and I felt a stinging sensation +all over my side. He did not wait to see the result of his blow. +Perhaps he made too sure, and springing over me, ran into the darkness +beyond. I scrambled up at once, and made an attempt to follow; but my +brain began to reel, and I was compelled to lean against the wall to +support myself.</p> + +<p class="normal">The clash of steel had however aroused some of the inhabitants, and +hearing footsteps approaching I pulled myself together with an effort, +and making across the road, turned back to my lodging. Here again I +felt too weak to proceed without help, and sank to the ground, knowing +I was bleeding freely. By this time two or three men came up, and +after surveying the spot under the street-lamp, crossed over in my +direction. The rays of a lantern held by one of them discovered me, +and they hastened up. I begged the favour of their assistance to my +abode, saying I had been stabbed, and this the worthy citizens readily +accorded; and not content with that, when I reached my room, gave me +all help in dressing my injury. The dagger, which I had to extract, +had gone through the folds of my cloak, but was turned by a steel +buckle on the strap of my buff coat, and had cut through the coat and +down my side, inflicting an ugly flesh wound. This in itself was not +dangerous; but I had lost much blood, and when the kind citizens had +gone, in making an attempt to rise from my chair, I had only just time +to reach my bed before I became unconscious.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_06" href="#div1Ref_06">BERNABO CECI.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">I cannot say for what time I lay thus bereft of sense; but on coming +to myself I saw the candle in my room was all but spent, and the wick +flaring in a long flame. I looked to see if my wound had broken out +a-bleeding afresh, and was glad to find this was not the case, and +that the bandages were in their position. The small effort, however, +nearly set me off once more. The room swam round, the bright flame of +the candle dwindled down to a little star, no bigger than a pin point, +and then began slowly to increase in size as the faintness passed off, +and I was able to see clearly again. Any attempt to move gave me +agony, and, closing my eyes, I lay still. I heard the candle expire +with a splutter, and leave me in darkness. Then I began to get +light-headed, and unable to control my thoughts. Somehow my mind +travelled back to the days of my childhood, and the figure of the only +living relative I can remember, my father, came before me, standing +just as he was wont to stand, when about to give me a lesson in the +exercise of the sword, and repeating a warning he never ceased to din +into my ears. "Learning," he said, "is of little use to a gentleman. +You need not know more of books than a Savelli should, but in +horsemanship, and in the use of the sword----" he finished with a +gesture more expressive than words. And truly old Ercole di Savelli +was never a bookworm, although he ended a stormy life in his bed.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was the son of that Baptista di Savelli, who was ruined with the +Prefetti di Vico, and other noble houses during the time of Eugene IV. +Such estates as Baptista had, were transferred with the person of his +sister Olympia, who married into the Chigi, to that family, and with +them the custodianship of the Conclaves. Baptista di Savelli left his +son nothing but a few acres. The latter tried to woo Fortune in the +Spanish war, but did not obtain her favours. He returned to Italy, and +poor as Job though he was, hesitated not to marry for love, and engage +in a lawsuit with Amilcar Chigi. What between the one and the other, +Ercole was ruined in a hand turn. His wife died in giving birth to me, +and disgusted with the world, he retired to a small estate near Colza +in the Bergamasque. There he devoted himself to a pastoral life, and +to bringing me up as a soldier, until, one fine day, having contracted +a fever, he received absolution and died like a gentleman and a +Christian.</p> + +<p class="normal">I followed the profession for which I was intended, joining the levy +of the Duke of Urbino, and sharing in all the ups and downs of the +times, until Fortune did me a good turn at Fornovo. Subsequently +things went well with me, and although I had to mortgage my narrow +lands, to raise and provide equipment for the men, with whom I joined +Tremouille, I was in expectation of a full reward, when I was so +suddenly stricken down.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thinking of these things in the dark, tormented by a devouring thirst, +which I was unable to quench, haunted by the impression that my last +hour was come, and that I should die here like a dog, without even the +last rites of the church, I fell into a frenzy, and began to shout +aloud, and rave as in a delirium. D'Entrangues came before me, wearing +a smile of triumph, and I strove impotently to reach. Then the whole +room seemed to be full of my enemy, from every corner I could see the +white face, the red hair, and the smile of successful malice. The +figures, each one exactly like the other, floated over me, stood by my +side, sometimes brought their faces within an inch of mine, until I +imagined I felt a flame-like breath beating on me. Finally they +flitted backwards and forwards, rapidly and more rapidly, until there +was nothing but a mass of moving shadow around me, which gradually +resolved itself again into a single form. I strove to reach for my +sword to strike at it, but my arms were paralysed. So through the +livelong night the phantom stood at the foot of my bed, until the +white morning came in at my window, and I fell into a sleep.</p> + +<p class="normal">When I awoke, I found the old intendant of the building bending over +me. The fever had abated but the thirst still remained. "Water," I +gasped through my parched lips, and he gave me to drink.</p> + +<p class="normal">To cut a long story short, I arranged with this man for such +attendance as I should want, and to do him justice Ceci--for that was +his name--performed his part of the contract, getting me my food, +attending to the dressing of my wound, to which he applied a most +soothing salve, and such other offices a helpless person must expect. +He did not trouble me much with his presence during the earlier part +of my illness, but came as occasion required him, and, when he had +performed his work, left me to my reflections.</p> + +<p class="normal">I may note here that I never again saw the people who helped me when I +was wounded. Having assisted me to my lodging, and aided me to dress +my hurt, as I have said, they departed, and apparently gave me no +further thought. This I am persuaded was not due to unkindly feeling, +but to prudence, and a wish to avoid being mixed up in an affair such +as mine appeared to be; for the times were such, that it was better +for a man's head to be unknown to the Magnifici Signori of Florence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Subsequently, when things changed with me, I caused public cry to be +made, requesting the worthy citizens to come forward; but my attempt +was of no avail, beyond producing a half-dozen or so of rascal +impostors, who swore to helping me, under circumstances that never +occurred, on the off chance of hitting a nail on the head, and +obtaining a reward. But this was long after my illness, and the block +in the Bargello may have, since that time, been a resting place for +the heads of the good Samaritans for all I can say. I took a longer +time in mending than I thought I should, for an inflammation set in, +the fever came back, and when that was passed I recovered strength but +slowly. It was at this time, however, that I discovered the advantage +of reading, having up to now borne only too well in mind my father's +saying on that subject.</p> + +<p class="normal">I began with Poliziano's Orfeo, a poor affair, and then procured, to +my delight, a translation of Plutarch's Lives. Both these books were +obtained with the greatest difficulty, so old Ceci, the attendant +said, from the library of a great Florentine noble, in which a nephew +of his was employed in copying manuscripts, and the old man charged me +an entire double florin for the use of the latter alone; an +expenditure I grudged at first; but which I would have willingly paid +twice over before I finished the volume. I inquired the name of the +nobleman; but Ceci was not inclined to tell me, and I gathered that +the owner was probably unaware that his books were taking an airing, +and enabling his library-scribe to turn a dishonest penny. On the +binding of the Plutarch was pricked a coat-of-arms, a cross azure on a +field argent, with four nails azure; but I could not, for the life of +me, remember this device, although I had served in every part of Italy +except Rome. Finally it came to my mind, that the bearings, no doubt, +belonged to some merchant prince of Florence, and would therefore be +unlikely to see anything more of fighting than a street riot, and +therefore I dismissed the subject.</p> + +<p class="normal">I did not neglect, whilst lying in enforced idleness, to take such +steps as I could to discover the whereabouts of D'Entrangues, and +specially instructed old Ceci to make inquiries of the followers of La +Palisse. He brought me news in a couple of days, that the Frenchman +had left Florence a fortnight ago, and it was understood he was going +to join the army of Cesare Borgia, that cursed serpent who was lifting +his head so high in the Romagna. This was ill news indeed, for I had +been lying helpless for close upon a month; but I was on the mend at +last, and resolved to follow him as soon as I had strength to travel.</p> + +<p class="normal">During my illness I had frequently thought of madame, and with the +thoughts of her, there mingled recollections of the dark eyes of the +lady who had looked at me through her mask, on the night I was +stabbed. I could think of madame in no way but with a kindly feeling; +but strange as it may seem, any recollection of the other made my +heart beat, and I would have given much even to have obtained another +glance at her. In the meantime, however, my first business was to try +and replenish my funds, for my supplies were almost exhausted by the +drain made upon them during my illness.</p> + +<p class="normal">Old Ceci, the intendant, had in his way formed a sort of attachment +for me, and now that I was better, generally spent an hour or so with +me daily in converse. One day I let out some hint of my condition, and +Ceci, after a little beating about the bush, approached me with a +proposal.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Signore," he said, "there are those in Florence who would like things +changed. We want our Medici back; but we want also a few good swords, +and I could tell you of a way to fill your purse."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Say on," I replied, and the old man having first bound me to secrecy, +informed me that certain notables in Florence wanted a good sword or +two, to rid them of a great political opponent, in order to pave the +way for the return of the Medici; and without mentioning names in any +way, which, he said, would be given to me later, proposed that I +should undertake the task.</p> + +<p class="normal">I realised at once that his suggestion meant nothing short of +assassination, and saw that my old acquaintance was apparently up to +the ears in a political plot. My first idea was to spurn the +suggestion with indignation; but reflecting that it would be better to +know more, and by this means, if possible, save a man from being +murdered in cold blood; I affected to treat the matter seriously, and +replied that I was as yet unfit for active work; but that as soon as I +was better I would discuss the subject again. He then departed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Perhaps the time will come when the minds of men will shrink with +horror from crime, even for the sake of a good object, and however +much I loathed the proposal made to me, I could not but recollect that +the noblest names of Milan were concerned in the Olgiati conspiracy, +and that a Pontiff had supported the Pazzi attempt on the Medici. This +being so, there was excuse for Ceci and his leaders, whoever they +were; but my whole soul was wrath in me at the thought that I had been +deemed capable of doing the business of a common bravo, and if it were +not for the reason stated above, I would have flung the old +conspirator out of the room. This insult also had to go down +indirectly to D'Entrangues, and as I grew better, my desire to settle +with him rose to fever-heat. The question, however, was my resources. +Turn which way I would, there seemed to be no way of replenishing +them. The idea presented itself to me to join the Borgia, who with all +his faults was ever ready to take a long sword into his pay. But the +man was so great a monster of iniquity, that, even to gratify my +vengeance, I could not bring myself to accept the gold of St. +Valentino.</p> + +<p class="normal">There were others to whom I could apply, such as Malatesta or De la +Rovere; but amongst them I would be known, and the burden of my shame +too great to bear. After all, it would perhaps be better to seek to +fill my purse in Florence, and let my vengeance sleep for a while. It +would be all the sweeter when it came.</p> + +<p class="normal">With these ideas in my head, I was sitting one afternoon at the little +window of my room, putting a finishing touch to the edge of the +dagger, which D'Entrangues had left with, or rather in me, and +congratulating myself that the blade was not a poisoned one, when I +heard, as from a distance a hum of voices, which gradually swelled +into a great roar, and above this the clanging of a bell with a +peculiar discordant note. Almost at the same time old Ceci bustled +into my room, evidently in a state of high excitement, and called +out--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Messer Donati--Messer Donati! It is to be war--war!"</p> + +<p class="normal">I should add here that I had judged it prudent to take another name on +entering Florence, and adopted the first one that struck me, although +I afterwards thought that Donati was not quite the name to win favour +with the Florentines, amongst whom the memory of Messer Corso was +still green, although so many years had passed since he was done with. +Whether I let my own name out or not during my illness I am unable to +say; at any rate, Ceci never gave me any such hint. The news the old +man brought was not unexpected by me, yet I caught a touch of his +excitement and answered--</p> + +<p class="normal">"War--where? Tell me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is this way, signore; Naples has risen, and the Great Captain has +driven D'Aubigny out of Calabria, all the Romagna has gone from Cesare +as that," he waved his hand as if throwing a feather in the air.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Holy Father has cast his interdict on Florence, and Pisa is +burning the Val di Nievole."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The devil!" I exclaimed, "this is more than I thought. The interdict +is bad, Messer Ceci."</p> + +<p class="normal">He grinned as he answered, "Bad for the Pope. Medici or no Medici we +will not have a priest interfering in Florence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see," I said, "you are Florentine first, and conspirator +afterwards; but how do the French stand?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"With us, for we pay. It is said, however, that things are uncertain +with them, that Monsignore d'Amboise, who is now Cardinal of Rouen, +has gone to Rome, and that Tremouille is awaiting the king."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The king! Louis is at Maçon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, Louis himself, and the Lord knows how many barons besides, with +pedigrees as long as their swords, who will eat up our corn, and +pillage our vineyards from the Alps to the Adriatic. But I came here +to ask, signore, if you will come with me to see. It is hurry and make +haste for I cannot wait. The Carroccio has left St. John's."</p> + +<p class="normal">I had almost recovered my full strength, and was accustomed to walk +out daily at dusk in order to avoid observation, whilst at the same +time I could by doing so exercise my muscles; yet at first I felt +inclined to decline Ceci's invitation, alleging weakness as my excuse, +for my anger was still warm against him on account of his proposals to +me. Reflecting, however, that if I offended him, it would probably +fatally injure any prospect I had of saving the person whom the +conspirators intended to kill, I thought it best to affect a +friendliness I did not feel, and changing my mind in regard to +accompanying him, slipped on my sword, and followed the old man +downstairs. We hastened as fast as we could to the great square. The +people were swarming out of the houses, and the streets were full of a +hurrying throng, all directing their steps to the point, whence we +could hear the bellowing of the mob, echoed with answering cheers by +those making towards the place of assembly. Around us there was a +murmur like that of millions of bees, as men, women, and children, +jostled their way to the Palace of the Signory. My companion, who +stopped every now and again to open his jaws as wide as the mouth of a +saddle-bag, and give forth a yell, hustled along at a great pace, and +I made after him with scarcely less speed.</p> + +<p class="normal">By good fortune, and a considerable amount of pushing, we made our way +through the press, which appeared to me to be composed entirely of +elbows, and at last reached the market-place. Here the crowd behind us +slowly drove us forwards, and finally gave us the advantage of a good +position. The square was lined with men-at-arms and stout citizens, +with boar-spears in their hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">All at once there went up a shout louder than ever, the crowd swayed +backwards and forwards, then opened out, and admitted the Carroccio or +war-car in Florence. It was painted red, and drawn by oxen housed in +red trappings. The great beasts had dragged the car slowly from the +chapel of St. John's, where it stood in times of peace, and laboured +along under its weight. From the car itself projected two poles on +which hung the banner of the Commonwealth, a red giglio on a white +field. Immediately behind this came another car, bearing the +Martinello or war-bell, which was incessantly clanging out its angry +notes. It was to ring now for a full month, without ceasing.</p> + +<p class="normal">Around the cars were the principal nobles of the city, and the oxen +being guided to the "bankrupt stone," were there unharnessed. Pietro +Soderini, the brother of his eminence of Volterra, who was then +Gonfaloniere for life, raised his hand. In a moment there was silence, +and the vast audience listened to the brief oration that fell from the +lips of their chief magistrate. He painted in stirring words the +dangers of the times; he called to the people to forget party hatreds +in the face of the common crisis; he appealed to their past, and then +concluded: "Therefore," said he, "for the safety of the State, have we +to whom that safety is entrusted put our hope in God, and our hands to +the sword. Citizens, we give to our enemies, to Rome, and to Spain, +war, red war--and God defend the right!" With that, he drew off his +glove of mail and flung it on the pavement, where it fell with a +sudden crash.</p> + +<p class="normal">The silence of the crowd continued for a little, and then, from forty +thousand throats rang out cheer after cheer, as the sturdy citizens +roared out their approval of the gage thrown down.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the midst of all this some partisan of the Medici, hysterically +excited, raised a shout of <i>Palle</i>! <i>Palle!</i></p> + +<p class="normal">"Blood of St. John!" exclaimed Ceci, "who is that fool? He will die."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was the well-known cry of the exiled Medici, and it drove the crowd +to madness. Instantly there was an answering yell.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Popolo</i>! <i>Popolo!</i> Death to tyrants!" I cannot tell what happened +exactly; but in the distance, I saw a man being tossed and torn by the +mob. For a moment, his white face rose above the sea of heads, with +all the despair in it that the face of a drowning man has, when it +rises for the last time above the waves; then it sank back, and +something mangled and shapeless was flung out into the piazza, where +it lay very still. I stood awestruck by this vengeance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yet the Medici <i>will</i> come back, signore!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Ceci whispered this in my ear, as he stood with his hand on my +shoulder.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_07" href="#div1Ref_07">THE GARDEN OF ST. MICHAEL.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">On our way back Ceci was somehow separated from me, whether by +accident or design, I cannot say. I did not quite regret this, as I +had made up my mind to see as little as possible of him for the +future, thinking he had repaid himself for his kindness, by the +proposals he had made to me. Indeed, I may say I never sought his +society, although, until he showed his hand, his visits and +conversation gave me some pleasure, for notwithstanding his position, +he was a well-informed man, who, in the earlier part of his life, must +have seen better days, and perhaps hoped to see them again, if his +plot succeeded. The words he had let drop, to the effect that the +Medici would come back, had given me a hint as to what that plot was. +It was evident that my old friend was an active member of the Bigi, or +Grey Party in Florence, that were then working secretly for the +restoration of Lorenzo's sons. It seemed clear too, that the attempt +to be made, was to be directed against some very eminent member of the +State--perhaps the Gonfaloniere himself, and I began to wonder if it +was not my duty to lay the information I had before the Signory. I +could not, however, reconcile this with my promise of silence, and +therefore my tongue was tied. Still I could not sit tamely by, and see +a man murdered in cold blood, and I decided therefore, to remain in +Florence somehow, and if possible avert the crime, although it would +interfere, no doubt, with my own business. But one cannot always be +thinking of one's self. Perhaps also, though not quite conscious of it +then, I had some idea of again meeting the unknown lady of the gala +procession, in whom, in spite of myself, I felt I was taking too great +an interest.</p> + +<p class="normal">During the night I had but little sleep, for the affair of the mad +partisan of the Medici, and the declaration of war, had roused the +citizens to fever heat, and all night long, crowds thronged the +streets, their hoarse shouts of <i>Popolo</i>! <i>Popolo!</i> mingling with the +incessant clanging of the war-bell, which itself was loud enough to +wake the dead. The next day, however, I resolved to take the bull by +the horns, and with a view to fill my purse, determined to present +myself before La Palisse, and offer him my sword. I sallied out, +therefore, finding the streets fairly empty, the all-night indignation +meeting of the Florentines having wearied them a little. Still, +however, there were knots of people here and there, all in a more or +less excited condition. I was in no particular hurry, and taking a +lesson from the snail, went at a leisurely pace, and eventually +reached the headquarters of La Palisse, which were in the Medicean +palace, in the Via Larga. The courtyard and entrance-hall were full of +soldiers, and evidently active preparations for the campaign were in +progress, for there was a continuous stream of people going in and +out. No one took any notice of me, and holding my cap in one hand, and +straightening the feather on it with the fingers of the other, I +advanced unquestioned through the crowded rooms. In this manner I +proceeded until I came to a gallery, on one flank of which there was a +series of windows overlooking the street; at the end of the gallery +hung a purple curtain, covering, as it happened, an open door. On the +curtain itself was embroidered a crimson shield, bearing the <i>palle</i> +of the Medici. Before this I was stopped by a young officer, who asked +me my business, and I replied it was with La Palisse himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Impossible!" he replied; "you cannot see the General."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why not, signore?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tush, man! You look old enough to understand that orders are orders."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it, De Brienne?" a sharp voice called out from within. The +officer lifted the curtain, and went inside. I was determined to gain +an interview with the great man, and had therefore said my business +was of importance. The leanness of my purse is my excuse for the +subterfuge, which I subsequently regretted, as will be seen further +on. Shortly after De Brienne came out. "Well, messer--messer----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Donati," I said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, Donati, the General will see you. You may enter."</p> + +<p class="normal">I accordingly did so, and found myself in the presence of a short, +thick-set man, seated at a small table, on which was spread a map, +over which he was looking intently. In a corner of the room lay his +helmet and sword, and he himself was in half-mail, wearing a Milanese +corselet, on which was emblazoned the red dragon of his house. As his +head was bent over the paper, I could not at first make out his +features, and remained standing patiently. Suddenly he lifted his +face, and looked at me with a quick "Well--your business, sir?"</p> + +<p class="normal">I was accustomed to strange sights, but for the moment was startled, +so horribly disfigured was the man. The sight of one eye was +completely gone, and half his face looked as if a red-hot gridiron had +been pressed against it. The other eye was intact, and twinkled +ferociously under its bushy grey eyebrow. I recovered myself quickly, +and made my request in as few words as possible. He became enraged as +I finished. "Bah!" he said, "I thought your business was of +importance. I can do nothing for you, my list is full. You have gained +admission to me under a pretence--go!" and he resumed his study of the +map. I would have urged the matter, but all my pride was aroused at +his words, and so, with a short good-day, I turned on my heel and +walked out. Passing through the gallery, I saw De Brienne, leaning +against an open window, talking to another young officer. They both +looked at me, and burst into a loud laugh. At any other time I might +have treated this with contempt, but I was sore all over at my +reception, and approaching the two said, "You seem amused, +gentlemen--it is not well to laugh at distress."</p> + +<p class="normal">They stopped their laughter, staring haughtily at me, and De Brienne +said, "Your way, signore, lies before you," and he pointed down the +corridor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps the Signor de Brienne would care to accompany me--unless," +and I looked him steadily in the face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unless what?" De Brienne flushed angrily.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment we heard a hasty footstep on the marble floor, and La +Palisse advanced. "Still here," he said to me, "did I not tell you to +begone?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My business is with the Signor de Brienne," I replied stiffly, for my +blood was hot within me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am quite prepared," began De Brienne, but the free-captain +interposed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not in the least. I cannot allow my officers to go fighting with +every <i>croque-mort</i>, who comes here with a long sword and a lying +story. Look at him, De Brienne--every inch a bravo! Harkee, Donati! +Begone at once. Not another word, or by God, I will have you hanged +from the nearest window!"</p> + +<p class="normal">It did not require me to carry my perception in my right hand, to be +aware that La Palisse was capable of fulfilling his threat, and +although I was inclined to draw on him there and then, I knew what the +ultimate results would be. So swallowing my pride as best I could, and +regretting the ill-humour which had subjected me to this insult, I +stalked into the street.</p> + +<p class="normal">I made my way to my ordinary, and sat there to cool, which took some +time. I was able to see, that the rebuff I received was due in great +part to my own mismanagement; also that there was no hope for me from +La Palisse, and that my steps must turn elsewhere if I wished my purse +to show a full-fed appearance. I dined sparingly, drinking but a half +measure of Chianti, which I mixed with water, and it made but a thin +fluid. When I finished my slender repast, there was nothing left but +to kill time. It was useless to go back to my lodging; for want of +funds had compelled me to discontinue, until better times, my newly +acquired habit of reading, and Ceci, despite the kindness he had shown +me, was precise in the exaction of payment for offices performed by +him. No more indeed could be expected from a huckstering mind such as +his, inherited no doubt from a line of bargaining citizens, whose +hearts were in their bales of wool. So I strolled towards the garden +of St. Michael, passing on the way the piazzi, where there were still +numbers assembled, and wondering at the implacable hatred of the +Florentines towards their noblest blood, a hatred they carried so far, +as to build the walls of the Palace of the Signory obliquely, rather +than they should touch the spot where the Uberti once dwelt. And this +set me reflecting on the unreasoning stupidity of the <i>canaille</i>, in +their enmity towards gentle blood. Perhaps I was a little influenced +in these thoughts, from the fact that the Uberti were connected by +marriage with the Savelli, a daughter of Maso degli Uberti having +wedded that Baptista di Savelli who upheld by force of arms his right +to attend the Conclave of Cardinals. It was sad to think that of the +Uberti not one was left, and of the Savelli--I alone. I will not +include the Chigi, for they come through the female line, and although +Amilcar Chigi, the son of my father's old enemy, subsequently made +advances of friendship towards me, I felt bound to explain to him that +I was the head of the house, despite the broad lands his father got +with his mother Olympia, by an unjust decree of the Chamber of Lies. +This, however, is a family affair, which does not concern the +narration in hand. Having reached the garden, I sat myself to rest on +a stone seat, set against a wall overhung by a large tree. At the +further end of the walk were two ladies in earnest conversation. Their +backs were to me at first, but on arriving at the end of the walk, +they turned slowly round, and came towards me. As they approached, I +was almost sure they were the two I had seen in the gala procession, +and my doubts were soon at rest, for, on passing, they glanced at me +with idle curiosity, and in a moment I recognised them by their air +and gait. On this occasion they wore no masks, and I saw they were +both young and passing fair. The face of the shorter of the two, whose +figure had a matronly cast, was set in a mass of light hair, and +looked brimful of good-humour. The other, who, in marked contrast to +her companion, had dark hair and dark eyes, possessed a countenance of +exceeding beauty, marred perhaps by its expression of pride. Be that +as it may, my blood began to tingle as I saw her, and an indefinite +thought of what might have been rose into my mind. When they had gone +a few yards, the one, whom I took to be a married woman, said +something to her friend, and glanced over her shoulder; but the other +appeared to reprove the remark, increasing as she did so the pride of +her carriage. I wondered to myself that two ladies, should be out +unattended, in so sequestered a spot, at a time too when the city was +so full of excitement, and watched them as they turned the corner of +the walk, and went out of sight beyond the trees. I began in a useless +manner to speculate who they were, and to weave together a little +romance in my heart, when I was startled by a shriek, and the next +moment the fair-haired lady came running round the corner of the road, +crying for help. It was not fifty yards, and in less time than I take +to write this, I whipped out my sword, and was hurrying to the spot. I +saw, when I reached, the taller lady struggling in the arms of an +ill-looking ruffian. She called out on my coming, and the man, +loosening his hold, was about to make off, when, unwilling to soil my +sword with the blood of a low-born scoundrel, I struck at him with my +fist, and the cross handle of the sword clenched in my hand, inflicted +an ugly gash on his forehead, besides bringing him down. I stood with +the point of my sword over him, and the affrighted women behind me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hold, signore!" he cried, "enough! I yield--what! Would you draw on a +friend?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A friend?" I said in astonishment, as he slowly rose to his feet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, Signor di Savelli, were you on Monte San Michele now, you would +sing a different tune."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Piero Luigi, then it is you," I said; "well, scoundrel, I am not on +Monte San Michele, but you are here, and will shortly be before Messer +the Gonfaloniere, unless you restore at once what you have doubtless +robbed from these ladies and beg their pardon. Stop! if you attempt to +move, I will spit you like a lark."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have taken nothing," he said, "let me go; I am punished enough."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is true, sir," said one of the ladies, "and we pray you let the +man go."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not till he has begged your pardon," I replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">Luigi did as he was bid, and humbly apologised; but as he left, he +discharged a Parthian shot: "Ah, ladies! I sought but a kiss. I am but +a poor thief--a crow--but the Signor di Savelli is no better, though +he flies with hawk's wings."</p> + +<p class="normal">I took no notice of the remark; and, lifting my cap, begged permission +to see the ladies to a place of safety.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We thank you for your kindness, sir," said the shorter and elder of +the two, "but I see our servants approaching, and we will not +therefore trespass on you. Believe me, however, we are grateful--my +cousin and I."</p> + +<p class="normal">Even as she spoke her lackeys came up, and one of them, in an alarmed +tone, asked what was the matter, and turned on me fiercely.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be quiet, Gian," said the lady who had just spoken, "it is we who +have to thank Signor di Savelli for rescuing us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your pardon, signore; but we heard the ladies cry out, and seeing you +here----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where you should have been," I interrupted, "you lag too far behind +your mistress."</p> + +<p class="normal">The dark-haired girl, who had up to now not spoken, but, with her face +very pale, was playing with a bracelet on her wrist, now looked up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I think we had better get back, we will not trouble this--this +gentleman further. He has already done too much for us."</p> + +<p class="normal">She dropped me a proud little curtsey, and turned away, but her +friend frankly held out her hand. "Believe me, Signor di Savelli--I +heard you so called--my cousin Angiola and I are both very grateful. +She is a good deal upset by what has happened, and I speak for her. +My husband," she went on hurriedly, "has much influence, and if any +word----"</p> + +<p class="normal">She stopped a little helplessly, and seeing she had observed my +appearance, and anxious to end the affair, I cut in--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madam, I did nothing but drive off a cur--you thank me too much. Good +day!"</p> + +<p class="normal">I stood cap in hand until they turned the elbow of the walk, and then +retraced my steps to my lodging. As I went back, I could not help +railing at my luck. I was enabled to do a service, which, for no +reason I could assign, I would rather have done to this particular +woman than any other--a service which should have made her look kindly +at me, and yet by a cruel stroke she was made to think me nothing else +but a thief, for Luigi's charge was definite, and it was clear I knew +him. My name was also known to her, and perhaps the rest of my story, +as it was understood by the public, would be told to her, and then, +adieu to my little romance, if it was not adieu already. Then again +what business had I to have any such thoughts? I had yet to learn that +these things come unbidden, and when they come, take no denial. +Thinking in this way as I walked on, I was surprised to find I had +reached the old Albizzi Palace. This building, like all the other +houses of the nobles of Florence, was fortified with braccia or +towers, joined to each other by bridges. These towers formed refuges +during interurban wars, and stood many a siege from the people. The +Albizzi Palace had four such braccia, but the two towards the Ultrarno +quarter had been half demolished in some forgotten riot, and never +restored. The others were however intact, although the bridge between +them had long since given way. It was in one of these that I had my +abode, and reaching it about sundown, began to slowly ascend the dark +stairs which led to my chamber. Occasionally I stopped and rested, and +it was during one of these rests that I looked up to the landing above +me. It was still in light; for the setting sun shone through a giglio +shaped window in the western wall. As I glanced up, a figure suddenly +appeared at the head of the stairway, and leaning one hand on the +balustrade, peered down into the dim light below it. I recognised the +extraordinary dress at once, and a moment's survey of the face assured +me it was my host of the hovel, he who had so strangely disappeared +with the girl, when I fought with Brico at Perugia.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A good day to you, friend!" I called out, "and well met."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who calls? Who is there?" he answered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"One moment, let me climb up these stairs," and I made my way to the +landing, and held out my hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">He took it in silence, but his grip was warm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Signore," he said after a moment, "I do not know your name; but +whoever you are, Mathew Corte owes you much, and will some day show +himself grateful."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My name," I said, "for the present is Donati, and as for gratitude +there is no need to speak of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he mentioned his name, I remembered that there was a madman so +called, who had come into notoriety years ago, by asserting that he +had discovered the secret of prolonging life to a hundred and twenty +years. He had, I heard, written a book in which this was fully +described, and presented it to the Cibo pope, with the inscription, +<i>videbis dies Petri et ultra</i>. Long after, I heard Cardinal Bembo +tell, in his witty way, how this same Corte presented his book to +three successive popes, ending with Innocent of Genoa, adding that he +took care on each occasion to substitute a new title-page and +dedication. "But," the cardinal was wont to add, "it is against the +canon, for our Lord the Pope to go in any matter, even in life, beyond +the Holy Apostle, and therefore, no doubt, the worthy doctor's +prescriptions were not followed. Such are the sacrifices the church +has to make."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How long have you been here?" I asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some days."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And we have never met!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! The place is like a rabbit-warren. There are hundreds here. But +it is odd that I have never seen you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not so very odd when I come to think of it," and I looked down at my +shabby attire. "It is generally late when I go out."</p> + +<p class="normal">He held out one leg, clothed in its fantastic dress.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I too am on the rocks," and he laughed bitterly, "and feed with the +goats."</p> + +<p class="normal">Wishing to change the subject, I inquired about the girl. He turned +away to the window, and when he looked back the man's eyes were full +of tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would you care to see?" he asked, with a shake in his voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">I bowed gravely, and he conducted me upstairs, fully two flights +beyond my room, and then stopped on a small landing. Through the +half-open door that faced us, a little dog came out, and looked +wistfully at Corte. He stooped to stroke it, and then rising, passed +into the room. When he had gone beyond the door, he looked back at me, +saying "enter."</p> + +<p class="normal">I did so with gentle footsteps, and he pointed to a bed in the corner +of the room, on which was the figure of a woman, lying so still and +motionless, that she might have been an image of wax. Her plentiful +brown hair was spread over the pillow, and out of this frame, the +pinched white face, with all its traces of past beauty, looked out in +a pitiful silence. One thin hand was turned palm downwards on the +coverlet, and, as we stood, the fingers began to work convulsively.</p> + +<p class="normal">Corte bent over her forehead and touched it with his lips. "Little +one," he said, "do you sleep?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The girl opened her sightless eyes, and a faint smile, that lightened +her face, making it wondrous beautiful, passed over her countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not yet." She spoke so low I could hardly catch the words, "but I +shall sleep soon."</p> + +<p class="normal">I knew what she meant, for in her face was already that look which +comes to those who are going away. Corte was however unable to judge. +"She is better," he said, "I will give her some more wine--all that +she needs is strength--my little one." With this he turned to a +cupboard, and opening it, took thenceforth a bottle of wine; with +shaking fingers he tried to fill a glass; but the bottle was empty.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I forgot," he said, and looked hopelessly around him. There was that +in the man's face which made me read it as an open book.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stay here," I whispered, "I will be back soon--very soon."</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked at me in a dazed sort of manner, but I waited for no reply, +and, slipping out of the room, ran as fast as I could downstairs, and +through the darkening streets to the nearest inn. Calling the landlord +I asked him what was his best wine.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My best wine, signore! All my wines are good. There is Chianti from +our own Tuscan grape, Lacryma Christi from Naples, Barolo from +Piedmont, Roman Orvieto and White Vernaccia of the same brand that the +Cardinal Ippolite d'Este----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fool," I interrupted, "answer my question. What is your best wine? +Have you any of the wines of France?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wines of France!" he exclaimed, "<i>Corpo di Bacco!</i> Does not your +excellency know that La Palisse and his French cut-throats have been +here for a month? Think you there is a bottle of red Roussilon or +Armagnac left in Florence? There lie, however, in my cellar, two +flagons of Burgundy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fetch one at once--run, man!" and I flung him a crown.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a short delay, which seemed ages to me, messer the padrone +reappeared with the flagon of Burgundy under his arm, and seizing it +from him, I ran back to the Albizzi Palace, and hurried up the stairs +to the room occupied by Corte. Although I had been away barely half an +hour, that was sufficient time to make a change for the worse in the +sick girl, and I became aware that the end had begun. We tried to +force a little of the wine between her lips; but she could not +swallow, and now instead of lying still, kept tossing her head from +side to side. Corte was undone. He could do nothing but stand at the +head of the bed, in mute despair, as he watched the parting soul sob +its way out.</p> + +<p class="normal">I went towards him: "Shall I send the intendant for a priest?"</p> + +<p class="normal">If ever words changed the countenance of a man, mine did. His eyes +fairly blazed with anger, and he hissed out, "No, signore--this is a +priest's work--pray if you like, but no priest comes here."</p> + +<p class="normal">I had, as all other men have, frequently called upon God, sometimes in +idle blasphemy; but never on an occasion so serious as this. Pray if I +liked! I had forgotten what real prayer was. Impelled by a power I +could not resist, I knelt down and tried to form some words to reach +the Most High. But they would not come, I could only feel them, and I +rose again and took my stand by the dying girl.</p> + +<p class="normal">She began to talk now in a rambling manner, and with that strength +which comes at the point of death from somewhere; her voice was clear, +but with a metallic ring. It is not for me to repeat the last words of +one who is now with her God; but I gathered from them a story of +trusting love, of infamous wrong and dastardly crime. And Corte shook +like a branch in the wind, as the words came thick and fast from the +lips of his dying child. After a while she became still once again. So +still that we thought she had passed away; but she revived on a +sudden, and called out:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Father--I cannot see--I am blind--stoop down and let me whisper."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am here, little one--close--quite close to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tell him--I--forgive. You must forgive too--promise."</p> + +<p class="normal">Corte pressed his lips to her damp forehead, but spoke no word.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is bright again--they are calling me--mother! Hold me up--I cannot +breathe."</p> + +<p class="normal">Corte sank on his knees with his head between his hands, and passing +my arm round the poor creature I lifted her up, and the spirit +passed. In the room there was now a silence which was broken by a +heart-rending sob from Corte. He staggered to his feet with despair on +his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"She said forgive!" he exclaimed. "Man, you have seen an angel die. +This is the work of a priest, of a pontiff, of him who calls himself +Vicar of Christ! Go now, and leave me with my dead."</p> + +<p class="normal">I took his hand, and pressing it, turned to the door. As I closed it +behind me, I saw Corte bending over the still face of his child, and +the little dog, throwing up its head, howled piteously.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_08" href="#div1Ref_08">TEMPTATION.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">I had looked upon death before; I had seen the plague strike down its +victims in an hour; I had been in the hell of a sacked town, when men, +women, and children, were given to the sword. On the breach at Arx +Sismundea, dead, dying and wounded, were piled breast high, when we +stormed our way, through the fog of battle, into Malatesta's +stronghold. Stricken down at San Miniato, I saw, in the dim night, the +death hunters at their fearful trade, and heard the dull blows of +their daggers, as they murdered some helpless wretch, sometimes for +the prize of a tag of gold lace, sometimes for the sheer pleasure of +slaughter. Lying unable to move, by good luck concealed in a hollow, +amidst grass which stood a yard high, I saw a man killed not ten feet +from me. He rose to his elbow as the fiends approached, and called for +water. But it was not water he got. How he struggled! He cried for +mercy, and I can still see the wretches as they held him down. A +foul-looking hag placed her knees on his chest, she looked towards the +sky for a moment, as if invoking a spirit to a sacrifice, and the +moonlight shone on a face that was hardly human. Then she stooped +down, and with a relentless hand, plunged the knife she held into her +victim's throat. But all this, which should have hardened my heart, +did not affect me as the scene I had just quitted. After all, what I +had passed through was done when the blood was high with excitement. +Here, however, was another thing. I had watched the end of a being +beautiful and pure, who was born to adorn life, and yet what was her +story? Fallen into the hands of an incarnate devil, outraged, and then +cast forth blinded, to die like a reptile! It was too horrible! Surely +God must have slept whilst this was done. Surely the after life ought +to be to her, in an inverse proportion to her sufferings on earth. But +why any such infliction on one so helpless? Mystery of mysteries, and +I cannot solve it. And yet she was able to forgive. At the last she +could condone. What were my wrongs to those she had endured? After all +I had health, strength, and the world was wide. Why waste my time in +running after the morbid shadow of revenge? If I got it, would it +satisfy? Would it heal my wounds! Thinking in this way, I called to +mind a sermon of the Prior of St. Mark's--I heard when last in +Florence. I came in the suite of Paolo Vitelli ag Citta del Castello, +and at the time Savonarola had left the Duomo, and was preaching at +St. Mark's. His subject was forgiveness, and his text, "Vengeance is +mine, saith the Lord," came back to me with a vivid force. I rose from +my seat and paced the room, my whole soul was on the cross; I had all +but resolved to forego my scheme of revenge, when I heard a knock at +the door. At first I did not answer, but it was repeated.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come in," I cried, and Ceci entered. In the state in which I was in, +I had half a mind to bid him begone there and then, and only +controlled myself with an effort. I could see however that, in his +way, he had formed a friendly feeling towards me, and remembering my +plans, forced myself to greet him with civility, and offering him a +seat began the conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was a strange finish to the Gonfaloniere's speech," I said, in +allusion to the death of the man at the hands of the mob.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He was a fool, and deserved to die."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know his name?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Ceci hesitated for a moment, and I saw he was lying when he said "No."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I gather," I added, "that you are of the Bigi, the party that favours +the return of the Medici."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Signore, I spoke words in my excitement that may well be buried. An +old tongue like mine should have known to be still; but it is not that +I have come to speak of. Do you know we have a death in the house?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That would be no new thing to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True," he said, stroking his white beard, "they die here like rats in +their holes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I suppose so; but as a matter of fact I did know there was a death, +and a very sad one. I know Mathew Corte, but how have you found out so +soon?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is simple. I came back but a few minutes ago, and although it was +late, thought I might call for the rent of the room Corte occupies, as +he has not paid anything as yet. When I came in, Corte simply pointed +to the body of his daughter, that was all the reply I got. She was +very ill when she came; I wonder indeed she lived so long. Of course I +did not press him, and if it is a loss, Messer Nobili is rich enough +to bear this. But it is dreadful the way these people owe."</p> + +<p class="normal">I winced a little, thinking of my own diminished purse, and Ceci +continued: "I thought I would come and see you as I went down. It is +on my way. The body must be removed to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will find some difficulty in persuading him to give it a +Christian burial."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How! Is he a heretic, or a pagan--if so!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not say that. I believe the man to be mad."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will see him to-morrow," said Ceci. "I think he will yield to +reason. Poor child! She might have been saved."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Saved!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, when they first came, I begged Corte to let me call the Doctor +Maffeo. He would not however listen to the idea. Then I told him what +to do, being a family man, who has had children to look after. All +gone into the world now, and never even a message for Bernabo Ceci."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thought the case hopeless when I saw it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"When you saw it, perhaps; but, signore, not at first. See! the sun is +not in the Lion, and medicines should have been freely given. I would +have placed the diaphragm of a sheep on her chest, had her bled, and +administered theriaca of Venice; if that failed, there is bezoar."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Messer Ceci, you are as learned as a doctor yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have had experience, signore," he answered, as he rose to go. "Yes, +do I not know? The life of my poor wife was saved twice by this +treatment, and on the third occasion, if it were not for the poison +which originated internally within her, as Messer Maffeo stated in a +learned discourse he read to the Academy, she would have been saved +again. A good night, Signor Donati, and peace to dreams--remember, it +should have been as I said--either theriaca or bezoar--or both +combined--a good night!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He went out, and down the stairs, with the step of a young man, and I +marvelled at the contradictory nature, which could show the kindness +it had towards affliction, and at the same time coldly plan to remove +a fellow-creature from the world, as one removes a bud from a tree, +with a touch of the knife. But Ceci's words had also reminded me again +of Corte's need. I stood at the door listening until his footsteps +died away, and knew he was gone for the night. Then I pulled out my +purse, and looked at its contents; there were two gold crowns left, +and a few pauls. I hesitated for a little; but the need of the man +upstairs was greater than mine. Drawing off my boots so that there may +be no sound, I stole up softly, like a thief, and gained the landing +of Corte's room. The door was partly open, and I stood before it for a +short while, half afraid to enter. Plucking up heart, I crept in +gently. The dead girl lay with her hands crossed on her bosom, still +as if cut out of marble, and on her face was fixed a sad little smile. +Corte sat on a stool near the table; his head was buried between his +hands, and he had given way to silent despair. The dog lay asleep in a +corner. I meant to have proffered the gold I had with me, as a loan to +Corte; but I did not dare to address him in his grief. So placing the +coins quietly on the table in such a manner that when he raised his +head he must see them, I withdrew as noiselessly as I came, and +reached my room without attracting any attention. It was not until the +small hours of the morning that I sought my couch, for my mind kept +working on the thoughts which agitated me after witnessing the death +of Corte's daughter. At the same time, I was able to see that this +consideration of the suffering of others was of the greatest benefit +to me. It took me out of myself. It showed me that my own were not the +only sorrows in the world, and that there might yet be others who had +reached a deep of misery as far below that of Corte, as his was below +mine. This led me on to consider my own position, and I began to think +there was some mysterious power that was preventing me carrying out my +plan of reprisal against D'Entrangues. I had come to Florence red-hot +on his track. At our very first meeting he had won the hazard, and the +long illness that followed gave him chance to put a distance between +us; then my resources diminished whilst yet nothing was done; then +came the doubts as to whether I was justified in my action; and +finally, and not least, there was in me a haunting desire to see +Angiola, as I called her to myself, once again. I was pulled by +different strings. There was that I called conscience, urging me to +give up my schemes of revenge; there was the wild animal in me, +telling me to go on; there was a feeling towards a woman, which I had +honestly never experienced before, which, despite my struggles against +its apparently hopeless folly, was entirely overmastering me, until I +did not know which way to turn, and to escape from it all decided to +leave Florence at once; and then altered my mind again, when I thought +of the plot I wished to thwart, and determined to make a last effort +to do this, and, if possible, to see Angiola once more before I left. +At last I went to sleep, waking very late in the morning. So sound was +my slumber, that when I awoke I thought at first that the events of +the night were nothing more than a dream; but they soon forced +themselves on me in their reality, and the fact was emphasised, by the +sight of the odd pauls, which were now my all, lying on the table. I +gathered these up, and proceeded in search of Ceci to ask if he had +made any arrangements for the burial; but he was nowhere to be found; +and, as I could not bring myself to see Corte then, I resolved to +breakfast on fresh air, a diet which however wholesome, was, I found, +certainly not satisfying. I went to the Oricellari Gardens, which were +at that time the property of the Rucellai. Here, within the city +walls, one found a forest, and under the shade of the huge trees, a +more miserable being than myself could have spent pleasant hours, and +perhaps gained contentment of mind by observing the beauties of +nature. It was here that, after the death of Il Magnifico, the +Platonic Academy moved its sittings. But the gentlemen who composed it +discussed their philosophy with a good dinner, and even the +unfortunate who wishes to gain peace of mind in sylvan shades, should +have a full belt. This fact obtruded itself more and more strongly on +me, and I could obtain little relief by the expedient of tightening my +sword-belt by a hole or so. Therefore, in despair, I left the beauties +of nature to be so good as to look after themselves, and disbursed a +half-paul in something to eat; after which I felt able to face the +prospect of future starvation with a more serene mind. On return to my +lodging I found Ceci was not yet come back, and still thinking it +would be an intrusion to make inquiry after Corte, disposed of my time +by repairing my attire as best I might, and watching the pigeons on +the eaves of the roof opposite my window, with a little envy in my +heart at their simple happiness, and a doubt if, after all, man was so +fortunate in possessing a soul, and being cast after the image of his +Maker. If our faith is to be believed there is nothing for man but +heaven or hell, and perhaps the worst form of hell-torment would be to +be born again in the lowest form of a dumb brute, with the faculty of +fully appreciating all that the highest of mankind can. Picture to +oneself a Raphael, who has slipped into the abyss, and is sent back to +earth again, an obscene animal, with all the grasp of the beautiful he +had in life. I do not know any punishment that would be more cruel. +On the other hand, there has never appeared to me any definite +realisation of the joys of heaven. It is no doubt their vagueness that +is their charm. Be these things as they may, all speculation into the +future is useless, and I have found my comfort in a simple faith in +our religion, which has served me through this life, and will, I +trust, do the same office in the next.</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus reflecting, I passed the day quietly, and in the afternoon Ceci +came to tell me all was ready for the burial. He gave me to understand +that Corte had listened to reason in the matter of a priest, although +I never knew what arguments he had used to effect this. The funeral +was much as other pauper burials, and when it was over we walked back +together. On our return a man accosted Ceci, who, he said, was his +nephew, and they went off together on some business. Had I only known +what I was to be indebted to this gentleman for, shortly, I should +have observed him with greater attention. As it happened I gave him +but a passing glance, catching a glimpse of a pale face, with strong, +clear-cut features, and keen, bright eyes. Corte and I were now alone, +and, respecting his grief, I said no word, nor did he speak, as we +threaded our way back. Near St. Mark's, Corte suddenly seized my hand, +raised it to his lips, and then turning, fled down a side street and +was lost to view. I attempted to follow, fearing that sorrow had +totally unhinged his mind, already a little off its balance, and that +he would come to injury. My attempt however was without avail, and I +returned home to disprove the proverb which falsely says that he who +sleeps, dines.</p> + +<p class="normal">The next day I was again favoured with a visit from Ceci, and after +some allusion to the funeral, he once more broached the subject on +which he had sounded me before, and asked for a definite reply. I gave +it to him without hesitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Messer Ceci," I said, "whatever my condition may be, you are in error +if you think I am a bravo. In short your proposal is an insult, and +you owe it to my consideration for your years that I do not fling you +out of the room. I have promised you secrecy, and therefore cannot do +as I would, and that is, lay the matter before the Signory; but I tell +you plainly that if I can I will upset your plan, and now you had +better leave me."</p> + +<p class="normal">I had by this thrown everything into the fire; but it was not possible +to control myself longer. As for Ceci, he sat for a moment, his eyes +staring out of his head with rage, and his white beard fairly +bristling. He rose from his seat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So, Signor' Donati, this is your answer, is it? Look to yourself, +most noble excellency, for those I serve have a long reach. There is, +however, another thing we have to settle before I go. I shall be +obliged by your paying me the sum of three crowns for rent, and other +services due to the excellent Messer Nobili."</p> + +<p class="normal">I was overcome with shame, for I had not the money.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You can take this furniture," I said, "it will pay my dues."</p> + +<p class="normal">Ceci smiled grimly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not wish to be hard on you, and you know the punishment for +debt. I will take the furniture back for two pieces, although it has +deteriorated by wear and tear to the value of a florin, and you will +still owe one piece. See, signore," and he suddenly changed his tone, +"pocket your pride, as many a better man than you has done to fill his +purse. It is but a stroke of your sword we want, and here are ten gold +crowns."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Begone!" I cried in a rage, and starting up laid my hand on my sword. +Ceci instantly drew a dagger from his girdle and faced me with the +highest courage. We stood before each other for a second, and then +with a laugh he put back his poniard.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will give you time," he said. "A whole week--and now leave you to +cool. Adieu, most noble excellency!"</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_09" href="#div1Ref_09">THE MARZOCCO INN.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">I tried every possible means I could think of to obtain employment, to +no avail, and, in the intervals of my fruitless search for work, +haunted the streets and gardens, with the hope of obtaining another +glimpse of Angiola, but without any success. Inch by inch my resources +diminished, until they became so small that a blind beggar would have +hardly thanked me for the gift of them. I lived in constant dread of +Ceci reappearing to demand the sum I owed for my rent, but he did not +come. He was evidently giving me time, starving me out to surrender to +his terms. I used to see him as I went in and out, sitting in his +office like a spider, yet he never even lifted his head as I passed. I +hated, almost feared, going by that door. Bitterly did I regret not +having left Florence when I was able. It was now impossible to do so, +unless as a defaulter, and the weight of that paltry debt oppressed +me, as if a cannon-ball were slung around my neck. I could not leave +until I paid it, and of doing this there seemed no prospect. I had +parted with my cloak for money to buy food, but the last copper of +that was gone, and I was now penniless. For two days I had not eaten +anything but a morsel of bread, and on the morning of the third day I +rose desperate with hunger, and prepared to go any lengths to satisfy +it. I ate my self-esteem and made another attempt to see La Palisse, +but was denied admittance, and when I came back I actually hesitated +before the door of Ceci's office, and almost made up my mind to yield, +and say I would do his business for him. It required an effort, so low +had I sunk, to rouse my pride. At last it flared up, and with a cheek +hot at my weakness, I sought my chamber and there passed the day. The +pigeons that lived under the eaves opposite my window, and to whose +soft cooing I so often listened with pleasure before, now aroused +other thoughts within me. If I could only lure one within reach! But +it was impossible, and I glared at them as they fluttered and flirted +with each other, with the hungry eyes of a cat baulked of her prey. At +last I gave it up, and with a curse flung myself on my bed. Fool that +I was! Five-and-thirty years should have brought me wisdom. I had +stayed on in Florence, allowed my chances of revenge to get more +distant, in fact, reached a stage of mind when I was doubtful if I +could rightly exact vengeance, drifted into abject poverty, and worse +than that, was continually thinking of a woman, who, when I had +rendered her a service, treated me with contempt, who had no doubt +forgotten me by this time, amidst her duties, if she had any, and her +pleasures, of which I doubt not she had store. So the evening came +amidst my reflections and self-reproaches, and, it being dusk, I +decided to go forth again, and snatch a purse, if necessary, to obtain +food. As I rose, an impulse I could not control made me unfasten my +money-belt, and search if by chance there was a coin within it. Of +course there was not a brown copper, but my fingers, in running up the +belt, touched something hard, and I pulled forth, attached to its tag +of red ribbon, my cross of St. Lazare, which, it will be remembered, I +had placed therein for safety the night I was imprisoned in the Villa +Accolti. I had clean forgot it in my troubles, and now it lay in my +open palm, with the diamonds in it winking in my face. My whole frame +trembled with excitement. Here was the means of freeing myself from +debt at once, and of obtaining funds to quit Florence, nay Europe. At +the lowest computation its worth could have been no less than forty +crowns, and this at present was wealth to me. What with the effects of +the want of food, and the sudden discovery of the cross, I began to +feel weak all over, and flinging the badge on the table, sank down +into a chair before it to compose myself. The room was almost dark, +and I sat staring at the jewels and at the diamonds on it, which +sparkled through the gloom. That little trinket was linked with the +one great event of my life. All the past came vividly before my +excited brain. I was again in that desperate retreat of Charles of +France up the valley of the Taro, with the army of the League in full +cry behind us. The old boar Trevulzio commanded the rear guard, +disputed every inch of the road, and now and again stood boldly at +bay, and gave a taste of his tusks to the Duke of Bari, and the fine +gentlemen of Venice. It was at this moment that Roderigo Gonsaga made +his dash for the heights above the junction of the Ceno and the Taro. +Trevulzio saw the movement; he was powerless to help, and knew that if +it succeeded all was lost. At the time I was at his bridle hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ride for your life," he said, "and tell the king--that." He pointed +to the black line of the infantry of Spain moving towards the heights. +I was off at once, waiting no second bidding.</p> + +<p class="normal">I found Charles mounted on Savoy, his one-eyed black charger, one of +the finest horses I have ever seen. The king grasped the situation at +a glance. He gave a sharp order, closed his vizor with a snap, and in +five minutes, a thousand lances followed him down the long slope, up +which the Spaniards were advancing. It was an absolutely silent +charge. Not a cheer went up, and the only sound was the thunder of the +horses' hoofs, and the clink of mail as we sped on after the king. +Then there was a sullen crash, and a sea of struggling men and horses. +The veteran troops of the Great Captain maintained their high +reputation, fighting like dragons to the end.</p> + +<p class="normal">Charles, whose horse had carried him far in advance of us all, was in +great danger. His helmet had fallen or been struck off, and he was +recognised. Gonsaga, seeing all was lost, made a despairing rush at +the king with a half-dozen men at his back, and had it not been for +the way Savoy kicked and plunged, would have surely slain him. Urging +my horse to its utmost speed, I reached Charles just in time to ward +off a furious blow aimed by the Spaniard at the king, and fading full +tilt against him, brought down both horse and man. The next moment +others came up, and we were safe. Philip de Comines reproached the +king respectfully for running himself into peril; but Charles, wiping +his sword on the mane of his charger, said with a laugh:</p> + +<p class="normal">"All is well that ends well, my Lord of Argenton; but it is thanks to +this good sword here," and he turned to me, "that our cousin of +Orleans must exercise his patience yet a little longer. Come closer, +sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">I dismounted and approached helmet in hand. The king detached the +Cross of St. Lazare he wore, and bending from the saddle, slipped the +loop of the ribbon round my neck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wear this for the sake of France," he said with a gracious smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">And now the patience of Orleans had come to its end, and Louis XII. +was king, and of my hopes and dreams, all that remained was the cross +of the order blinking at me.</p> + +<p class="normal">It had to go, and there was no help for it. With an effort I rose and, +thrusting the cross into my pocket, hurried into the street. My way +led to the ward of San Spirito, and it took me some little time to +reach the place where I meant to dispose of the jewel. When I reached +it, I was so overcome with weakness that I had to halt for a moment to +rest. It was during that halt, that hesitation of a minute, that my +courage came back to me, and I pulled forth the cross and held it in +my cold fingers with a heart tossed by conflicting emotions. I could +not do it. Death would be preferable. Well, I had faced death before, +and there was no reason why I should not do so again with an equal +mind. The Arno was deep enough to hold me, and God would perhaps be +kinder in the next world than in this. I placed the cross back slowly, +my honour was still white, and death that was coming would give me a +full quittance for all my troubles. I turned my back on the +pawnbroker's, and went towards the Arno; but I had miscalculated my +strength, and near Santa Felicita I felt a sudden giddiness and sank +downwards on the pavement. I struggled to rise, but the faintness +increased, and dragging myself close to the wall I leaned against it +in a sitting posture, and a kind of stupor fell upon me, through which +I still felt the intolerable pangs of hunger. In a little time I felt +better, and as I saw the flash of torches, and heard voices in +laughing conversation, I made an effort to rise, gaining my feet just +as two ladies, with their attendants, came opposite to me, and then I +staggered back again.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Poor man! He is hurt."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am starving," I said in the bitterness of my agony, and the next +moment could have killed myself, for I recognised the ladies whom I +had rescued from Luigi in the Garden of St. Michael. I had my desire +and had seen her again; but how?</p> + +<p class="normal">Madonna Angiola made a hurried search for her purse, and not finding +it, with a hasty movement tore something off a bracelet, and thrust it +into my hand. Before I could recover from my astonishment they had +gone on, and although I called after them, they did not stop. The +shame of having received charity, and from her, was all but +unbearable; but with it I felt the hand of hunger knocking at me in a +manner that would take no denial. My courage was gone, and urged by +the fierce pangs of my hunger, I resolved to utilise the gift, and +obtain some food to give me strength to die. I smile as I think of +this now. Then it was no laughing matter. I plucked myself up +sufficiently to go back to the pawnshop. Entering it, I placed the +article, which I judged to be a jewel, but which I had not even +examined, before the man in attendance, and asked for an advance +thereon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is one of the gold tari of Amain," he said, poising it on his +finger, "and of full weight. Do you wish to sell it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," I replied, "I merely wish to pledge it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will give you two crowns," he pushed the money to me, and with it a +receipt. I gathered these up, and staggered rather than walked to the +Marzocco Inn, which lay hard by. There were half-a-dozen people +supping there; but I had no eyes for them, all I could think of was +the pasty, the roll of white bread, and the ruby Chianti, which I +ordered. It is a common belief, that those who have not eaten food for +any length of time, are unable to do so when it is placed before them +at first. Whether I am constitutionally stronger than the generality +of men, I do not know, all I can say is, that I formed an exception to +the rule, if a true one, and demolished my supper, gaining strength +with every mouthful, and feeling my chilled blood warmer with every +drop I drank of my goblet of wine, My courage came back to me, and I +banished all thoughts of the Arno. At last I was done, and leaning +back in my seat, viewed with complacency the huge orifice I had made +in a most excellent pasty, and the whiles slowly sipped my wine. That +feeling of sleepy comfort, which attends like a good angel on a full +meal, possessed me, my sorrows had for the moment taken themselves +off, and I grieve to say I did not even bestow a thought on her, to +whose charity I was indebted practically for my life. I sat for the +moment, lapped in a dreamy comfort, forgetful of all things. I dozed +for about half an hour, and opened my eyes with my head clear again, +and my pulse beating firmly. I had, somewhat recklessly, it is true, +enjoyed a crown's worth of happiness, there was another fat crown +still in my pouch; with care it would last some days, and during that +time luck might turn. With these thoughts running in my head, I let my +eyes wander over the room. It was now somewhat late, and only the +night-birds were left. Of these, a party of five was seated at a table +a little removed from me, and were conversing in low tones. It needed +but a glance to see they were not honest men, and from the suspicious +manner in which they looked around them, I gathered they were here for +no good purpose. One of the party rested his eyes on me, and then +whispered to a companion, who was seated with his face from me. I +caught the answer, which was given in somewhat loud tones. "Even if he +does, what does it matter? Cannot a few gentlemen enjoy a glass in +peace at their ordinary? If he gives trouble we can quiet him."</p> + +<p class="normal">Could it be? Yes, it was no other than the ancient Brico, who had, I +perceived, got out of the clutches of his friends, the catchpolls of +Montevarchi. I made certain, therefore, I would have business shortly, +and leaning back again, pretended to doze, keeping my ears very wide +open, and holding a watch on the scoundrels from the tail of my eye.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He tarries late," said one, "perhaps your information is wrong."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have it from a sure hand, from the younger Ceci. Buonoccorsi and he +will both be here. The former, however, as you know, we do not want."</p> + +<p class="normal">I almost started at these words. Was it possible that I had stumbled +on the bravos who were engaged in Ceci's plot? If so, stranger thing +never happened to me, and chance was probably throwing in my way what +otherwise I would never have been able to discover. Even as the last +speaker finished his sentence, two persons, evidently of consequence, +and a woman entered the inn, and set themselves down at a table close +to mine. The men both wore masks, but the lady did not, and let her +glance run with a free look on us all. One of her two companions, a +very stout man, put down his mask, disclosing a jolly rubicund face, +and roared out for a flagon of wine. The other, still keeping his +features covered, engaged in lively badinage with his fair friend, and +as he moved his hand slightly, I caught the flash of a valuable ring.</p> + +<p class="normal">The five at the table all had their heads together now, and I saw the +one nearest to me stealthily draw his sword. With an apparently +careless movement I so placed my own weapon as to be at hand on the +moment. Presently Brico arose, and swaggering across the room with a +glass in his hand, deliberately stopped before the lady, and drained +it to her health. She laughed back her appreciation, and Brico called +out, "Blood of a King! Madonna, but you waste yourself with His +Corpulence there," and he jerked his hand towards the stout man, who +sat speechless, his cheeks purple with rage. "Come and join us good +fellows here," he added, and attempted to pass his arm around her +waist; but the masked stranger flashed out his rapier, and Brico +only escaped being skewered by an agile retreat. This was, however, +the signal for an instant assault, and with a shout of "A +Medici--<i>palle</i>--<i>palle</i>," those at the table rushed on the smaller +party. As they rose, I jumped up, and pushed my table with great +violence in their direction. Two of the men fell over it, and this +gave me time to draw my sword and join the weaker party. The lady +rushed out with a scream, and the stout gentleman bellowing lustily +for help followed suit, and made his exit, no attempt being made to +hinder him, the attack being solely directed against the masked man, +who with his back to the wall, and the table between himself and his +assailants, defended himself with great spirit and skill.</p> + +<p class="normal">Slashing one of the ruffians across the face, which put him out of the +fight, I ranged alongside of the stranger, and a very pretty set-to +ensued. At this juncture the innkeeper entered with half-a-dozen +others, and kept dancing about, adjuring us to stop, but offering no +help. I made for Brico, but could not reach him, having to engage with +a better swordsman than I had met for many a day; but I saw we were +now three to two, for the ancient was more bent on executing +flourishes with his sword, and in cheering on the attack, than on real +business. My opponent was a left-handed man, so anything like a +time-thrust was out of the question. He played the usual game of +left-handed men, namely, a cut over, and disengagement in tierce, but +remising, I forced him to a straight riposte, and pinked him through +the ribs. He fell with a howl, just as my companion ran his man +through. We were now two to two, if Brico was included, but the others +waited for no more and fled, no attempt being made to stay them by the +host. The innkeeper, however, began to make a great to-do; but the +stranger thrust his purse in his hand, and lifting his mask spoke a +few words in mine host's ear. The effect was magical, and the padrone +was now all civility. We had a look at the two men who were down, the +one who was slashed across the face being nowhere to be seen. They +were both quite dead, and an ill-looking pair of corpses did they +make.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have these carrion removed, padrone--and beware how you say a word of +what has happened, signore," and the masked man held his hand out to +me, "I thank you heartily, and you will find I have a long memory. Do +me the favour to accompany me to my house."</p> + +<p class="normal">I had no reason to refuse, and bowing my acknowledgments, we left the +inn.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_10" href="#div1Ref_10">NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">As we reached the street, I expressed the hope that the lady and her +stout companion were in safety. The stranger laughed: "Oh, +Buonoccorsi, he and La Sirani are no doubt shivering in security by +this time; but let us hasten, for although we have barely more than a +couple of cross-bow shots to go, our bravos may return and have better +luck. St. John! but it was a narrow affair."</p> + +<p class="normal">Our way led back by Santa Felicita, past the Ponte Vecchio, and at +length we came to a halt before a small side door, let into, what +seemed to me, nothing but a vast blank wall. My new friend opened this +door noiselessly, with a key he drew from his pocket, and invited me +to enter. Pleading ignorance of the way, however, I gave him the pass, +and followed him up a narrow and very dark stairway, which opened into +a long gallery, likewise in semidarkness. Up this gallery we went, +then there was another small passage, and lifting a curtain at the end +of this, we stepped past an open door into a large room, evidently a +study, for it was filled with books all but the side near the passage, +which was covered by a heavy tapestry. In the middle of the room was a +large table, littered with papers in much confusion, and eight tall +candles burning in a pair of grotesque candelabra, threw a bright but +soft light over the chamber.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sit you down there," said my host, pointing to a chair, "and we will +have something to drink. <i>Diavolo!</i> You are wounded! Why did you not +say?"</p> + +<p class="normal">I looked at my left arm, and sure enough the coat-sleeve was red, with +an enlargening patch. It was only a trifle, however, as we found on +examination; but my companion, who still kept his mask on, insisted on +bandaging it, which he did with deft fingers, and then turning to a +curiously inlaid cabinet let into the wall, brought thenceforth a +flagon of green crystal and two long-stemmed Venetian glasses.</p> + +<p class="normal">Whilst he was thus engaged my eyes rested on a book on the table, and +I saw at a glance that it was the copy of Plutarch's Lives which Ceci +had lent me on payment, so that it was most probable that I was in the +presence of the noble, against whom the Medici plot was directed, and +in whose library the intendant's nephew was employed, partly I guessed +as a spy. My hand was on the book as my host placed the glasses on the +table, and observing the movement, he said with a smile:</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see, Signore, you not only carry a sharp sword; but know a book as +well."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As for books, Signore," I answered, "I know but little of them. This +one, however, I thought I had seen before."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed," he said, "that is odd, for I believe this is the only +rendering of Plutarch into Italian which is in existence. Strange, +too, as for over a week I could not find it anywhere."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very," I answered shortly, and my host, pouring out a glass for me, +helped himself, and settling comfortably in a chair opposite to me, +slowly removed his mask and laid it aside. I saw before me, a man in +the prime of life, of middle height and slender figure, with however a +great dignity of carriage. His head, covered with short dark hair, was +small, but well-shaped, his dark eyes sparkled with intelligence, and +a slightly aquiline nose curved over a pair of thin, sarcastic lips, +which were however now smiling at me with as much good-humour as they +could express.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Books," he said, "are the delight of my life, without them all would +be stale. Here," and he held up a volume, "is a priceless treasure. It +is a manuscript copy of Cicero's De Gloria. I obtained it from my +friend, poor Angelo Poliziano."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am afraid," I said, "I could only look at it, for I have not +studied the ancients."</p> + +<p class="normal">He laid down the book: "Of a truth, men were giants in those days--but +hark! That is too loud for a rat." At this moment we heard a distinct +rustling behind the tapestry, which hung on one side of the wall. My +host sprang up, and with his drawn rapier in his hand, lifted the +arras. I followed him; but we observed nothing but a door, which was +concealed behind the curtain. "This is a private door leading to the +corridor, and confound it--it is open. How the devil did this happen? +However, this will make things sure." He turned the key which was in +the lock, and removing it, placed it carefully aside in a drawer, and +his face was shaded a little with anxiety. This however he brushed off +like a fly, and resuming our seats, he poured out some more wine for +both of us, and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Signore, now that I observe you closely, it appears to me that your +sword, good as it is, has not helped you to fill your purse."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was able to save your life, Messer--I know not your name," I +answered with a little heat, and rose as if to take my leave. He +laughed cheerfully, and putting his hand on my shoulder, pressed me +back into my chair.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sit down, signore, I meant no offence, and my name is Niccolo +Machiavelli. Will you give me yours in return?"</p> + +<p class="normal">I was then before the Secretary of the Council of Ten, the crafty +politician who at that time held Florence in his hand, and with whose +name all Italy was full. I now understood Ceci's plot at once, but the +question was, should I give my right name? Sooner or later the +Secretary would find out, and I accordingly answered him as honestly +as possible.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I pass under the name of Donati, your excellency, will that do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He leaned back reflectively. "I like confidence when I give it," he +said, "and yet perhaps it does not matter. You had no idea who I was +when you helped me?" he added with a quick look.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not in the slightest." I did not feel justified in adding more.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, Signore Donati, I have work for which I want a brave man, and +if you care to accept it, I offer it to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your excellency, I will plainly say that I hardly know where to turn +for employment, in fact, I am in such straits that I cannot afford to +look for a hair in any egg that may fall my way; at the same time your +business must be such as I can take with honour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"With honour of course," he smiled sarcastically, and then added, "I +suppose I can trust you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You need not give me the employment, signore, if you do not think you +can trust me--and pardon me--it is getting late."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sit down, man, I did but try you, and you are the man I want. Where +do you lodge?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the Albizzi Palace, in the street di Pucci."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Could you leave Florence at a moment's notice?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is a matter of funds."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They will be provided."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then, yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Enough! To-morrow a man will call on you, precisely at noontide, with +a letter. I want that letter delivered into the hands of the Cardinal +of Rouen at Rome. It is a secret matter, and if you fail in it you may +forfeit your life. If you succeed, his eminence will give you further +occupation. Do you accept?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">As I said this we again heard the creaking noise, and Machiavelli +jumped up as agilely as a panther, and sprung to the door behind the +arras. It was open; but no one was there.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Maldetto!</i>" he exclaimed. "Signore, there are spies in my own +house--help me to tear down this tapestry."</p> + +<p class="normal">I did so, and in a few minutes we laid bare the side of the room, and +piled the tapestry in a heap against a bookshelf.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is better," Machiavelli said, "you see--the spy, whoever he is, +must have a master key. There is no use going into the passage after +him; but for the present I fancy we are safe. I must have a bolt put +on and keep a watch. To resume business however. You say you accept, +and only need funds."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Exactly so."</p> + +<p class="normal">He pulled from a drawer a bag, which chinked with a pleasant sound to +my ears.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here," he said, "are a hundred crowns. It is your fee for the task I +set you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is ample."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And now, Messer--Donati--farewell! You will always find a friend in +me. You know your way--I have left the side door open--and bear a +loose sword."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A word, your excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Say on."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Prom what has happened to-night, I see plainly that the plotters +against your life have friends very near you. If they failed this time +they may not fail again. One of the men who made the attack to-night I +recognised. He is called Brico, formerly an ancient, perhaps still so, +in the army of Tremouille."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will attend to the Signor Brico."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yet a little more. If your excellency's movements are known it is +probably from within your own house. I would keep an eye on your +library scribe."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Per Bacco!</i> Signor Donati, but you know too much. I am more and more +your debtor."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The hundred crowns have repaid me," I replied as I took my departure, +having said all I dared say of the plot without breaking my pledge of +secrecy to Ceci.</p> + +<p class="normal">Now it happened that as I gained the corridor, I saw in the dim light +a figure retreating hastily before me; but with noiseless footsteps, +and having in mind the strange attempt to play the spy on us, I made +no doubt but that here was the culprit, and followed up. I saw the +figure turn at the end of the corridor and enter another gallery, then +another, and yet another, finally vanishing as it were against the +wall. Owing to my not knowing the way properly, and to the semi-gloom, +I was unable to follow fast enough to overtake the spy, who flitted +before me like a ghost, but in a very human hurry. When at length I +came up to the wall, I looked to see if there was a door of any kind; +but could discern nothing, and was so astonished that for a moment I +felt a little chilled, thinking that it may have been a spirit after +all. Fortifying myself, however, with the thought that if it was a +spirit, it seemed in no way anxious to meet me, I went to a closer +examination, and saw by the moonlight that I was before a door, +painted in exact imitation of the marble wall. This settled my doubts, +and putting my shoulder to it, I made a trial, with all my strength, +to force the passage, but in vain. I therefore gave up the matter, and +turned to find my way back. This was, however, easier said than done. +I could not find the gallery I wanted, and after groping about +hopelessly for a little time, thought that I had best give a shout, +which would no doubt summon some one to my aid. I was just about to +carry this into execution, when, on further reflection, it struck me +that I might be landed in other difficulties thereby, and that I might +make another try to free myself, without bringing the house about my +ears, and perhaps compromising the secretary, who had, I saw, an +active and enterprising enemy under his own roof. So I stilled my +tongue and made further exploration, with the result that I found +myself before a stairway, that led to the floor below me, and +determined to see where this would take me. Accordingly I descended as +softly as possible, and arrived in a few steps at a small landing, +covered by a carpet so thick, that I felt as if I was treading on the +softest of moss. At the end of the landing, and opposite to me, was a +half-opened door, the room inside being in light. Stepping noiselessly +up to the door I peered in, and saw a chamber furnished with the +utmost luxury, and apparently just vacated by its occupants. In a +corner of the room stood a harp, lying on a table close to a low +luxurious seat were some articles of dainty feminine embroidery; soft +silken curtains shrouded the walls, and the ceiling was painted, +apparently with some representation of the history of the house. A +white marble figure of Cupid held out at arm's length a lamp, whose +opal shade softened its bright light; and on a gilded triangle, set in +an alcove, swung a blue and scarlet macaw--a rare Eastern bird--who, +with his head tucked under his wing, slept in a position which would +be intolerable torture to any other created thing except a bird. It +was clear that I had invaded the private sitting-room of the ladies, +or lady of the household; and I was about to beat a hasty retreat, +when the screen of an inner room was swung aside, and I saw before me +my two unknowns of the Garden of St. Michael, and the giver of the +tari which had saved me from death. It was too late to go back now, as +the sound of my feet on the marble stairs would certainly reach, and +perhaps alarm them, tread I ever so softly; so I resolved to stay +where I was until they retired again, and then go back. This I judged +would be very shortly as it was late. I had not however sufficient +experience then, of the lengths to which those nocturnal confidences, +in which the fair sex indulge with each other, extend. In the meantime +I could not but admire the graceful figures before me, and especially +of her, who had given me the tari. Clad in a soft clinging robe, +clasped by a jewel at her throat, and a silver girdle round her waist, +with her pale proud features set in a mass of dark hair, she seemed to +me an embodiment of pure womanhood, and I thought how lucky the man +would be who could have such a companion to help him through life. I +guessed also that the other was the wife of Machiavelli, being aided +thereto by her statement, when I drove Luigi off, that her husband was +one who could help me much. At the same time I could not but feel some +pity in my heart for her, when I thought she was wedded to a man of a +character so contradictory as that of the Secretary, who could leave a +fair wife for the sake of indulging in low dissipation, and come back +after a narrow escape with his life, to bury himself in matters of +state, or in the perusal of the ancients. However there was no sign of +sorrow on her fair and mirthful face, as with all the teasing nature +of a kitten, she walked up to the macaw and stirred him up with her +white fingers, an attention he did not appear to relish, for he +ruffled his plume, and let forth an ear-piercing shriek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heavens!" she laughed, "how that bird screams! He is almost as cross +as you, Angiola."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thanks," replied the other; "I do sympathise with the bird though, +for you never leave off teasing. It is enough to make a saint cross, +Marietta."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I won't tease any more," and Marietta put her hand on her +friend's shoulder. "I am sure though it was he, and I will have that +last word."</p> + +<p class="normal">I wondered to whom the reference was made, as Angiola replied: "I +really do not care if it was; but there is a draught, and I must shut +this door."</p> + +<p class="normal">She came up so quickly that there was no time to retreat, and in a +moment I was discovered.</p> + +<p class="normal">She gave a little cry, and stepped back.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who are you, sir? How dare you----!"</p> + +<p class="normal">I saw that the other was going to scream out, and burst forth: "Madam, +I implore you to be still. There is absolutely no danger. I have had +business with his excellency, and missed my way. Pardon the +intrusion," and I stood with my cap in my hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, sir," said the Lady Angiola, "as you have found out that you +have missed your way, had you not better turn back?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, Angiola, it is the gentleman who rescued us in the gardens!" +called out Madonna Marietta, with a sudden recognition.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who looks as if he were here now, to make up for it by cutting our +throats. According to you he should have been dying of starvation at +Santa Felicita."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Madam," I cut in, "I wish I had died of starvation rather than heard +this. I will however restore what I have received. If you can only +show me the way out of this house I shall be grateful, and I again +seek pardon for disturbing you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I suppose you are speaking the truth. Come, give me that candle, +Marietta."</p> + +<p class="normal">The other handed her a candlestick, and refusing my proffer to bear +it, and with a curt request to walk in front, she directed and led me +along the interminable galleries until I recognised the corridor from +which I entered. I was again about to thank her, but she simply +pointed to the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your way lies there, sir."</p> + +<p class="normal">I opened the door and stepped on to the stairway without another word. +In shutting the door behind me I glanced once more in her direction. +She was already on her way back, the single candle throwing its soft +light on her loose robes and graceful figure.</p> + +<p class="normal">I made my way down the stairs, at the end realising the sensation of +suddenly finding my foot meet the ground after the last step. I +thought there was yet another and was brought up with a nasty jerk. +Stepping out softly into the street, and holding my drawn sword in my +hand, I hurried towards my abode. When I had gone about fifty paces, I +heard the sound of a door opening and shutting behind me, but thinking +it was the wind playing with the door I had left unlocked, having no +key, I took no notice, and went on; but soon became aware I was being +followed. I stopped therefore, and deliberately faced round. The +footsteps behind me instantly ceased, and I could make out through the +moonlight, the shadowy figure of a man, stooping as if to search for +something. This was of course nothing but a pretence, and I had half a +mind to go back and question him. Reflecting, however, that it would +be wiser to avoid any further adventures for the night, and that after +all it was but one man, I went on, and my pursuer did likewise, but at +a greater distance than before, until finally apparently gave the +matter up seeing I was on my guard. Crossing the square of Santa +Felicita, however, I saw some one running swiftly a little ahead of +me, and then disappear behind the shelter of the small casino of the +Medici which stood there. I felt sure it was my shadower. He had +passed me by some short cut, and was now probably intending to bring +matters to a head. Keeping well in the middle of the road I went on, +and to my surprise saw nothing, but in a short time again became +conscious that I was dogged, and dropping into an artifice quickened +my pace to a run. The sound of rapid footsteps behind me, showed that +my curious friend was doing likewise, and not to deprive him of the +exercise, I kept up the pace, until we reached the street di Pucci and +were close to my lodging. Here I faced about and ran back full speed +at my pursuer, feeling sure that the burst I had given him would try +all his speed to get away. He so little calculated on my change of +front, that he ran on about twenty yards, before realising what was +the matter. Then he turned round and was about to make off, when I +reached him, and driving him against the wall held him there, with the +point of my sword at his breast. Imagine my surprise on seeing before +me the young man with whom Ceci had gone away on our return from the +funeral of Corte's daughter. He was doubtless also the spy of the +evening, and now, with a face white with either terror or anger +crouched against the wall, holding a dagger in his hand; but any +attempt to use it would have been useless.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," I said, "have you had enough of this?" and I emphasised the +question with a sharp prick.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mercy!" he called out, thinking his last hour come, and scrabbled on +to the pavement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be off with you then!" I said, and assisted his departure with a +hearty kick as he rose. He needed no second bidding, but made off at a +good pace.</p> + +<p class="normal">When his figure mingled up with the haze, and was lost to view, I +proceeded on my way wondering a little at the incident. I could not +help connecting it with the affair in the Secretary's room--the man I +had chased up the endless galleries of his house, and the attempt at +murder in the Marzocco Inn. Why was I followed? I could not make this +out; but thankful that I had escaped with a whole skin, climbed up the +winding stairway of the tower which led to my chamber. Carefully +shutting the door, I lit my candle, and emptied out the contents of +the bag I had received from Machiavelli on to my bed so that the coins +might make no sound.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_11" href="#div1Ref_11">THE LETTER TO D'AMBOISE.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">I could have thrown my cap over the housetops, I could have shouted +for joy, as I saw the coins spread out before me. I stooped over them, +holding the candle aloft in one hand, whilst I ran the fingers of the +other through the clinking metal. There they lay! broad, shining +pieces of silver, flecked, here and again, with the mellower light of +gold. At one stroke, when my luck was apparently at its lowest ebb, it +had turned again, and was coming up in high tide. Not only this, I was +to go to Rome, the very place of all others where I was likely to meet +D'Entrangues; and I breathed an impious prayer, that good angels might +see he came to no hurt until we met, and even as I prayed the vision +of that dying woman who forgave with her last breath, came before me. +My hand shook so that I could barely hold the candle, and turning +away, I placed it on the table and went up to my window. Midnight was +long past and we were touching the morning. The only sound that broke +the stillness was the distant clang of the martinello, keeping up its +insistent beat; but the wind was from me, and the chime came softened +to my ears. Already the east was whitening, and the moon was sinking +to rest. All the old half-formed resolutions I had made, to let my +enemy's crime pass, to leave vengeance in the hands of God, came up +and fought with the fierce desire that the apparent opportunity of +meeting D'Entrangues again, had fanned into life. What had not that +man done to me? How could I forgive? We are all not framed in the same +way. A tender woman might condone what man would never pass over. Why +should I not be the instrument of God's punishment on that man? +Without Him nothing was possible, and if I succeeded in killing +D'Entrangues would it not mean that the deed had his sanction? On the +other hand, there were the words of Savonarola's text, and the +forgiveness I had seen with mine own eyes. Tossed by doubt, now +resolved, now wavering--at one time certain I was right to be my own +law, at another encompassed by a terrible fear of sin--I did what all +men have to do at some time or other: I sank down on my knees, and +wrestled with the temptation. I do not know what words of prayer I +used, or how long I was there; but I can say this, that when I rose, +my mind was at rest, and I had won a fight with myself. I would leave +D'Entrangues to the justice of God. And for my honour? I would win it +back again, not in distant lands, but here--here, where it was taken +from me, and then--what a fool I was! When my shield was white once +more, I would sheathe my sword, rebuild our old castle in the Sabine +Hills, and there, perhaps--oh! I dreamed mad things when that peace +fell upon me. But there was such a prosaic matter as sleep, and I had +work for the morrow, so I pulled myself together, and with a mind more +comfortable than for many a day, swept the coins into the bag, saw +again to the fastening of the door, and, seeking my bed, slept a +dreamful sleep until aroused by the cooing of my friends the pigeons. +It was with a very different air that I went down the stairs that +morning, and I realised, from contrast, how brave a heart a full purse +can make. I meant to have paid Ceci at once, but he was not in his +office, so I breakfasted in a leisurely manner, at the sign of the +Double Florin and then returned.</p> + +<p class="normal">As soon as I reached the Albizzi Palace, I went straight to Ceci's +office, and found him engaged in conversation with a man. The latter +started when he saw me, and hurriedly took his departure; but not +before I recognised in him Ceci's nephew, and my shadow of last night. +He gave me no friendly look as he went out; perhaps he was sore with +the memory of the end of my boot, and I had a mind to give him the +day, but prudently held my tongue between my teeth. Ceci was looking +much disturbed and annoyed, and I laughed secretly to myself as I +thought that, after all, I had been the instrument of upsetting the +political plot to murder, in which the old conspirator had a share.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A good day to you, Messer Ceci," I said. "I have come to settle my +account."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is of long standing," he replied, somewhat brusquely; but I was +not going to lose my temper, as I had things to find out.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All the more pleasure in receiving it," and placing a couple of gold +pieces on the table, I received my quittance and change.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Messer Ceci," I went on, "I leave Florence to-day and there has been +ill blood between us--your making entirely. I cannot forget, however, +that when I was ill you helped me much, and that in other ways you +were kind. Let us part friends--and, Messer Ceci, you are old. I would +advise you to let matters of state alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked at me, and the corners of his mouth hardened, as he said, +"Leave me and my age alone, Messer Donati. If it was not for you, +there would have been a deed done last night at which all Florence +would have rung again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So your precious nephew brought the news to you this morning?" I +answered with a question, hazarding a shot.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ceci remained silent, and drawing my conclusions, I went on, "Had what +you plotted succeeded, you would have been in a fair way to taste the +arms of the rack. Even now you are not safe. You see, Ceci, I know too +much, and it would be wise to be civil."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not safe," and he laughed scornfully--"who says I am not safe?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do--remember the Secretary has long arms."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are others who have longer, Messer Donati, and a dead tongue +can tell no tales."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I take your warning," I replied, and, turning on my heel, sought my +chamber to await Machiavelli's messenger. I could not help thinking I +had been wise to force the conversation with the intendant as I had +done, and was sure, now that Ceci and the other conspirators were +aware who had spoiled their soup, they would devote a little attention +to me. It behooved me therefore to wear a loose sword for the future, +and look well into corners before I passed them. I was not sure +moreover whether I should still consider myself bound by my promise of +secrecy, now that I had been as much as told that the conspirators +were likely to include me in their plans, and turn their knives on me. +I could well see that the Secretary would not be able to retaliate by +the open process of the law, against the attack made on him, +considering the circumstances under which it took place. That he would +do so, however, under the mask, I felt sure, and he had received +sufficient warning. Whilst thus reflecting I heard the gong in the +yard below me strike twelve, and shortly after heavy steps ascended +the stairs, with the sound of much puffing and blowing. The new +arrival stopped at my landing, and knocked firmly at my door. Thinking +it best to be careful, I unsheathed my sword, and letting down the +bolt, stepped back a pace before I called out, "Come in." The door +opened, and in walked my stout friend, who had retreated so rapidly +from the bravos at the Marzocco.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Messer Donati?" he said with an inquiring look.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The same," I bowed, and offered him a chair.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The devil!" he exclaimed, sinking into it, "but it is like an ascent +to heaven for a sinner to reach you," and he mopped his face with a +large handkerchief, "that curmudgeon downstairs, the intendant, flatly +refused to inform me where you were, until I mentioned I came from the +Secretary."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You mentioned that!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes--or <i>diavolo!</i>--how was I to find you? Let me tell you, sir, your +consequence was much increased thereby," he puffed rather than spoke.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not doubt it," and I marvelled at Machiavelli having selected +this garrulous fool to be the bearer of his letter.</p> + +<p class="normal">Subsequently I discovered that the Secretary did this deliberately, in +order, if complications arose, to be able to deny that he had any hand +in a transaction, in which an obscure soldier like myself, and a +notorious old scamp like Buonoccorsi had borne part. In fact he very +often adopted an artifice such as this, namely first sending public +despatches solemnly by a known official of state, and following them +up at once by a secret letter, which either confirmed them, or put +quite a different complexion on their meaning; taking care to choose +his messengers in such a manner that he would have nothing to fear +from failure of theirs.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have come with a letter for you," Buonoccorsi continued, and +pulling from a breast pocket a sealed but unaddressed packet, he +handed it to me. "His excellency," he said, "tells me you know what to +do with this."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do," I gave answer, and examining the seals carefully, put the +letter in the pocket of a vest, which I wore under my buff-coat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then that is done," he replied, "and now, signore, have you anything +to drink--my throat is like a limekiln?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am sorry I have not, but if you will accompany me to the Marzocco."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Marzocco! Blood of St. John! No more Marzoccos for me," he burst +in, as the red went out of his cheek at the very thought of last +night's affair. "Man alive! if Florence only knew what happened last +night, the whole place would be in an uproar. It was lucky for +the Secretary that you came to his aid, as I had to protect La +Sirani--ladies first, you know--and could not help his excellency in +any way."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see," I replied.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh!" he went on, "there were three others in the street, but +<i>presto!</i> I disarmed one, pinked another, and the third would have met +a like fate, had not La Sirani hung on my arm in her fright, so he +made off. I would have pursued, but, hampered with the lady, what +could I do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And is not Florence to know what happened last night?" I asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">He winked his eye, and replied--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Between you and me, Messer Donati, I think not. You see the Secretary +has a fair wife, and they say Madonna Marietta possesses a tongue as +well as beauty. Apart from this, you must be aware, as a man of the +world----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite so," and I rose with a smile, "but you must allow me to see +that you cool that lime-kiln of yours. I am only sorry I must ask you +to come a little way with me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh! I would go a long way for a can, Signor Donati, and will drink +one gladly to your health."</p> + +<p class="normal">So saying he got up, and we went down and out into the street. I took +him to my ordinary, "The Double Florin," and he took a long time in +quenching his thirst. When at last he had done, he wished me good day, +and we parted, not deeming it desirable to be seen too much together +in the streets, and besides I had much to do to get off by the +evening. I made up my mind to recover the gold tari I had pledged, and +after that to buy a horse and quit Florence at once. The tari itself I +should have liked to have returned, as I had promised, or rather said +in my anger last night that I would; but I could see no way of doing +this without attracting too much attention. On my way to the +pawnbroker's I kept my eyes well open, and caught a glimpse of the +library scribe, walking on the other side of the road, engaged in +conversation with a man, who, despite his common dress, had an air of +rank. The latter parted from Ceci's nephew almost as soon as I saw +them, and the scribe kept on in my direction. I saw he was again +following me, and regretted the mercy I had shown last night, +resolving, if opportunity afforded again, to quiet his curiosity for +some time to come. I duly redeemed the tari, somewhat to the surprise +of the pawnbroker, whose pledges did not as a rule pass so swiftly +back into the hands of their rightful owners. On coming out of the +shop, my follower was nowhere to be seen at first; but he soon +appeared, always keeping on the opposite side of the road. I resolved +not to go back to my lodging, but to quit Florence the moment I had +secured my horse. It was necessary however to provide some change of +attire. I did not intend to substitute a steel corslet for my +buff-coat, having a mind to fight my way back to fortune with no +defence but that over my heart, and contented myself with purchasing a +light steel helmet, a pair of stout riding-boots, a cloak, and some +other articles which could go into a small valise, capable of being +fastened on to the back of a saddle. These I left at the vendor's, +promising to call for them in an hour or so, and hurried towards the +horse market, my shadow still keeping behind me, in his accustomed +place. Opposite the Baptistry I heard, to my surprise, some one +shouting my name, and looking in that direction, saw a man running +across the pavement towards me. I recognised at once one of my lances, +Jacopo Jacopi, a Lucchese, whom I had every reason to believe devoted +to me. He had served with me at Fornovo and after; and although he +subsequently left me for a little time, on my joining the Venetian +fleet against the Turks, he returned to my banner once more, when it +was spread on firm ground, and had always proved a devoted follower. +He came now to me with joy on his face, shouting out, "Ah, excellency! +It is I, who am a glad man to see you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Jacopi," I exclaimed, "but my name is no longer Savelli. It is Donati +now--and what do you here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked a trifle embarrassed, as he replied, "I am seeking +service--I left the army when your excellency left."</p> + +<p class="normal">Knowing the man to be a stout soldier, I decided on the instant what +to do.</p> + +<p class="normal">"See here," I said, "I have no time to lose. Will you follow me once +more? I am bound to Rome on an urgent affair, and leave to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will a dog sniff at a bone? Will a cat pass by cream? Will an ass +turn up his nose at a carrot? I will follow to the devil, let alone +Rome, excellency, and at once if you will."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you a horse?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing, signore, but an arquebus and my sword, which I have at my +lodging."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then come with me, we must buy two horses, and leave at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am ready, your worship," and taking his place a little behind me we +hurried on.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will have a hard task to get at Rome, now that the whole country +is up, signore," said Jacopo as we walked along.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have thought of that," I answered, "I propose to go by Leghorn, and +taking ship there, proceed to Rome by sea."</p> + +<p class="normal">Jacopo gave such a groan at this, that I turned round in surprise, and +became at once aware that my shadower had crossed the road, and come +so close up to us that he must have overheard every word of our +conversation. This was most annoying, and a disaster of which the +future consequences might be most serious. I determined however to be +rid of him for the rest of my stay in Florence at any rate, and +addressed him sharply--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Signore, I seem to have excited much curiosity in you. May I ask what +it is you want?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He stood for a moment, at a loss for reply, and then said, "The road +is as free to me as to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I admit that," I said; "but I object to your stopping to listen to my +conversation, and therefore will be obliged by your passing on, unless +you want a more severe punishment than you received last night."</p> + +<p class="normal">He turned pale with anger, and slipped his hand into his vest; but as +suddenly pulled it out again, and without another word hurried past +us.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mark that man, Jacopo;" I said, "wherever he is, there is danger for +us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your excellency has only to say the word," and Jacopo put his hand to +his belt.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not so, my friend. Florence is not a safe place for a man to use his +dagger in broad daylight, unless covered by the cloak of a great man. +Besides it is not to my taste. Merely keep your eyes open, and if you +see him anywhere, tell me at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It shall be so," he answered; "but who would inquire about a mere +citizen like that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never mind, Jacopo; rest assured I know what I am about, and now tell +me some news of the army."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The duke is in full march on Perugia, and means to drive Cesare +thence. The whole country is awake, as you know. The general, Ives +d'Alegres, is come on a mission to Florence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ives d'Alegres here!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, excellency, and the Lord of Bayard has hurried to Rome."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then this means something that I cannot follow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nor can I explain, excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And tell me, has the Duchesse de la Tremouille gone back to France?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, by sea from Leghorn, with a great train of ladies, just before +war was declared again. It is said she has gone to the court of the +king at Maçon, and the escort was commanded by the Count Carlo +Visconti."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know any who went with her?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nearly all the ladies who were at Arezzo, for the duke, it is said, +would have none of them, now that war was begun again."</p> + +<p class="normal">I had to come to the question direct, "Was Madame d'Entrangues in the +train of the duchess?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am sure of that, excellency. I was with them as far as Siena, when +I took my leave."</p> + +<p class="normal">So she had gone, and I felt a relief at the news. Once in France, she +would be safe with her family, and I was honestly glad she was out of +the dangers of the time.</p> + +<p class="normal">We now reached the horse market, and with some search discovered two +likely-looking animals, whose price was within the measure of my +purse. I could not afford to pick and choose to any great extent, but +for forty crowns became the owner--after a little trial, which showed +they were as sound as I could see--of two nags, one a bay, and the +other a russet, with an off foot white above the pastern, an unlucky +colour, and the white marking denoted devilty. But he was a +shrewd-looking beast, and I kept him for myself, giving the bay to +Jacopo. Having paid on the spot for these, together with the necessary +saddlery, we rode to the shop where I had left my purchases, and +collected them. It was here that the idea struck me that there was an +opportunity to keep my word, and return her gift to Madonna Angiola; +therefore asking messer the shopkeeper for sealing-wax and some +parchment, which he willingly supplied on a small payment, I carefully +folded up the tari, and sealed up the packet. Taking it in my hand, I +went out to Jacopo, who was holding the horses, and said--</p> + +<p class="normal">"See here, Jacopo. Take this packet to the house of the secretary +Machiavelli. It lies in the ward San Spirito, near Santa Felicita, and +cannot be missed. Deliver it into the hands of the Lady Angiola, say +nothing, and come away. There is no reply needed, you follow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Right. Then after doing this you may dine, collect your arms, and +meet me in an hour and a-half at the San Frediano Gate. And you might +as well bring a feed for the horses with you. Stay, here are two +crowns."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It shall be done, your worship. I know the Secretary's house, and the +rest is simple."</p> + +<p class="normal">He mounted his horse, and trotted off; and reflecting that a chaffinch +in a cage is better than a mavis in a bush, and that I might as well +dine now whilst I had the chance, I swung myself into the saddle, and +proceeded at a smart pace towards the Double Florin.</p> + +<p class="normal">I had to cross the piazza of the Signory on my way there, and whilst +doing so came face to face with a riding party. It was composed of +several ladies and gentlemen, and amongst them was Machiavelli, who +glanced at me with a friendly twinkle in his eye, and gave me an +imperceptible nod of approval. Almost immediately behind him was old +Ives d'Alegres, riding with a bolt upright seat, and making himself +agreeable, in his bear-like manner, to the Lady Angiola, who rode +beside him. There was no avoiding them, and yielding to a sudden +impulse I saluted as they came up. A look of contempt spread over the +features of the general, who made no response, and Madonna Angiola +kept her eyes fixed before her, as if she had seen nothing. They +passed by in a moment, leaving me speechless with anger, for owing to +my failure to preserve a disguise, I had allowed my beard to grow +again, and D'Alegres without doubt recognised me. There was some +excuse perhaps for him; but none, I could think of, for her, and to +add to my chagrin, I thought that Jacopo would probably waste hours in +awaiting her return. I let my horse out to a hand gallop, +notwithstanding the pavement, and luckily doing no injury to any of +the passers-by or to him, pulled up in a few minutes at the door of my +ordinary. Here, although I tried to eat, I was so angry that I could +only trifle with my food, and raging within myself, I drank a full +measure of wine, swallowed such morsels as I could, and went to see +after my horse. By my directions he had a light feed, and was being +rubbed down. As provision against accidents, I purchased a bottle of +Chianti, together with a roast fowl and a loaf of white bread, and +these I placed in my saddle-bags. Then, seeing to the saddling of the +horse myself, I exchanged my velvet cap for the steel helmet, and +drawing my sword-belt in by a hole, sprang into the saddle, and went +on at a leisurely pace towards the San Frediano Gate. There was still +plenty of time, so I made no hurry, and indeed, when I reached the +gate, the gong there boomed out five o'clock, leaving a half-hour +still to spare before Jacopo was due. I pulled up therefore at the +side of the road, and dismounting, led my horse up and down. It was +whilst thus engaged, that I noticed a priest, mounted on a smart cob, +trotting in the direction of the gate, and knowing that a misfortune +and a friar are seldom apart, I observed him narrowly as he passed. He +drew his cowl, however, over his face, so that I could make nothing of +him; but on reaching the gate he stopped to ask some questions of the +sentry there, and the man, in raising his hand to salute, slightly +startled the horse, which threw back its head. This sudden movement +made the hood the rider wore fall back a little, but it was enough to +enable me to see it was the library scribe, old Ceci's nephew; and I +augured no good from this, resolving nevertheless to be on my guard +more than ever. The pretended priest received an answer to his +inquiry, and giving his benediction, in true sacerdotal manner, rode +off at a pace that showed his seat on the library stool had not +interfered with his seat in the saddle. It was now fully the half +hour, and yet Jacopo did not come. I waited until the gong struck six, +and was just about to ride off, leaving a message with the guard, when +I saw him approaching.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Make haste," I cried as I mounted, "you are late."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pardon, excellency! But the lady was not there. I had to wait a full +hour before she came back from riding, and the General d'Alegres was +with her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you give the packet?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did, excellency. I rode up, asked who the Lady Angiola was, and +presented the packet, saying it was from the Cavaliere di Savelli, my +master."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, glorious fool! Did I not tell you my name was Donati? Did I not +tell you to say nothing, but merely give the packet into the lady's +hands?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Body o' me, excellency! But there were so many about, my wits almost +went a wool-gathering. I gave madame the packet, however, and she took +it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Said anything?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing, excellency--never a word."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was no use crying over spilt milk, and cursing Jacopo in my +heart for a muddle-headed fool, we started off. On reaching the +sentry, I thought I might as well try and find out what the sham friar +was looking after. The man raised his hand in salute as I came up, and +flinging him a crown I bade him drink to the health of the Signory +therewith.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Marry! I will with pleasure, and yours, too, excellency," he said, as +he pocketed the money, evidently stirred by the amount.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Instead of mine, drink to the health of my good friend the monk, who +has just gone on. Can you tell me if he inquired for any one here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">I relied on the simplicity of the man, and on taking him by surprise +with the question, and as it happened I hit my mark.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In truth, excellency, the reverend father did inquire about a party +of five horsemen, who took the road to Leghorn about four o'clock this +afternoon. He doubted much if he could overtake them ere nightfall he +said, and would have to ride hard."</p> + +<p class="normal">I poised another crown on my finger absently. "Do you know any of the +party who went ahead?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, excellency; but their leader was an old man with a long white +beard, and I think I heard him addressed as Ceci. Excellency, the wine +will flow to-night--a hundred thanks."</p> + +<p class="normal">I dropped the crown into his palm, moving him to his closing words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come on, Jacopo. It grows late," and setting spurs to our horses, we +rode out at a gallop.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_12" href="#div1Ref_12">THE AMBUSCADE.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">It is good to go through the air, with the strength of a brave horse +under one, to know that his strong muscles are stretching with an +enjoyment as keen as his rider's pleasure, to hear the air whistle as +one cuts through it, and to feel the blood fairly dance in the veins. +After those weary weeks of illness, of inaction, and of mental despair +I had passed through, it was as if new life was poured into me, to +know that I was once more in the saddle, with a prospect, however +faint, of regaining all I had lost. As the landscape on each side of +me melted into a green grey streak, it seemed to carry away with it my +suffering; as the true horse answered willingly to the touch of my +spur, I forgot the past, and was once again Ugo di Savelli, with a +spirit as high as the days before the black sorrow fell upon me. To +the left of the road was a broad stretch of springy turf, crossed by a +fairly wide water channel. I could not resist giving the beast a burst +over this, and followed by Jacopo, galloped over it with a free rein. +Both the horses took the jump like bucks, and carried away by the +moment, we held on, until we reached the stony and boulder-covered +incline which led to the valley of the Greve. Here the turf came to a +sudden end, in a line such as the edge of a calm sea makes in a bay, +and then began a steep descent of gravel, and loose stones, whose many +colours of grey, ochre, and brown, were splashed here and there, by +masses of short thick shrubs, which gradually increased in denseness, +until they spread before us, a sea of sombre green, that stretched to +the clear blue line of the Greve. Here on the crest of the slope I +drew bridle, thinking the horses had enough of it for the present, and +that it would be well to husband their strength. Jacopo pulled up +alongside of me, and stooping to pat the neck of his mount said--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellency, the horses are in good condition; they will carry us well +to Leghorn!" He spoke the truth, for although they might have been in +better training, as the few clots of yellowy white foam, on the part +of the reins which had touched their necks showed, still we should +have been content with less, from new and practically untried +purchases, such as we had made, and I congratulated myself mentally on +our luck, for Barabbas himself would have had much to learn from the +horse-dealers of Tuscany. Thinking in this way, I replied:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, Jacopo, they seem to be a cheap forty crowns' worth, and we have +been cheated as little as possible. As you say, they should carry us +well on our journey, and we can either dispose of them at Leghorn, or +take them on to Rome if necessary."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I may speak, excellency, I would advise taking them with us. But +oh, signore, is that not superb?"</p> + +<p class="normal">With an Italian's inborn love for the beautiful, he pointed to the +view around us, and although not a Florentine, I could feel why it was +that her citizens so loved the City of the Lily. The sun was setting +in opal and rose, and as we turned to give a last look behind, we saw +that this light was reflected from the west, on the great fleecy +masses of clouds that were slumbering in the pure blue of the sky, and +was again thrown back, or rather downwards, on to Florence itself, +bathing in its glow the campaniles of the churches, the grim palace of +the Signory, and the towers of the houses of the nobles. Where the +light did not fall, the shadows were in soft greys, that deepened to a +purple black, and a yellow band marked where the walls clasped the +city like a girdle. To the east, as we looked, the hills of the Prato +Magno rose in a heavy solid outline, with the jagged peaks, trying as +it were to stab at the sky; to the north, covered with a heavy pine +forest, lay Senario, shutting from sight the upper Voldarno, and the +Mugello; whilst, as we faced slowly round by our left, we saw the +silver ribbon of the Arno, and the heights of Monte Orlando, the +landscape being closed in on the west by San Miniato, over whose +cypress crowned heights the sun now hung like a soft ball of fire. As +I gazed upon this, a sadness came upon me, and my mind filled again +with the image of the woman, whom I began to realise that I loved in +spite of all; and I almost laughed in the bitterness of my heart, when +I thought that this burden of a hopeless passion was added to the +weight I already had to bear. I began to fairly despise myself for my +weakness, in that for the moment I felt inclined to turn my horse's +head and ride back to Florence. It was gall to know, that if she but +lifted her finger, I would go back like a beaten dog, and it required +me to summon all my pride to rescue myself at the time. It was such +hopeless folly, such madness, that I began to think I must be little +short of an idiot, and cursed myself with such hearty good will, that +Jacopo, who was always a trifle free with his tongue, began to let it +wag.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If your excellency is so liberal with curses on yourself, methinks +you will have none to spare for your enemies," he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, Jacopo," I answered, "but the word enemies reminds me, that you +should keep your arquebus ready for instant use, and now I think we +had better jog on."</p> + +<p class="normal">Jacopo's answer was to unsling his arquebus, which he rested crosswise +on his thigh, and we began to slowly descend the slope towards the +river, the loose gravel crunching under our horses' feet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is loaded," said Jacopo, somewhat irrelevantly, as we came to the +banks of the stream; but I understood he was speaking of his piece. +"It is loaded, excellency," he repeated, "with three balls, which I +have had dipped in holy water, and on each of which I have cut a cross +for luck. I lay my life on it, that if discharged, it will bring down +whatever it is aimed at--saint or sinner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven grant that it may be the sinner, Jacopo; but only take care +you are ready to discharge it when the time comes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never fear, signore. Jacopo Jacopi is too old a soldier to be caught +napping," with these words we plunged into the Greve, and after much +careful stepping on the part of the horses, for the animals found +their foothold an uncertain one in the smooth round stones under the +water, we reached the opposite bank, and trotted on with the horses' +noses in a line towards San Miniato. The sun had now sunk behind the +hill, which was so full of memories for me, and although there would +be a moon later on, we had for the present to face a rapidly +increasing darkness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"By keeping at this pace, excellency," said Jacopo as we trotted on, +"we shall reach the Resa shortly before it gets quite dark, and I +submit that we stop there to feed the horses. As your honour +commanded, I have brought a meal for them, and there was space enough +in the sack for a snack for me, which would do at a pinch for two, if +your excellency would but condescend to taste of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You say well, Jacopo; but I also am an old soldier, and my +saddle-bags are full. A fasting body makes but a faint heart, whether +for man or beast--on the other bank of the Resa then, we shall call a +halt. There is a little light still, enough to increase the pace--so +onwards!"</p> + +<p class="normal">We broke into a hand gallop, keeping one behind the other, and +following the windings of a cattle track, for I had purposely avoided +the road after receiving the information I had extracted from the +sentry at the San Frediano Gate. It was evident, that the party of +men, followed by Ceci's nephew, had left Florence to carry out some +desperate design. I had been dogged all day by this man, and now he +had galloped off in disguise to join the men who had left Florence +before he had, and amongst whom was his uncle. Ceci's words at our +last interview, and the persistent manner in which I was followed, +left me no room to doubt that I was the object of their attention, and +that it would be necessary to keep well on the alert. I did not +apprehend danger at once, but thought that if an attack were made, it +would be in the narrow valley between the low hills to the north of +Montespertoli, or at Ponte a Elsa, each of which places was +particularly suited for an ambuscade, although of course, considering +their numbers, the attempt might be made anywhere, and openly, without +very much danger. So with another hurried word of warning to Jacopo, +and holding my sword ready, I galloped along, increasing the pace as +much as possible, whenever we went past a clump of trees, and both of +us keeping as sharp a look-out as the light, or rather darkness, +permitted. We avoided the regular ford of the Resa on the +Montespertoli road, crossing higher up in the direction of Montelupo, +and here got a good wetting, for the water was deeper than we +anticipated. Had Ceci and his friends only lain in wait for us at this +point, we should have had no chance. As it happened, however, we had +taken a zig-zag route, which had either thrown them off the track +entirely, or we would meet them further on, either at one of the two +spots mentioned by me, or in some other equally convenient locality. +At any rate, we were safe for the present, and that was something to +be thankful for, even if we were in darkness. So my thoughts ran on, +as we scrambled somehow to the opposite bank of the Resa, and groped +our way up until we felt soft grass under our feet, for we had +dismounted on fording the stream, and led our horses by their bridles +up the steep left bank. Here we called a halt, determined to await the +moon, and Jacopo managed somehow to tether the horses; fastening the +halters to the stump of a tree he discovered by stumbling against, and +on which he wasted some of those curses he was so anxious for me to +reserve for my enemies. After giving the horses their feed, which they +nosed out readily enough, despite the darkness, he joined me where I +sat on the grass trying to dry, and wrapping up the lock of his +arquebus in a woollen cap, which he produced, to keep it from damp, he +took his seat beside me at my invitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is too dark to eat now, excellency," he said. "I for one, like a +light of some kind, even if it be my Lady Moon, with my meals, and we +have some little time to wait--ill-luck to it! Do you call to mind, +signore, it was just such a night as this when we lay outside the +breach at Arx Sismundea, waiting for the signal rockets?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do, Jacopo."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, that was a fight! We have had nothing like it since then--not +even Fornovo--but good times are coming, excellency, and maybe we will +see them again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How comes it, Jacopo, that with this prospect before you, you left +the army?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There was trouble, excellency, big trouble at Siena, and I left to +avoid the attentions of Messer Braccio Fortebraccio, whom your worship +doubtless remembers."</p> + +<p class="normal">I could get no further explanation from Jacopo, but afterwards found +out that he had fought with and grievously wounded a man who had +spoken disparagingly of me; and fearing lest the swift discipline +which D'Alegres maintained might overtake him, had immediately +deserted, making his way to Florence, where a lucky chance threw him +in my way. I thought it well, at this time, to explain to Jacopo, the +danger I feared of an ambuscade, and he, knowing the road as well as I +did, agreed with me in regard to the spots most likely to be chosen +for the attack.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would it not be prudent, excellency, to await daylight, and, keeping +out of the beaten track, avoid these gentlemen?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You see, Jacopo," I answered, "we have not time for all this, and +must take some risk. I mean, therefore, to go as far as we can +to-night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As your worship desires. It is not that I fear the danger, but I do +not like putting my head in a bag. <i>Buono!</i> There is the moon, and I +already begin to taste my supper, after which, excellency, I have no +care which way we travel, either by broad daylight, or through the +teeth of these brigands."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he spoke the stars began to pale, and the moon rose slowly above +the horizon. In a few minutes, so bright and clear was the light, that +one may have easily read by it, and I was glad to see, moreover, that +the shifting clouds were gone, and there was every prospect of a fine +night. It was fall-to, now, to our supper, and adding my store to my +faithful follower's supply, I sunk distinctions of rank, and we +enjoyed a meal, with a hearty contentment that had been a stranger to +me for many a day. When the last drop of wine in the bottle was +finished, and we had picked our last bone, Jacopo arose with a sigh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Before supper, excellency, I was ready to eat and then fight my way +through an army; now beshrew me, if a sound nap of an hour or so is +not much to my taste!"</p> + +<p class="normal">I could not forbear smiling, but did not rise to the hint, and when +our horses were saddled again, and every buckle and strap examined +with the minutest care, we mounted and set off. As although we both +well knew the direct road to Leghorn, but were not acquainted with the +district so as to correctly pursue our way by moonlight, I decided to +run the gauntlet of the ambuscade, if there was any, and take the risk +of coming off with a whole skin, to the certainty of losing our track +by chancing short cuts, which might lead to, Heaven alone knew where! +Now that we were once more on the road, we trotted along at a fairish +pace through the silent night. The way led for some distance over an +uneven plain, covered with a multitude of white stones, that shone in +the moonlight like water. The plain gradually narrowed to where it was +intersected by a chain of low hills, and it was in crossing these that +we should have to ride through a narrow gut, and possibly meet our +danger. As we approached the hills, the short, stunted foliage that +tufted the plain, changed to a half-grown forest, in the midst of +which the road wound, and here we halted for a second, whilst Jacopo +examined his piece to see that all was aright, and gingerly blew at +the match thereon, to give the fire a little strength. This being +done, we proceeded with the greatest caution, riding one behind the +other, and going slowly, as we feared a pitfall of some kind among the +trees. Luckily there was none, and at last we got out of the immediate +presence of the forest, and into the gut, where the precipice rose +high on each side of us. All was rock and stone, but the road was +fairly even, a trap could have been seen, and going slow a mistake +here, so we clapped spurs to the horses, and sent them along, and +although momentarily expecting to see the flash of an arquebus, we +were agreeably disappointed, and got out of the passage without mishap +of any kind.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Animo!</i> Signore, we are out of this, and to-night will not be bread +for the teeth of these brigands;" and Jacopo, whose horse had carried +him a little in advance,' drew rein to let me come up, as we rode out +of the tail of the pass.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope so, but we are not out of the wood yet," and I pointed to +where a dip in the ground showed there was a small stream, and on the +opposite bank the road again led into forest land.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I was just going to beg your worship's leave to troll a catch," +said Jacopo; and as he uttered these words we plashed into the shallow +stream before us. Almost at this moment my horse neighed shrilly, and +an answering neigh from the wood before us rang out into the night.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Crack</i>! <i>Crack!</i> Two red tongues of fire licked out from the darkness +of the trees, we heard the loud report of firearms, and a brace of +balls sang past, unpleasantly close to my head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quick, Jacopo--follow me," and driving my spurs home, the good horse +plunged forwards, topping the bank almost on the instant that the +ambuscaders, who rushed out with a shout, reached it. The man to my +left, who was riding a white horse, pulled up in an unaccountable +manner, and making a point at the one on my sword side, I ran him +through the throat, my blade twisting him clean round in the saddle as +I dashed on. The attacking party, coming at a great pace, were carried +by their horses down the slope into the stream, and before they could +turn I had gained a fair start, and to my joy heard Jacopo swearing as +he galloped behind me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Maldetto!</i> I could not fire, signore--you were right in front of +me--but here goes." He turned back in his saddle, and would have let +off his piece had I not shouted out:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hold! hold! till I tell you," and fortunately he heard my words, or +the chances were there would have been a miss with no opportunity of +reloading.</p> + +<p class="normal">We gained a full hundred yards before the others recovered themselves, +coming after us with yells of anger, and I distinctly heard Ceci's +voice--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Two hundred crowns for them, dead or alive!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Now commenced a race for life. We had the start and meant to keep it; +but their horses were the fresher, and it became a mere question of +who could last longest. We made the pace as hot as we could, in the +hope that if we came to close quarters again some of our pursuers +would have tailed behind. For a little time things went well, and I +was beginning to think we should be able to show our friends a clean +pair of heels, when I suddenly felt my horse puffing, stretching his +neck forward and holding on to the bit, in a manner which left no +doubt to my mind that he was done. Jacopo, too, called out--</p> + +<p class="normal">"We had better fight it out, excellency; my horse is blown."</p> + +<p class="normal">Before giving a final answer, I slung round in the saddle to see how +the enemy were getting on. The only two who were at our heels was the +man mounted on the white horse, who had pulled aside in so strange a +manner when charging me, and another, whom I could not make out. The +rest were well behind, but riding hard. We could probably account for +these two, and turning back I shouted to Jacopo--</p> + +<p class="normal">"All right; fight it out."</p> + +<p class="normal">As I said this my horse stumbled and rolled clean over, killing +himself on the spot, but fortunately throwing me clear of him and +without doing any damage to me. I had just time to scramble to my +feet, when the two foremost of our pursuers were upon us.</p> + +<p class="normal">Jacopo had been carried some yards on by the speed of his mount, but +as the men came up he turned sharp round in his saddle and fired. The +report was followed by a yell of pain, and the leading horseman fell; +the other, who bestrode the white horse, again sheering off from me. +Here he met with Jacopo, who was coming back at a gallop, and, it +seemed to me, fairly flung himself from his horse, doing this in so +clumsy a manner as to be immediately ridden over by my knave.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mount--mount, excellency--mount behind me!" and Jacopo steadied his +horse. But there was no time, and three of the remaining horsemen +dashed up. Two of the horses shied past the body of my animal, but the +third came boldly up, and the rider immediately engaged Jacopo. I +could not give my brave fellow any aid, for my time was fully occupied +in dealing with my own adversaries. Their horses were too fresh, or +not well in hand, by great good luck, and so they could not manage to +come at me together. Seeing this, I made a dash across the road into +the wood--it was but a few feet--and both my adversaries followed, +with the result that the horse of one of them put his foot in a rut, +and stumbling forwards unseated his rider, and the other, in aiming a +cut at me, got his sword entangled for a second in an overhanging +bough. This second was, however, enough for me to give him six inches +of cold steel, and he pulled round and rode off, dropping his sword, +and swinging from side to side in his saddle like a drunken man. The +man who had fallen from his horse was nowhere to be seen. Indeed I did +not look for him, but rushed back to the assistance of Jacopo, and +this time, having opportunity for observing, if only for a twinkling, +saw his opponent was my friend, the sham monk. He, however, had as +quick an eye, and taking in the situation, made a sudden charge at +Jacopo, and as suddenly wheeling his horse to the left, shot past him +and fled on ahead, leaving us masters of the situation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you hurt, excellency?" called out Jacopo.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not in the least. How are you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing but a scratch, excellency, which I received from his +reverence, who, for all his monkish cowl, wields a good weapon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, jump down and let us see who our friends are, but first let me +look to your wound."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is really nothing as I said, signore," and Jacopo sprang lightly +to earth. I did not, however, listen to him, and taking from him his +flint and steel, lighted a piece of dry wood, which I converted into a +torch. With the aid of this and the moonlight, I examined Jacopo's +wound, which after all was but slight, and had just bandaged it up +with my kerchief, when I became aware that the man whom Jacopo had +ridden over, had arisen on his hands and knees, and was crawling off +into the brushwood.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Steady, friend," I said, and running up to him, gave him a prick with +my sword as a hint to stop. He made a little outcry, but had the good +sense to take the hint, and casting the light of the torch on his +face, I recognised my old acquaintance the ancient Brico.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So, signore," I said, "I have again to be thankful to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Jacopo too came up and recognised the man at a glance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Cappita!</i>" he burst out, "but it is the ancient Brico! Shall I beat +his brains out, excellency?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mercy, most noble cavalier," exclaimed Brico, "I yield me to ransom."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ransom forsooth!" called out Jacopo, "such ransom as a noose will +give you. Prepare to die."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be quiet, Jacopo," I said, "the ancient has yielded to ransom, we +will leave him to discuss the terms with the moon. Fetch me the bridle +from my poor horse yonder, and bind this knave firmly."</p> + +<p class="normal">Jacopo needed no second bidding, and in five minutes the ancient, +securely bound, was sitting like a trussed fowl in the middle of the +road, alternately cursing and weeping.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps, excellency, we had better look at the other," and Jacopo +pointed to the man whom he had shot, who lay on his face. "Perchance," +he added, "he too might turn out an old acquaintance."</p> + +<p class="normal">We did so, and as we bent over him I saw it was Bernabo Ceci gone to +his last account. He was shot through the heart, and lay quite dead, +with a frown on his forehead, and his teeth clenched in the death +agony. I looked at him in a sad silence which Jacopo broke.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I never knew a cross-marked bullet to fail, excellency. He is stone +dead."</p> + +<p class="normal">"May he rest in peace," I answered; "he was a brave man, although my +enemy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is still enough now, your worship--and see! There is his horse +grazing quietly. It will do excellently to replace the lost one."</p> + +<p class="normal">He ran forward and secured the animal, whilst I had a final look at my +dead beast. His neck was broken, and there was an end of him. Whilst +Jacopo at my request was changing the saddles, I stirred up the +ancient, who had lapsed into silence, and begged the favour of his +informing me to whom I was indebted for the excitement of the night. +Brico at first would not answer, but an inch of steel removed his +sulkiness, and he told me all that I believe he knew, which was to the +effect that he and some others had been hired by a great Florentine +called Strozzi, to stop me at all hazards on my journey to Rome, and +that the party was commanded by Ceci, who was to pay them two hundred +crowns for their trouble. More he evidently did not know, and +disregarding all his entreaties to loosen him, we rode off, wishing +him a good night. Nevertheless I am afraid he suffered considerable +discomfort.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That rascal monk," said Jacopo as we jogged along, "has gone on ahead +of us, and to-morrow, perhaps, will rouse the country in advance of +us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never fear, Jacopo," I answered, "he is no monk, as I well know, and +his only chance was to escape as he did. He will hark back soon enough +to Florence. Such hawks as he do not fly far from their eyries."</p> + +<p class="normal">And in this I proved to be right, and the library scribe was never +seen by me again.</p> + +<p class="normal">So we kept to our way, deciding to rest by day on the banks of the +Evola, to which we came in the early morning. Here we concealed our +horses in the forest which fringed the banks, and the tireless Jacopo, +leaving me to watch the cattle, proceeded on foot to a small hamlet he +knew of, returning in about an hour with the materials for a +substantial meal, and a small skin of wine. In order not to be taken +by surprise by the neighing of our horses, which would assuredly +discover us if other riders passed, we hobbled them in a secure place, +and sought a safe retreat for ourselves, almost half way up the low +hill which bounded the river at the point where we halted. Here we +spent a restful day, the only incident being the passing of a fine +body of men-at-arms across the Evola. From the double-headed lion on +their standard I perceived they were part of the <i>condotta</i> of +Colleoni, a devoted adherent of the Borgia, and it was fortunate that +we did not meet them or it would have gone hard with us, for I was +known personally to Colleoni and most of his officers, the free-lance +having changed sides after Fornovo, ostensibly because he said it was +against his conscience to war with the Pope; but in reality being +bribed by an immediate present of a fief in the Campagna, and the +promise of the lordship of Bergamo, which, although his son obtained +it, he himself never enjoyed. So much for the two-headed lion which +crossed our path as we lay hidden in the shade of the trees. Our +horses also being actively employed in cropping the rich turf in the +hollow where they were tethered, behaved themselves excellently, with +the result that the long line of men-at-arms passed on and out of +sight, without doing us any harm.</p> + +<p class="normal">In this manner we continued our journey, halting by day and travelling +by night, and finally reached Leghorn in safety. Here we took passage +in a ship bound for Rome; but were compelled to wait two days in +Leghorn, as the master was not ready to sail at once. At last, all +things being arranged, we got our horses and ourselves aboard, and put +out to sea with a fair wind. The master of the ship had sailed with +Messer Columbus to the New World, and lost no time in giving us the +history of his adventures, which were in truth marvellous beyond +imagination. I listened with a smooth face, and the good man no doubt +thought that I believed his stories. In this, however, he was +mistaken, nevertheless they were diverting in the extreme. Jacopo was +overcome by the sickness of the sea, and flung himself down in a +corner on the deck of the ship from which spot nothing would induce +him to move. At every lurch he threw out a prayer which ended in a +groan, and so great was his distress, that as he afterwards stated, he +would have sold his soul to Satan for a paul, if only to obtain an +hour's relief. As for me, I was well, having had some experience of +the ocean before, when employed by the Most Serene Republic for +service against the Turk, and found contentment in the master's +stories, and in pacing up and down watching such things as came under +my view. I had plenty of opportunity for reflection on the voyage, and +came to the conclusion that on delivering my letter to the Cardinal at +Rome, I would seek out Bayard if he were there, lay my story before +him, and beseech his help to enable me to recover myself.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last, one fine day, we reached Ostia, and there disembarked after +bidding farewell to the master, and set out on our way to Rome. Jacopo +recovered his spirits as his foot touched land, and though the +ruddiness of his cheek had paled a little, he was quite himself again +by the time we crossed the Stagno di Ostia. Finally we came in full +view of the Eternal City, and towards the afternoon, having pressed +along at a good pace, our jaded horses brought us before the Gate of +St. Paul.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_13" href="#div1Ref_13">ROME.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">As we rode up to the ruinous stretch of the battered wall, and saw +before us the gate, lying open against the mottled green and grey +high-ground of the Aventine, that old hill, covered with straggling +and unkempt vineyards, and studded with the walls of monasteries, I +was moved more than I can tell, for I was about to realise a dream of +my life, and put foot once again in the place of my birth, a spot not +only bound to me by that tie, but sacred with the hundred legends of +my forefathers' history, men who had for centuries played so great a +part in its fate, until our house was cast forth by the mother-city, +to wander as exiles over the land. It is true that since the days of +my childhood I had not seen Rome, it is true that such memories of it +as I had were dim and misty, and that to recall them was like trying +to bring back before one's eyes, when awake, the vague but pleasant +visions of a delightful dream; nevertheless my heart filled with a +strange joy, and my pulse began to beat more rapidly, as each stride +of my horse brought me nearer home. In short, I was a Roman come back +to Rome, and in these words sum up my feelings.</p> + +<p class="normal">Filled with such thoughts, I tightened the reins half unconsciously, +and my horse, doubtless upset by his voyage, and the hard going from +Ostia, very willingly slackened his pace to a walk. Jacopo, as in duty +bound, followed my example, and immediately began to buzz into speech.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is nearly six years since I last saw that gate, excellency, when +with Count Carlo Orsini we rode up, just as it was closed behind +Cesare Borgia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was when you left me for a time, on my taking service with +Venice."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, your worship; I had no mind for the galleys," and Jacopo +shuddered at the recollection of his recent voyage. "My courage," he +continued, "is firm enough on firm ground, but when the sea plays cup +and ball with me, I have no soul to think of my own salvation, let +alone fighting. <i>Ohime!</i> But on that villainous craft we have left, +there were times when I was only too anxious not to live."</p> + +<p class="normal">I smiled as I inquired, "And after your service with the Orsini where +did you go?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, your worship, no sooner did Count Carlo drive those scorpions +of the Colonna and Borgia back to Rome, than the Most Serene Republic +must needs step in and cause peace to be made. This threw me and +sundry other honest fellows out of employment, and on to the edge of +starvation, so we boldly rode into Rome, and changing from the bear to +the bull, tendered our services to the Borgia, and they were snapped +up I can tell you. I was lucky enough to find a master in the Duke of +Gandia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lucky, you call it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, your worship! for Giovanni Borgia had an open purse and a free +hand. I was with him until he was murdered, and then, affairs being +warm in Rome, and hearing you had come back from the sea, why, I came +back to the old banner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is said that Gandia was murdered by the Cardinal Ascanio Sforza."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed no, your excellency! I saw the deed done. It was in this way: +the Duke and his brother Cesare, then Cardinal of Valencia, supped at +the house of their mother, the Lady Vannozza. After supper they must +needs walk home together; I was the Duke's sole attendant, but Cesare +was accompanied by his cut-throat Michelotto and half-a-dozen others. +On the way some mention was made of Donna Sancia, Don Giuffré's wife, +and the brothers came to blows. The Cardinal stabbed the Duke with his +own hand, and he gave a great cry and fell down dead. Seeing it was no +use trying to help a dead man, and being in no hurry to trouble St. +Peter myself, I knocked down the strangler Michelotto, and making a +run for it, escaped with a whole skin. The body of the Duke was flung +into the Tiber, and was discovered by a charcoal monger of the +Ripetta, whom Cesare hanged at Tor di Nona, as a reward for his +intelligence. They buried the Duke, as you know, signore, in Santa +Maria del Popolo--poor man!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you mean to say that this was never known to the Pope?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I never said anything about that, your worship; a secret cannot be +kept by half-a-dozen, and I dare swear our Lord knows all about it or +else the Cardinal Ascanio would hardly be in the Cesarini as he is. +These things, however, must not be spoken of in Rome. Men's tongues +should be weighted with lead when the Borgia's name crops up."</p> + +<p class="normal">We had by this time come opposite the Monte Testaccio, that curious +mound made of old pottery, which lies towards the river, south-west of +the Ostian Gate, and so engrossed were we in our talk, that we did +not observe a large party of riders of both sexes, with an escort of +men-at-arms, coming at a hand gallop from our right, straight in our +direction. Our attention was however sharply drawn to the fact by the +cry of an equerry who was riding well in advance of the others, and +this man shouted:</p> + +<p class="normal">"The road! The road! Way for His Holiness! Way! Way!"</p> + +<p class="normal">We drew off at once to the side, Jacopo dismounting and sinking to his +knees. I however contented myself with uncovering, and watching with +no little astonishment the party as they came up. They were evidently +returning from hawking, and at the head of the clump of riders were +two men in full Turkish costume.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who are those Turks?" I asked Jacopo, and the knave still kneeling, +and holding his hands up in supplication, answered hurriedly--</p> + +<p class="normal">"One is the Soldan Djem, excellency--O Lord, I trust we may not be +hanged as an afternoon's amusement--the other, the fair one, old +Alexander VI. himself--O Lord! What cursed luck! Kneel, excellency; it +is our only chance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tush!" I replied, and remembered at once that the brother of Bajazet, +the Grand Turk, was a hostage in Rome, practically a prisoner in the +hands of Alexander, a legacy he had inherited from the Cibo, and which +brought him forty thousand ducats annually. I could understand Djem in +Eastern costume, but the Pope masquerading in broad delight as a Moor! +It was as wonderful as it was disgusting to me. And then the +remembrance of Corte's daughter came to my mind, and as they +approached, I could hardly refrain from making a dash to rid the world +of the monster who sat in St. Peter's chair. I barely saluted as they +passed, but Jacopo roared out for a blessing, and the papal hand +airily cast a benediction at us. Alexander was apparently in a high +good-humour, for, turning in his saddle, he made some joking remark to +a lady who rode a trifle behind him, whereat she laughed loudly, a +harsh unmusical laugh, and glanced at me with a half-amused air, from +under her heavy lashes as she went by. The rest of the party, +spurring, laughing and chattering were a few yards behind; and as they +clattered on to the road, Djem, giving a wild shout of <i>Allah</i>! +<i>Allah!</i> threw the reins on the neck of his barb, and galloped through +the gate at full speed, followed by Alexander and the rest of the +riders, who urging their mounts to a racing pace, and, both men and +women, yelling in imitation of the Moor, vanished through the gate +after him in a whirlwind of dust. So quickly did all this happen, that +I had hardly time to observe the faces of those who passed me, and +indeed, so astonished was I, that I had scarce room in my mind for any +other feeling. I had of course heard wild tales of the Vatican, and +strange and horrible stories of the Borgia himself, indeed there was +one crime that should have brought down God's lightning on the man, +for all that he was the Vicar of Christ; but I never for one moment +conceived it possible that Alexander could so far forget his place as +to appear in public robed as a heathen, and gallop through the streets +of Rome like a drunken madman.</p> + +<p class="normal">When they had gone, Jacopo arose from his knees, and dusting them with +his hands whilst he looked up at me, said: "<i>Corpo di Bacco!</i> But I +gave up all for lost. I vow a candle to St. Mary of--I forget +where--but to the shrine nearest to the place we dine, for this lucky +escape."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, sirrah!" I said, a little annoyed, "mount. There never was any +danger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your excellency is pleased to say so," he replied, swinging himself +into the saddle, "but if you saw two old men and a half-dozen old +women strung up for merely blocking the way, as I did at Tor di Nona, +perhaps your worship would think as I do."</p> + +<p class="normal">I made no reply, allowing Jacopo the run of his tongue to relieve his +feelings, and we went on slowly until we reached the gate. Here I +spoke, "As you know Rome better than I do, Jacopo, you had best lead +the way; but I want to pass by the two houses of my family before we +make for the Strangers' Quarters, where we must find a lodging for the +night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well, your worship!" and Jacopo drew a little to the front. +"There they go," he said, shading his eyes with his hands, and turning +to the left, where a dun cloud of dust on the Via della Marmorata +marked the progress of the Borgia. "The best way, signore," he +continued, "is over the hill; we will get a view from there, and then +passing by the places you want to see, make for a quiet hostel I know +of in the Strangers' Quarters."</p> + +<p class="normal">Following him, we rode up the Aventine, until we reached the old wall +of Servius Tullius, here we stopped to observe the view. To the west +and south-west we could see the green of the Campagna merging into the +distant grey of the Roman Maremma, whilst beyond that a clear blue +line, below the flush of the coming sunset, marked the sea. Beneath us +lay the Tiber and the Island, the yellow water of the river stirred +into ripples by the breeze, and looking from the distance like +hammered brass. Beyond the Tiber rose Monte Gianicolo, behind which +the top of the Vatican Hill was just visible. To the north the view +was a little shut in by the Palatine and the church of St. Prisca +above us, and far off rose the cone of Soratte. North-east and east +lay the Palatine, the Esquiline, with the campaniles of Santa Maria +Maggiore and San Pietro in Vincoli. Over Monte Coelio we could see the +heights of the Sabine Hills, and running our eyes along the Appian +Way, we could almost descry the Alban Lake, the mountains being +distinctly visible. We stayed for a few moments drinking in the view, +and then going onwards, turned north-west, past St. Prisca, and began +the descent, by a winding way, held in by vineyards. Coming down we +caught a glimpse of the three churches of the Aventine, namely S. +Sabina, S. Maria Aventina, and St. Alessio, which was held by the +monastery of St. Jerome, whose walls rose hard at hand. A look to the +right showed us the Circus Maximus, above which towered a huge obelisk +surrounded by four lions. At length we came to the Vicola di San +Sabina, and at the corner of the street rose the grey walls and square +tower of the castle of the Savelli. I drew rein, and looked at it with +a bitter heart, and a sigh I could not control escaped me, as I saw +the breeze catch and spread to the wind the silken folds of the +standard of the Chigi, who bore quartered on their shield the star of +the Savelli and the tree of De la Rovere. It flaunted there, in all +the insolent pomp of a new house, whose moneybags were full, and the +sight of it was enough for me. Jacopo must have caught the look on my +face, for he said kindly--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who knows, excellency--luck may turn."</p> + +<p class="normal">Well meant as the words were, they jarred on me, and without replying +I moved on, silently raising my sword to the salute, as I passed the +grim gates from which my ancestors held the road as far as the river, +and almost held Rome itself.</p> + +<p class="normal">As we went past the Island, I did not even raise my head to see the +Theatre of Marcellus, within which lay another and the oldest of our +family houses, having come to us through Pierleone towards the close +of the eleventh century.</p> + +<p class="normal">Jacopo was for going straight on past the monastery of the Aracoeli, +on the Capitol; but unluckily I discovered that my horse had cast a +shoe, and this was a matter not to be neglected. So we turned to the +right, and entered the Campo Vaccino, formerly the Forum of Rome. It +being now sunset, here were collected hundreds of oxen and buffaloes, +and from the height of Monte Caprino we could hear the bleating of the +herds of goats which were pastured thereon, and the tinkling of their +bells as they moved slowly down towards their shelter for the night. A +hundred fires were blazing cheerfully, and served to dissipate the +blue vapour which began to hang over the place. Round these fires were +groups of people, mostly countrymen, who seemed in the best of +spirits, as they listened to songs, or watched numbers of their party, +who danced merrily to the tune of a pipe. Hard by were a number of +sheds, used by mechanics, and the blaze, which showed a forge in work, +soon attracting our attention, we made there at once, and had the +horse attended to.</p> + +<p class="normal">Whilst the smith was beating out a shoe, I sat down on a rough bench, +my horse being fastened to a wooden post, and Jacopo holding his nag +by the bridle paced up and down, occasionally stamping his feet on the +ground to free them, as he said, from the ants. In other words he was +suffering slightly from cramp. To my right was a large crowd, +evidently enjoying a show of jugglery, and from their cries of +wonderment and pleasure, they seemed to be having their money's worth. +So I rose and elbowed my way to a good place, unfortunately only in +time to see the end of the affair. The juggler was robed in a doctor's +gown, and after performing a trick, he distributed nostrums for +various ailments, free of payment. Imagine my surprise, in recognising +in him no other than Mathew Corte; and as I came up, he placed a +tambourine in his little dog's mouth, and bade him carry it round for +subscriptions. Coppers were freely flung in, and as the little animal +stopped before me, I dropped in a florin, and stooped to pat its head. +As I rose I caught Corte's eye, and saw he knew me, but as he made no +sign I stayed quiet. Collecting his money, the doctor bowed his +thanks, and began packing up the instruments of his trade. I went back +to my seat, and watched the smith at work on my horse, thinking that +Corte must have somehow come into funds, and wondering how he had +managed it. After a little time I felt a touch on my shoulder, and +turning round saw him beside me. I invited him to a seat, inquiring +after his health.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It grows better day by day," he answered, "now that my work is begun. +And you, signore?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can say the same," I answered; "I grow better day by day, now that +my work is begun."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is a favour I ask, Messer Donati," he went on.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is this, and do not think me ungrateful. I am here playing a part. +We will meet again, perhaps, under different surroundings. All I ask +is that if we do, you will make no sign of recognition, nor mention to +anyone that you know me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you wish, Messer Corte."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A hundred thanks, and yet another thing--short reckonings make long +friends," and he pressed into my palm two gold pieces, the amount of +the sum I had left with him the night his daughter died. I had no +desire to take them back, not knowing how Corte stood; but he assured +me he would be deeply offended if I did not, and that he was well +provided with the sinews of war. Where he had got them I know not, and +of course I had no option but to receive back the money I had given +him, though I did this most unwillingly. When this was over, he +pressed my hand once more, and, wishing me good night, hurried off.</p> + +<p class="normal">By this time the blacksmith had completed his task, and we delayed no +longer, but went off at once. It was fortunate that Jacopo knew Rome +as he did, or we might have been hopelessly lost in the labyrinth of +streets, some of them in total ruin, some of them entirely +uninhabited, for at the time so hideous was the misgovernment of the +city, that all who could do so had fled from Rome, and those who +remained could not have exceeded thirty thousand in number, of whom at +least ten thousand, men and women, were beings who had lost all claim +to the respect of mankind, and were capable of almost any crime. These +are hard words, but true, nor indeed have I ever seen a place where +all that was bad was so shamelessly exposed, as in Rome when Roderigo +Borgia was Pope. At length we reached the Strangers' Quarters, but +Jacopo's hostel was not to be found, and after searching for it in +vain, we were content to pull up before the door of a small inn built +on the lower slope of Monte Pincio, barely a bow-shot from S. Trinità +de' Monte, the church erected by Charles of France in 1495, and a +little beyond the convent of the Dames du Sacré Coeur. I cannot say +that the hostel was an inviting-looking place; in fact it was little +better than one of the common <i>osterie</i> or wineshops with which Rome +abounded; but it was too late to pick and choose, and for the night at +least, I determined to stay here. Our first duty was to attend to the +horses, which we had stabled in stalls, immediately below the room to +be occupied by me, Jacopo having to put up with lodgings in the +stables for the night. After the beasts had been fed and groomed, I +set myself to a plain dinner, washed down with the contents of a +straw-covered <i>mezzo fiasco</i> of Frascati. Jacopo waited on me, and +when I was done, contentedly devoured the remainder of the <i>manzo</i> or +boiled beef, and cooled his throat with a bottle of Marino, which I +presented to him. Whilst he was thus engaged, I went down and had +another look at the horses, and as I patted their necks, and they +whinnied at me, I thought regretfully of the good beast who lay dead +on the Leghorn road, and wondered what had become of Brico, of whom, +notwithstanding his villainy, I could hardly think of without smiling. +It was in truth strange that a man, so arrant a poltroon at heart, +should desert his natural occupation of a lackey, to play the bravo, +and pose as a soldier. How he had ever even obtained the rank of +ancient was a matter of surprise and wonder to me. At length I +dismissed him from my mind, and coming back, found Jacopo at the end +of his meal and his bottle. It was late enough now, and giving him +warning to sleep lightly, and to arouse me at once if necessity arose, +for I liked not the look of the place, I climbed up the ladder leading +to the loft above the stables, which was to serve me as a chamber for +the night.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_14" href="#div1Ref_14">GEORGE OF AMBOISE.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">I should mention that before retiring I had obtained from the landlord +a good-sized lanthorn, which I had carefully filled with oil, and +trimmed under my own eyes. Holding this in my hand I ascended the +ladder leading to the chamber, or rather loft I was to occupy, and on +gaining my point I placed it on the floor, near the opening by which +the ladder led into the room, and so directed the light that its glare +passed downwards, and up to the entrance of the stables, leaving the +sides of the stables in darkness, although my own room was bright +enough. This was a precautionary measure, as it would discover any one +attempting to come in by the stable entrance, which had no door, and +would enable me at any time to see to rush down quickly to the aid of +Jacopo, should he need it. I debated a short while as to whether I +should undress for the night; but so little did I like the looks of +the place, which was more like a house of call for bravos than +anything I had seen, that I did nothing beyond removing my boots, and +flinging myself as I was on the vile truckle-bed in the room, I placed +my drawn sword by my side, and sought to sleep, struggling resolutely +to get this, despite the legions of inhabitants the bed contained, who +with one accord sallied forth to feast upon me. But sleep I was +determined to have, as I had work for to-morrow, and knowing Jacopo to +own sharp eyes and quick ears felt no scruple about getting my rest, +determining however, to make it up the next day to my knave for his +vigil, which I was sure would be faithfully kept. Finally, despite the +attacks of my enemies, I dropped off into a light slumber, which +lasted for two or three hours, when I was startled by hearing a shrill +whistle, the clash of swords, the kicking and plunging of the horses, +and Jacopo's voice shouting out my name. I woke up at once, with all +my wits about me, and on the instant ran down the ladder, sword in +hand, parrying more by accident than design, a cut that was made at me +by some one as I descended.</p> + +<p class="normal">As I touched ground, two men darted out of the door, and ran across +the half-ruined yard in front of the stables. A third, whom I +recognised as Jacopo, was about to follow, but I held him back by the +shoulder, having no mind to run risks around dark corners whilst I had +my letter to deliver. Jacopo yielded to me very unwillingly, and in +answer to my hurried inquiry, gave me an account of the affair which +had been as brief as it was noisy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When your worship retired," said he, "leaving the lanthorn to so to +conveniently light up the stable entrance, I had another look at the +horses, and then settled myself down on that heap of straw yonder, my +back to the wall, and my sword in my right hand. So an hour, or may be +two, passed, and then I heard voices outside, and some one swearing at +the light. Oh ho! says I to myself, there's a night-hawk about, and I +remained on the alert, not thinking it worth while to give tongue +then. After a while the voices dropped away--and, excellency, I am +sorry, but I must have slipped off into a doze, and beshrew me! if I +did not dream I was aboard that cursed ship again, and being made to +play pea-in-the-drum once more. I therefore made haste to awaken, and +as I opened my eyes heard a crackling noise outside. I rose slowly and +crept towards the entrance, and just as I reached within three feet of +it a handful of pebbles was thrown in, and one of the horses started a +bit. The stones were clearly flung from outside to see if any one was +awake; but of course I made no sign, and the next minute two men +appeared at the open entrance. I gave a whistle to rouse your honour, +and went at them at once--and your excellency knows the rest. I think +however I touched one--see there!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He held the point of his blade to the light, and placed the end of his +finger on a stain on the sword.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Three inches at least," he exclaimed, and with a satisfied air, +stooped down to clean his finger on the straw at his feet. I thanked +the good fellow for his zeal and the fidelity he had shown.</p> + +<p class="normal">"As for that, excellency," he said, "there is no need to praise me, +for I expect to be made a cavaliere when your worship wins back the +lordships of the Savelli!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are brave enough for a cavaliere," I laughed, "the point however +for you at present is sleep. Go up to my room and get what you can. I +have done for to-night, and will watch the horses. It was after them +that our visitors came."</p> + +<p class="normal">But to this he would not consent on any account, nor was I so anxious +to go back to that bed, so bringing down the light from above, we +passed the rest of the night close to the horses. In the intervals of +dozing Jacopo related to me, twice over, in the minutest detail, the +story of the hanging of the two old men and six old women which he had +seen at Tor di Nona, and finally sank off into sleep. I did not make +any attempt to arouse him, and kept on the watch myself until the +lanthorn burned with a sickly glare, and the crowing of a cock told us +the morning was begun. In a few minutes it was light enough to see, +and Jacopo rising, shook himself like a dog, and stepping up to the +lanthorn extinguished it; after which, with much whistling, he set +himself to water the animals, give them their morning feed, and groom +them.</p> + +<p class="normal">Leaving him thus engaged, I strolled out into the courtyard, where +there was already a figure or two moving, and stepping through a gap +in the ruined wall, climbed up a portion of the slope of Monte Pincio, +following a narrow lane, on each side of which was a half-deserted +garden, and bending my steps to where, from amidst a clump of trees, I +could hear the song of a <i>caponera d'edera</i> or blackcap, who was in +full tune. Attracted by the music of the bird, I went on until I heard +the plashing of water, and found myself at the basin of a deserted +fountain, which was hemmed in with vines and creepers, and from which +a thin stream of water was pouring, and bubbling down the hillside in +the direction of S. Trinità di Monte. The basin was made of grey +stone, cracked with age in many places, and from these fissures +sprouted masses of white serpyllum, the flowers in full bloom. In the +centre of the basin was a much damaged figure of Ceres, and from her +horn a stream of water fell with a melodious splashing, which, mingled +with the song of the bird, had a pleasing effect upon my ear. I took +advantage of the solitude of the spot to enjoy the luxury of a bath, +and when I had dressed again, climbed a few feet higher, and facing +round ran my eye idly over the view. Through the grey mist rising over +the houses and vineyards, the Tiber lay, like a yellow snake at rest; +one could see no motion of the waters. Near the Ripetta, long spirals +of dark smoke curling up to the sky marked the quarters of the +charcoal-burners, and the sunrise, which was behind me, cast a glory +on the colossal statue of the archangel Michael, where it stood on the +gloomy keep of St. Angelo, like a triumphant god alighting upon earth. +A dark rolling mist, bright at the top with the sunlight, blue-grey +beneath, covered the city below me; but I could make out the octagonal +dome of the hospital of San Spirito, the vast walls of the Vatican, +then in course of construction, and the dark stretch of cork trees +that filled the Valle dell' Inferno, beyond the Vatican hill. Monte +Mario was all alight, and I could distinctly make out the Villa +Mellini on its summit. There were landmarks that even a stranger, such +as myself, who had the barest knowledge of the place, could not miss; +and as I watched the heaving mist below me, I saw a sudden flash from +the bastion of St. Angelo, and a moment after the boom of the morning +gun reached my ears. I did not wait to observe more of the scene, but +retraced my steps to the albergo, where I found that Jacopo had +ordered a little table to be put out into the portico, and on this my +breakfast was set. As I attacked this, Jacopo asked the order of the +day, and I informed him that when he had breakfasted we should settle +with the host and seek other lodgings, after I had attended to the +business I had with Monsignore d'Amboise.</p> + +<p class="normal">My henchman was also anxious to know if I meant to take any steps with +regard to the attempt at robbery last night. I was well enough +inclined, but determined to let the matter rest until my business was +done, and for the present said I would remain content with the +satisfaction that we had saved our steeds and throats. By the time I +finished breakfast, Jacopo, who had already taken a meal, had saddled +the horses, and was holding them ready for our departure. I summoned +mine host, but at first could obtain no view of him. Finally on my +threat to depart without settling my score, he appeared with his arm +bound up in a sling. As he was unwounded the evening before, I made no +doubt but that he was one of the two who had visited us last night, +but said nothing, merely remarking, as I paid my account, that the +love of horseflesh frequently brought people into trouble. He did not +seem to appreciate the remark, and scowled at me, at which I bade him +begone, and to thank his stars that his house was not pulled about his +ears. He did not attempt any reply, but slunk off, and inwardly +resolving to clear out this nest of scorpions from Rome at the first +chance, I rode out of the gate, followed by Jacopo, and we directed +our way towards the Ponte S. Angelo. I had not the least idea where +his eminence of Rouen was staying; but made certain it would be +somewhere in the Borgo, and that once I had reached the papal quarter, +I should find no difficulty in my search for D'Amboise, and in +delivering to him Machiavelli's letter.</p> + +<p class="normal">As I went on, I began to feel nervous in spite of myself, as to what +the results of my interview with the cardinal would be, and whether it +would end in the further employment, which the Secretary had +distinctly said it would. I had no reason to doubt, however, and it +was with a hopeful mind that I trotted up the Lungo Tavere, and was +brought to a halt by a gruesome spectacle at Tor di Nona. There was a +crowd assembled, watching an execution, and Jacopo, sidling up to me, +remarked as he pointed to a body swinging in the air--</p> + +<p class="normal">"What room there would be for Messer Braccio Fortebraccio here, +signore--see that pear, of the kind he loves, growing there? <i>Barta!</i> +But there is another one----" and, even as he spoke, another wretch +was hoisted into the air, and then another and another. I did not stop +to look; but Jacopo stayed behind, overtaking me at a gallop as I +reached the Piazza di S. Angelo.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is the doctor of St. John's on the Lateran, and three of his +bravos, signore. It is said he was accustomed to spend his evenings in +cutting purses and throats; but, as ill luck would have it, meddled +with one of Giulia Bella's friends, and no money could buy an +indulgence for that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If true he is well served, and there are others of his kidney whom we +could spare with equal pleasure."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mine host of our inn, excellency, for instance. But the gibbet at Tor +di Nona does not always bear fruit like this. I mind early one----"</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment, however, I set spurs to my horse and lost the rest, +being afraid that Jacopo intended to retail to me the story of the old +men and women who had been hanged as a morning's diversion by Cesare +Borgia, and as he had twice delivered himself of this to me as we sat +up last night, I was in no mood to hear it again for the third time. +Near the statues of Peter and Paul, on the bridge, was a guard-house, +occupied at the time by a detachment of Spanish infantry, and to these +men I addressed myself, inquiring where the cardinal of Rouen was +staying. I was told, at once, that his eminence was lodging in the new +palace of Cardinal Corneto, opposite the Scorsa Cavalli, and that my +best way was to turn to the left on crossing the bridge, and then to +the right at the junction of the Borgo San Spirito and the Borgo San +Michele.</p> + +<p class="normal">Bestowing my thanks and a largesse on the men for their kindness, I +went on at a gallop, congratulating myself on the ease with which the +difficulty was solved, and in a few minutes had crossed the Piazza +Scorsa Cavalli, and was before the residence of the cardinal. At the +time I speak of, it was not quite finished, but still habitable, and +had been rented by Monsignore d'Amboise, as being conveniently near +the Vatican.</p> + +<p class="normal">On entering the courtyard, I dismounted, and giving my horse to Jacopo +to hold, ascended the steps, and boldly announced myself as an urgent +messenger who had business with his eminence. I was ushered by a page +into a reception room, and early as the hour was, there were a +considerable number of people already in attendance, awaiting the +morning levée. Here I was left to cool my heels for a little time, the +spruce page informing me that the cardinal was engaged at breakfast, +but that he would tell him of my coming, and asked my name. I +hesitated for a moment, but decided to keep the name of Donati which I +had assumed, and gave that, adding that I was the bearer of an urgent +despatch to the cardinal, which I must deliver with my own hands. The +young man then left me, as I have said, and taking a good position +near the entrance door to the adjoining room, I leaned back against +the wall, and awaited my summons. The reception room was of noble +proportions, oblong in shape, the ceiling being supported by two +pillars of veined marble, which, although they diminished the size of +the chamber, had a good effect. The marble flooring, arranged in a +patchwork of black and white, was bare of all furniture, and as the +room gradually filled, the constant moving of feet, the sound of which +rang sharply on the stone, made it appear as if a lot of masons' +hammers were at work. I let my eyes wander over the groups as they +stood or moved about, wondering, if by chance I should see anyone I +knew; but they were all strangers to me, mostly Frenchmen, with a fair +sprinkling of priests amongst them. They were one and all trying to +jostle past each other, so as to gain as close a position as possible +to the entrance door, near to which I stood; and as I watched this +with some little amusement, I heard a whisper in my ear, and glancing +round beheld a man standing near me in a doctor's robe, holding a +heavily bound missal in his hand. I saw in a moment it was Corte, and +he whispered in a low voice:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well met again, signore, remember your promise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do, and the promise I made to the juggler will not be forgotten to +the doctor. Is it wise, however, if you wish to remain unknown, for us +to be seen speaking here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not very, but I wanted a word with you. Do not look round at present, +but near the pillar to your right are two men, one dressed half in +cloth of gold, and they are more interested in you than you think. I +overheard a snatch of conversation--they are moving this way. By your +leave, signore," raising his voice, he attempted to push by me, and +catching the hint his last words had thrown out, I answered loudly, +"First come, first served, learned doctor, and you must bide your +turn."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am a man of peace, and therefore yield." Corte moved off, and I was +free to look around me. I saw that Corte's little piece of acting, to +which I had risen, was due to the fact that the man in the cloth of +gold and his companion were edging nearer to us, and at the time were +barely six feet off. Besting my hand lightly on the hilt of my sword I +looked the two full in the face, but could make nothing of them. The +one who wore a jerkin of gold cloth met my look for an instant, and +then dropped his eyes, a faint flush rising to his cheek. I saw that +he was a young man of a singularly handsome countenance. A short +neatly curled moustache fell over his upper lip and mouth, but there +was no sign of a beard on the small and rounded chin, which was +cleanly shaven. On his right cheek he wore a black patch, placed as if +to hide the scar of a wound, although his complexion was as delicate +as if the sun had never touched it. In his ears he wore earrings, an +affectation of female adornment hateful to me, and the fingers of his +small right hand, which he held ungloved, were covered with rings. The +hilt of his rapier too, peeping from under the folds of his gay cloak, +was crested with jewels, and altogether it seemed as if I could have +nothing to fear from this painted lily, who looked more fitted to +thrum a lute in a lady's bower than have aught to do with the stir of +the times. I therefore loosed my glance from him with some contempt, +and turned to his companion, who was robed as an abbé, and evidently +in a sour middle age. His features were bolder than those of his +companion, but distinctly those of the canaille, and there was nothing +in them in any way remarkable.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nevertheless I thought it well to be on the watch, knowing that a +dagger thrust is easily sent home, and there was the certainty, too, +that the fact of my coming to Rome with a letter was known to the +Medici plotters in Florence, and evidently it was their object to +frustrate its delivery. What puzzled me, however, was that the look +the young man directed to me was not unfriendly, and it struck me that +if I could only hear his voice it might give me some clue to a +recognition. The two had come a little between me and the door, and I +was just about to contest the place with a view of forcing their hands +if possible, when the door was flung open and the same page who had +taken my name appeared and called out--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Signor Donati, his eminence awaits you."</p> + +<p class="normal">As the door opened there was a general movement towards it. But the +cry of the page in a moment arrested the crowd, turning the look of +anticipation on the faces of all to one of disappointment, and a loud +murmuring arose against my being so favored. I lost not a second in +stepping forward, and in doing so purposely brushed against the young +man near to me, turning round as I did so with a somewhat brusque "By +your leave, sir." I fully expected that he would resent my rudeness +and make some speech, but he merely bowed his head with a courteous +inclination, showing a set of small and even teeth as he smiled under +his blonde moustache. I was a little put out by the failure of my +plan, but the next instant the door closed behind me, and at any rate +the letter to the cardinal was safe, and my task was as good as +accomplished.</p> + +<p class="normal">I followed the page therefore with an equal mind, and lifting a +curtain, which fell in heavy folds at the end of the passage, where a +couple of gorgeous lackeys stood, he called out "Messer Donati," and +then stepped aside to let me pass. I entered the room with a firm +step, and saw before me a large, but plainly-furnished apartment. In a +lounge chair near a small table, on which was set out a light repast, +was a man whom I at once guessed to be the cardinal. He wore a purple +robe, and the barettina or small skull cap, which covered the tonsure +on his head, allowed his short grey hair, which curled naturally, to +be seen around it. Under the cap I saw a square resolute face with +keen black eyes, and a full but kindly mouth. He was just putting down +a glass of vernaccia as I came in, and I caught the purple glitter of +the sapphire ring he wore in token of his rank, as he set down the +glass. He was not alone, for, leaning against the window and caressing +the head of an enormous wolf-hound, was a splendidly-dressed cavalier, +who looked up as I came in, and I saw at once it was Bayard. I kept my +eyes away from him, however, and advancing straight towards the +cardinal, placed the letter before him without a word.</p> + +<p class="normal">D'Amboise looked at the seals carefully, and then taking a small +jade-hilted knife from the table, ripped open the envelope, and ran +his eye quickly over the letter. As he did so not a muscle of his face +moved to show how the contents stirred him, and when he had finished +he held it out at arm's length, saying--</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear Bayard, what do you think of this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Bayard made a step forward to take the letter, and in doing this our +eyes met, and he frankly held out his hand. I could hardly believe it +when I saw it extended towards me. My breath came thick and fast, and +the whole room swam around. The man was the soul of honour, the +noblest knight in Christendom; he had seen my trial, nay, he had been +one of my judges, and he offered me his hand! He must hold me +guiltless, I felt. "My lord!" I rather gasped than spoke as I took his +grasp, but seeing my emotion, he put in--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sit down, cavaliere. His eminence will forgive me for disposing of a +seat in his house--we are more than old friends." He placed his hand +on my shoulder and forced me to a seat, whilst D'Amboise, still +holding the letter in his hand, looked at us with a puzzled air.</p> + +<p class="normal">"St. Dennis!" he exclaimed. "What does this mean, Bayard?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It means, your eminence, that this is a gallant gentleman who has +been most basely used; but pardon me--the letter."</p> + +<p class="normal">He took the letter from the cardinal's hands and read it quickly, +whilst I sat still, with emotions in my heart I cannot describe, and +D'Amboise glanced from one to another with a half-amused, half-curious +look on his keen face. Bayard finished his perusal in a few seconds, +and laying the letter on the table said, "Nothing could be better. We +should be prepared for action, although there is yet plenty of time. I +wonder how in the world the Florentine got wind of this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, he has long ears. We shall, however, want a good sword, and if +all that the secretary writes is true, we have got it in your friend +the Cavaliere Donati. In fact Machiavelli suggests him for the task."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My name, your eminence, is not Donati," I here put in, "but Savelli. +When misfortune overtook me, I changed my name; but I see no reason +for hiding the truth from you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Quite right," said D'Amboise, "but Savelli! Is this the Savelli of +the Arezzo affair, Bayard?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Bayard nodded assent, and the cardinal continued, turning to me. +"Then, sir, I have heard your story, and you have more friends than +you think. But of this, later on. Were you not at Fornovo?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," I replied, wondering what the cardinal's speech meant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Ciel!</i> I made out your patent of St. Lazare myself. What could have +made Tremouille act as he did I do not know, and he is as obstinate as +a mule. Bayard, I know all about this gentleman, and your testimony to +his worth convinces me that what I have heard is correct. I could +never believe the story myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My lords, you may doubt; but the world----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will yet come round to you, cavaliere," said Bayard, and added, "Your +eminence could not have a better sword for your purpose than that of +M. di Savelli here, provided he will accept the task."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will accept anything from you, my lords," I said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good," said D'Amboise, "now let me tell you how you stand. Acting +doubtless in the advice of friends, Madame d'Entrangues wrote to me a +full account of the affair, which ended so badly for you, and +explained fully her husband's treachery. This she begged me to forward +to Tremouille with a view of getting your sentence altered. As you +have just been made aware, I have some knowledge of you, and it was a +thousand pities to see a sword, which had served France well, turned +away. I laid the matter before the duke, but he replied to say he +could take no action. The duchess, who is my cousin, has also used her +influence but to no purpose, for Tremouille stirs his porridge with +his own hand, and does not care if it burn or not, as long as he stirs +it himself. We could get the king's pardon for you, and as a last +resource that might be done, for I like as little to be thwarted as +His Grace of Tremouille; but that will raise you up a strong enemy in +the duke, and it will not kill the story--you see."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do, your eminence. How can I thank you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not want your thanks, cavaliere; but France wants your sword. +Your only way is to do a signal service for France, and after this the +matter is easy. Tremouille is generous, and it would want but a little +pressure to make him rescind his sentence apparently of his own +accord, provided you could do what I have said. Strange how fate +works!"</p> + +<p class="normal">I remained silent, and D'Amboise went on: "Such a service it is +possible for you to do, and I will put it in your way. I cannot at +present give you details as they have to be discussed with the +secretary, who will shortly be in Rome. This much, however, I can tell +you; get together a few good men, you doubtless can lay your hands on +them, and be ready. You will no doubt want funds, but they will be +arranged for. In the meantime you may consider yourself as attached to +my suite--a moment," he continued as I was about to pour out my +thanks, "you had better for the present call yourself Donati. I know +something of the history of Roman families, and your name would not +smell well to the Chigi and Colonna, and remember the Tiber is very +deep."</p> + +<p class="normal">He touched a small handbell as he concluded, and the page appeared. +"Defaure," he said, "send the Abbé Le Clere and my gentlemen to me; +after that you will please inform the steward that apartments are to +be prepared at once for M. Donati, who is here." The page bowed and +vanished, and as I rose to await the coming of the suite, the cardinal +went on with a smile, "Messieurs in the ante-room are doubtless +getting impatient; we must make haste to receive them." As he said +these words a grey-haired priest entered, bearing on a cushion the +scarlet hat of a prince of the church, and following him, half-a-dozen +gentlemen, and grooms of the chamber. The cardinal rose, and leaning +on the arm of Bayard, walked slowly towards the door. Le Clerc bore +the hat immediately before him, and the rest of us formed a queue +behind. As we came to the door it was flung open by two lackeys in a +blue and silver livery, who shouted out--</p> + +<p class="normal">"My Lord Cardinal--way--way."</p> + +<p class="normal">We passed into the room where the people were arranged in two rows, +and D'Amboise walked down the line, bowing to one, exchanging a word +or two with another, until he came opposite Corte. The doctor dropped +to his knee, and presenting his book, solicited the cardinal's +influence to obtain for him an audience with the Pope, to whom he +desired to dedicate his work.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Perte!</i>" said the cardinal. "Why not go to his eminence of +Strigonia--books are more in his line than--well, we shall see--we +shall see."</p> + +<p class="normal">He passed on, and the next group that caught his eye was that of the +young stranger in the cloth of gold and his companion.</p> + +<p class="normal">As the cardinal approached, the young man drew a letter from his vest, +and presented it with a low bow.</p> + +<p class="normal">D'Amboise tore it open and glanced over the contents. "<i>Diable!</i>" he +exclaimed, "from Madame de la Tremouille herself. See here, Bayard, +the Duchess writes, introducing her friend the Chevalier St. +Armande--I know not the house."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are of Picardy, your eminence."</p> + +<p class="normal">The voice was singularly sweet and soft, and a strange and undefinable +resemblance in its tones to some other voice I had heard struck me, +but I could not fix upon anything.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Duchess says you are anxious to serve; would it not have been +easier to send you to the Duke?"</p> + +<p class="normal">St. Armande looked round with a heightened colour, and then replied, +speaking in the same low, soft tones:</p> + +<p class="normal">"If your eminence will kindly read the letter, you will perceive that +my desire was to see something of the court of Rome before joining the +duke."</p> + +<p class="normal">D'Amboise glanced at the letter again, and an odd smile passed over +his face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see," he added, "the postscript--My dear Chevalier, Madame de la +Tremouille's requests are commands to me. If you will do me the honour +of joining my suite, I shall be delighted. Permit me to introduce you +to the Cavaliere Donati, who is also a new friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">I bowed and extended my hand, and St. Armande placed his within mine. +It was small and delicate as a woman's, and as I clasped it for a +moment, it felt as chill and cold as death.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_15" href="#div1Ref_15">THE GIFT OF BAYARD.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">The levée lasted some little time, as D'Amboise, who was studious of +the arts of gaining popularity, listened with apparent interest to any +one who chose to address him, and seemed to possess a wonderful memory +for even the most trifling details. This was, in fact, an informal +reception, which the cardinal, both as a prince of the Church, and the +representative of France at the Papal Court, held daily, and hither +came all the lesser members of the French party in Rome, and all those +who hoped to gain something from the prelate by the simple process of +asking; for D'Amboise was known to be generous and free, despite an +occasional testiness of manner, such as he had exhibited to Corte, and +shown in the first instance to St. Armande.</p> + +<p class="normal">Corte I spoke to no more that day; but I saw him, where he had +retreated to the extreme end of the room, his book under his arm, +evidently waiting to make his exit. St. Armande took his place beside +me, his companion, the abbé, dropping into the rear. Once he, St. +Armande, hazarded a remark, which I did not catch, and therefore did +not answer. In truth, I was in no mood for speaking, my mind being +full of my eventful interview with the cardinal and Bayard, and I was +more than grateful for the happy chance that had enabled me to draw my +sword in aid of the secretary Machiavelli. I thought too of Madame +D'Entrangues, and of what she had done in my behalf, and would have +given much to have thanked her for her efforts, fruitless although +they apparently were. But what struck me most of all was the fact, +that whilst in my misery at Florence I was upbraiding fate, and all +but cursing God, friends were at work, trying to help and aid me, and +this taught me a lesson.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last the levée came to an end. The last petition monger had made +his request, D'Amboise had made his last pleasant speech, and, turning +slowly round, we made our way back, when the cardinal retired with +Bayard to an inner apartment, leaving us to our own devices. St. +Armande, whose appearance attracted general attention, was surrounded +by the gentlemen of the suite, who asked the last news of the court, +and the last scandal of Maçon, where Louis was, holding high revelry, +instead of marching, as he should have done, at once into Italy, after +the defeat of Cesare at Fossombrone. The result of his action being a +further truce that much delayed his success, and indeed very nearly +ruined his chances, which were great at the time. As for me, I was +left to myself; no one coming near me except the huge hound, which +rose slowly, and approaching, surveyed me with a grave interest. Then, +apparently satisfied, he wagged his tail in approval, and touched my +hand with his grim muzzle. I ran my fingers over his shaggy coat with +a caressing motion, and, observing Defaure, the page whom I had first +addressed on arrival, begged him to show me my apartments, enquiring +at the same time of Jacopo and the horses.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The house is full, signore," he replied, "but we have done what we +could for your accommodation. The horses have been attended to, and +the Sergeant Jacopo awaits you in your rooms."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thanks, friend," and I followed him, smiling a little to myself at +the French rank which Jacopo had assumed, no doubt out of compliment +to our host, my new employer. We passed out by the same entrance by +which I had come in, and, crossing a courtyard, the page ushered me to +a set of apartments in an outbuilding, and left me with the +information that dinner would be served at noon for the cardinal as +well as the gentlemen of the suite.</p> + +<p class="normal">I found Jacopo in high glee. He had set out all my apparel, and was +engaged in burnishing his sword. This he put down as I came in, and +burst into speech.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Blood of St. John! Excellency, but did I not say luck would turn? +Yesterday we were anywhere," and he held up both hands with the +fingers outstretched, "to-day, behold!" and he waved his arms around +the room, which was certainly fitted with luxury, and struck me as all +the more luxurious after my past privations.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The horses, Jacopo?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are well as might be, signore, and munching their corn as if they +were never to have another feed. Does your excellency mean to stay +long in this land of plenty?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not for long, Jacopo. And harkee! Remember not to address me by any +other name than that of Donati. Do not let a hint of my real name +escape you, and avoid babbling over the wine cup."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will be dumb, excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A good deal depends on your prudence in this, and you must take care +not to fail. Now to business, and keep your ears open and your head +clear. How do we stand as regards funds?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Jacopo, to whom I had entrusted my money, pulled out a leather purse +and counted the contents.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are five-and-thirty crowns with me, signore, and five I gave +your worship this morning, making forty in all," and he restored the +purse to its hiding-place under his belt.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Enough for our needs at present, and more will be forthcoming soon, +for there is business in hand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I said that luck would turn," repeated Jacopo, his face showing joy +at the news.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never mind the luck, but attend to me. I want to enlist half-a-dozen +good men, men who will go anywhere and do anything. They must bring +their own arms and horses, and I will engage them for a month, and pay +each man five crowns."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is at the rate of sixty crowns a year for each man. We could +enlist half Rome for that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Probably, but it isn't half Rome, only half-a-dozen men I want."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very true, your worship, and I will doubtless be able to find them; +but, excellency----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Six men at five crowns each makes thirty crowns, and--"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did I not say more will be forthcoming? You need not pay them in +advance. Two crowns each on enlisting, and the remainder on completion +of the task. Will that do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is enough surely."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well, then you may set about this at once, and remember that +they should be lodged close at hand, and be ready to go anywhere at a +moment's notice."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">Whilst this conversation was going on I had effected such change in my +attire as was possible, resolving to take the first opportunity the +following day to summon a tailor and give him orders for things for +which I stood in need. Jacopo was just about to depart when Defaure, +the page, appeared, bearing with him a note and a ruleau, which he +said was from his eminence. These he left with me and retired, saying +there was no answer. The note was brief, merely hoping I was in +comfort, and sending me in the ruleau a hundred crowns, with the +intimation that if I needed them another hundred was ready for me. The +sum, however, was more than ample, and giving Jacopo further +directions to engage a couple of lackeys I sent him away, rejoicing at +my good fortune, with a present of ten crowns for himself, which the +honest fellow at first refused to take, and only accepted on my +pressing the sum on him.</p> + +<p class="normal">This being done there was nothing left for me but to await the dinner +hour, and I strolled down to the stables to look at the horses, which +were in truth in such luxury as perhaps the poor beasts had never +enjoyed. A groom of the cardinal's establishment had attended to them, +and I slipped a piece of silver into his hand for his trouble. He bit +this to test whether it was genuine or not, and then settled himself +on a heap of hay to mend some saddlery.</p> + +<p class="normal">I left him to his occupation, and, with a parting caress to my beasts, +moved further on to look at the other animals. And here, meeting the +head groom, I had some conversation with him, admiring the cardinal's +stud.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, excellency," he said, "they are good horses, notably the two +barbs which the Soldan Djem presented to his eminence, but there are +other two now in our stables, belonging to the Sieur de Bayard, the +like of which I have never seen. They are this way, excellency, if you +will but accompany me."</p> + +<p class="normal">I readily assented, and passing by the barbs, whose slight delicate +frames belied their powers of speed and endurance, we came to a couple +of stalls, in which there were a pair of war-horses that fully +justified the head groom's praise. They were both English, and I +recognised the breed, as Hawkwood had brought three or four with him +from Britain, saying, and with truth, that they were the only animals +that could ever carry him when in full mail. But the two before me in +the stables were as superior to Hawkwood's as a barb is to a mule. One +was the great bay Bayard was riding on the day of my trial, when he +accompanied the duke and his staff back to Arezzo. The other was a +blue roan, whose colour did not show off his size to advantage, but +whose broad chest, sloping shoulders, and lean flanks marked his +power. His eyes were mild and soft, yet full of fire, and his small +head was set like that of a stag upon his strong neck. Two grooms, +bearing on their liveries the arms of the house of Terrail, of which +the Seigneur de Bayard was chief, were in attendance, and set to work +with a somewhat unnecessary zeal on our appearance to polish the coats +of their charges which already shone like satin. Whilst engaged in +admiring these splendid animals, I heard the deep bay of the hound +behind me, and turning, saw Bayard himself who had come to visit his +favourites. I complimented him on the possession of two such steeds, +as who would not have done, and Bayard said--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, they are fine animals, truly the finest I have ever seen, except +perhaps the one-eyed Savoy, who was also of the same breed; and yet I +am not sure," and he ran his eyes over the horses. "They were given to +me, along with Bran here"--he touched the head of the hound--"by His +Majesty, Henry of England, when I was taken prisoner in the English +War."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A noble gift."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes--from a noble prince. And you really admire them, cavaliere?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes--and I knew Savoy too, and doubt if he was better."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What can knight want more? A good horse, a good hound,"--and his face +saddened a little--"a true love. <i>Pardieu!</i> but I must see to that +last. My castle on the Garonne needs a chatelaine."</p> + +<p class="normal">I said nothing, knowing of the one great sorrow of his life, which he +bore so bravely, and which I knew had bitten to his heart for all his +gay words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Castor and Pollux I call them," he said, indicating the horses with a +slight gesture. "Not that they are alike, except in speed and courage; +but that they are both supposed to have been born the same day, and +have never been separated. The best of friends must, however, part, +and a knight wants no more than one horse; so, cavaliere, if you will +accept Castor, the blue roan there, you will find that he will never +fail you."</p> + +<p class="normal">I could hardly speak for the moment, and at first stoutly refused to +take so valuable a gift; but Bayard would have no denial, and the +short of it was that Castor was led into one of the stalls reserved +for me.</p> + +<p class="normal">To say that I was grateful would be to say very little; but I will +merely add here that the gift itself was only equalled by the manner +of the giver. I accompanied Bayard into the garden, which lay to the +west of the palace, and in course of conversation told him that I had +received the sum sent by D'Amboise, and of the steps I had taken to +get together a few men, and assured him that whatever the task was +that I was to be set to perform, nothing but death itself would cut +short my endeavour. Our talk then drifted to other matters, and he +gave me some information of interest concerning Madame D'Entrangues. +It appeared that D'Entrangues, who had a friend at court in his +kinsman, Etienne de Vesci, the seneschal of Beauçaire, had forwarded a +strong petition against Tremouille's decision regarding himself, and a +prayer that the king would restore him to his position, and compel +Madame D'Entrangues to return to him. As if he himself had not +abandoned her! Owing to his influence with Cesare he had moreover +obtained an order from Alexander denying madame the refuge of a +convent. Louis had, however, declined to interfere with Tremouille's +decision, but had ordered madame to leave the court and return to her +husband. Fearing that force would be resorted to in order to compel +her to return to D'Entrangues she had fled from the protection of the +Duchesse de la Tremouille, who denied all knowledge of her movements, +and the matter stood there. By this time it was almost approaching the +dinner hour, and we separated, Bayard, followed close at his heels by +Bran, going to seek the cardinal, and I returning to my chamber, where +I found Jacopo who had just come back. He had been to the stables on +his way up, and was loud in his praise of Castor.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They say he is fleet as the wind, excellency, and he is as gentle as +a lambkin. It is a glorious steed, and a princely gift."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is so; but what success have you had?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"None as yet about the swords, signore; there has not been time; but I +have engaged a couple of grooms and a lackey, and ordered plain +liveries for them. The grooms are even now with the horses, and the +lackey will be here to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well, there is time enough. Basta! There go the trumpets. His +eminence must be served."</p> + +<p class="normal">We made our way to the dining-hall, entering it almost at the same +time as the cardinal, his guests, and the rest of the suite. At the +high table on the <i>daïs</i> sat the cardinal, with Bayard, another prince +of the church whom I afterwards found out was the Cardinal of +Strigonia, a scion of the house of Este, and a tall, sombre-looking +man, with high aquiline features, and a complexion almost as dark as a +Moor's. He was plainly and simply dressed, wearing a light steel +corselet over his jerkin, and round his neck the ribbon of St. James +of Compostella, whilst the order itself, a red enamel sword with a +<i>fleur-de-lis hilt</i>, set in an oval white enamel medallion with a red +border, studded with brilliants, flashed at his throat. His short, +closely-cropped hair was white as snow, but the long moustache which +dropped over his mouth and short, pointed beard, was untouched by a +streak of grey. Altogether a remarkable man, one whom no one could +pass by without looking at twice; and in me he excited the greatest +interest, for he was none other than Ganalvo de Cordova, the "Great +Captain," and the most skilful general of the age. He had only a few +weeks before driven Marshal d'Aubigny out of Calabria, and was +marching straight on against Tremouille, when the cessation of +hostilities stopped his plans, and suddenly resigning his command he +had come to Rome, for what purpose no one knew, although it was said +that his resignation and difference with the Spanish Court was but a +blind.</p> + +<p class="normal">Be that as it may, I had now an opportunity of seeing together, seated +side by side, the dark and stern grandee of Spain, as able as he was +cruel, as vindictive as he was brave; and the brilliant and polished +Bayard, who seemed to have gathered in his person all the noblest +qualities of knighthood, and on the white shield of whose honour there +was never a stain. And how different was the fate of these two men! De +Cordova, after holding the highest offices, after being practically a +king, after shedding an imperishable glory on his country by his +victories, and staining her memory indelibly by his perfidy, died at +last, with all his fine spun webs broken. And Bayard--old as I am, my +eyes grow moist when I think of that glorious day at the passage of +the Sesia, when, covered with wounds, overborne by numbers, and +fighting to the last against hopeless odds, Pierre du Terrail gave +back his soul to God. But long years were to pass before this +happened, and Bayard was at present in the hey-dey of his career.</p> + +<p class="normal">The table for the gentlemen of the suite was placed just below the +<i>daïs</i>, and extending further down the room were other tables, for all +who could obtain seats thereat, whilst at the extreme end of the room +was a high stand, whence any one was at liberty to bear away as much +of a meal as he could carry off on the point of his dagger.</p> + +<p class="normal">Estimating roughly, I should say that fully three hundred persons +dined daily, in this manner, with D'Amboise, and this hospitality, +which he exercised in the manner of a French feudal noble, was the +subject of much amusement at the Papal Court, where they prided +themselves on a more refined and delicate style of living. At any +rate, all that was here was safe to touch, and no one had need to fear +that a dinner at the Palazzo Corneto with the Cardinal of Rouen was a +prelude to a supper with St. Peter in heaven. His eminence, who was a +notable trencherman, beamed down from his high seat on us all, and +tried valiantly to assay conclusions with the Cardinal of Strigonia; +but was compelled at last to own himself beaten, for Ippolyte d'Este +was one in a thousand at table; in fact, this jovial prelate ended his +days suddenly, after a prodigious dinner, which began at eleven in the +morning and ended at four in the afternoon, concluding with so light a +dainty as a dish of roasted cray-fish, washed down with a bottle of +vernaccia, a wine of which he was inordinately fond. At our own table, +there were about a dozen or more, and I found myself seated next to +St. Armande, whilst opposite to me was Le Clerc, the cardinal's +chaplain, and next to him an officer of the Papal Guards, a Spaniard, +who spoke little and ate much. St. Armande passed by the wine, +drinking only water, and in reply to a question of mine answered that +he was under a vow.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We can absolve you here easily, chevalier," said Le Clerc, who +overheard the remark, "here is some Orvieto which I can recommend," +and he pushed the flask towards St. Armande.</p> + +<p class="normal">The latter, however, would not be tempted, and Le Clerc shook his +head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A wilful man must have his way, chevalier; but that Orvieto was a +present from Pierrot, Our Lord's most favoured servant."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed," said the Spaniard; "then I can safely say it is the last +present you will receive from Don Pierrot."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cesare arrived last night, very suddenly, with two men only, they +say. He has not, however, yet seen His Holiness--although he is in the +Vatican."</p> + +<p class="normal">Le Clerc remained silent, but St. Armande asked in his low voice--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not follow, sir. Could you not explain? Unless I ask too much. +You see I am a stranger to Rome."</p> + +<p class="normal">The Spaniard smiled grimly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It means, chevalier, that Pierrot was found this morning with a +dagger sticking up to the hilt in his heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">St. Armande turned pale, and Le Clerc asked in a low tone--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you sure of this? When did it happen?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As sure as I sit here. It happened an hour or so after Cesare's +coming. The Pope is said to be overcome with grief," and the lips of +Don Diego de Leyva took a sarcastic curve.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Great heavens!" said Le Clerc. "Poor Pierrot!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The chaplain rose from his seat with a slight apology, and approaching +D'Amboise, leaned over him and whispered a few words in his ear. The +cardinal nodded with apparent unconcern, and Le Clerc came back; but +watching D'Amboise narrowly, I saw that although he still appeared to +laugh and jest, his eyes were grave and his brow troubled. In fact, +shortly afterwards, the high table broke up, and we followed suit very +soon. Despite his effeminate appearance, I had begun to take a liking +to St. Armande, and as the next few hours were at our disposal, I +invited him to ride out with me, as I had a mind to try Castor's +paces. This, however, he declined, with the somewhat shy air that +marked his manner, and leaving him to his devices, I ordered Castor to +be saddled and took him out. When I returned, about five in the +afternoon, I felt that all that had been said of the generous beast I +rode, underrated his value, and that I possessed a matchless steed, +who was fit to run for a kingdom.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_16" href="#div1Ref_16">FRIEND OR FOE.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">For the next few days the routine of my life was exactly the same, the +morning attendance at the cardinal's levée, the daily dinner in +public, and long rides with Castor in the afternoons, in which I was +sometimes accompanied by St. Armande; but this was not always +possible, as he was closely attached to D'Amboise's person. D'Amboise +frequently asked me to accompany him to the Vatican; but up to now I +had begged permission to decline his invitation, on the plea that, +with the business before me, it would perhaps be well for me to +live as much in retreat as possible. The cardinal said, with that +good-tempered laugh of his, which entirely belied his astute scheming +nature, that as I was as yet ignorant of my task, I need not be so +careful. I replied to his eminence, that it was just because I was in +the dark, that I was so circumspect, and he was then good enough to +agree with me. I was, however, naturally anxious to see something of +the Vatican, and one of my reasons for refusing, besides that of +prudence, was that I was not sufficiently well equipped. This, +however, with the funds at my disposal, was soon mended, but from some +cause or other, I had up to now not gone. Jacopo was not so successful +as he anticipated he would be, in raising his men. It was, above all, +necessary to have them trustworthy, and it was difficult to get men of +this class for a merely temporary employment such as I offered. At +last the matter was arranged, and by the end of the week I mustered a +body of six stout fellows, all of them fairly well mounted, and what +was better, all of them trained soldiers. I had them lodged near the +Ripetta, and the cardinal's table afforded them a free dinner, of +which they were not slow to take advantage. In order to keep them +employed, I took them out with me every afternoon, dismissing them +upon my return, with orders to join the nightly escort of the cardinal +and Bayard, to and from the Vatican. I saw a good deal of Bayard, and +at times expressed myself with impatience at being kept to cool my +heels. He told me he was not at liberty to mention the details of the +business on which I was to be employed, and advised me to bide my time +with a patient heart. Amongst other matters we spoke of was the murder +of Pierrot, and Bayard told me that Cesare Borgia had left Rome the +next day without seeing his father, the Pope, and that he was crushing +out completely the stand made against him by my old chief Vitelli of +Citta del Castello, and others.</p> + +<p class="normal">I took Bayard's advice and held patience by the tail, although I +longed for work to begin. My men were in good fettle. They had enough +work to keep them out of mischief, the pay was good, they had +sufficient leisure for amusement, and there was therefore no +grumbling.</p> + +<p class="normal">I used to sup alone in my rooms, occasionally asking St. Armande to +join me; and after supper we diced together for an hour or so, for +very small points. He was an infant at the game, and I taught him a +good deal, so much so, that after a little practice, for he was very +quick with his wrist, he mastered my favourite throw, and one evening +after returning from the Vatican, he knocked me up in my rooms, and +flung on the table a bag of gold pieces.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Three hundred of them, cavaliere!" he said, "I won them from Fabrizio +Colonna, who is looking green with rage. If your purse is running +short, they are at your service. Ha! I see a flask of Orvieto--may I?" +and he poured himself out a goblet, at which he began to sip, in +apparent defiance of his vow.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The devil!" I exclaimed, "but you are flying at high stakes, +chevalier. Your Picard estates must be broad. Thanks all the same for +your offer, but my purse is as full as I want it at present."</p> + +<p class="normal">He leaned back in his chair, with a pink flush on his delicate +features.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I meant no offence, cavaliere; but what is the use of money unless +one can share it with a friend?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There was no offence taken, St. Armande," I replied, "and if you will +take none, I would like to have my say at you."</p> + +<p class="normal">He looped one finger in his golden moustache, and showed his even +teeth in his smile, as he said, "Speak on."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then, chevalier, it seems to me a thousand pities that a young man +like you should waste your time here, as you appear to be doing. I +understood you to say you had never seen a sword drawn in earnest as +yet--and your moustache is grown! Take my advice. Play no more for +gold pieces with Colonna or anyone else. Mount your horse, and join +Tremouille at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! that is good," he said; "and why does the grave and reverend +Cavaliere Donati waste his time here, hanging at the heels of a +churchman, and moping o' nights like an owl on a ruined wall, instead +of stirring the times himself with the point of his sword?"</p> + +<p class="normal">With any other I would have been annoyed; with the youth before me I +was slightly amused, and at the same time a trifle surprised. Hitherto +he had appeared so shy and reserved, and now, of a sudden, he had +thrown this off, and had put on an air which I had not noticed before, +but which became him vastly. I set it down to the fact that perhaps he +was slightly warmed with wine, having apparently absolved himself from +his vow; although of course I did not appear to notice this last, as +he was in a manner my guest. I therefore made reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My reasons for my action, chevalier, are good, and when the time +comes I promise you I shall not be found sleeping."</p> + +<p class="normal">The gentle reproof in my words seemed to bring him back to his old +self, for by the light of the candles I observed him flush scarlet, +and that curious look which recalled a strange resemblance to some one +I knew, but could not remember, came over his features. I began to +relent as I saw his confusion, almost as soon as I had spoken; and +added, "I may say that the time is not far distant--that it is a +matter of days only."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take me with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">He asked this almost in a tone of entreaty, keeping his eyes away from +me, however, and nervously twisting at his moustache.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And your secretary, as you call him, the abbé?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, he will come too, and we could confess to him."</p> + +<p class="normal">I hesitated for a second, and then made answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well. Only you must be prepared to start at a moment's notice, +and there will probably be hard riding and hard fighting, and there is +yet another thing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must come as a simple volunteer, and must make no enquiry as to +what the business is on which I am engaged. I risk my life for my own +purposes; if you wish to do likewise you are welcome to join me, on +the condition I have just stated."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I accept with pleasure."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then that is settled, and I have a new comrade."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hurrah!" and he raised his glass to his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">After that he retired, it being late. I saw him across the courtyard +as far as his apartments, and then returning to my rooms, +unconsciously took the chair St. Armande had vacated. The goblet of +wine he had filled was before me, and I idly lifted it in my hand. It +was barely touched. In fact he could but have tasted a few drops only.</p> + +<p class="normal">Like lightning a suspicion of treachery came on me. The man had been +pretending to drink. With what object? I could not make out. Was the +offer of the money a blind? Perhaps so, and if then? I had been a fool +to agree to his joining me, with that sour-looking abbé of his. Yes, I +had been a fool, but it was lucky I discovered my own folly in time. I +should keep my eyes on this silken diplomat, and if necessary pick a +quarrel with him, and run him through. Somehow I did not like the idea +of this, however; but determined to get rid of him in one way or the +other. I would allow nothing to stand between me and the road back to +honour. So musing I sat for a half-hour or so, and was startled by +Jacopo's sudden entry, so lost was I in thought. He came and stood, +bolt upright, next to my chair, without saying a word. I knew from +this that he had some request to make, some favour to ask, as +otherwise he would not have hesitated to make play with his tongue at +once.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is it Jacopo?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He shifted uneasily from one foot to the other, and then replied--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your excellency, I want leave."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Leave! What for? You are not going to be married, are you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven and the saints forbid, excellency. No--no--it is not that, it +is only leave for the day I want, and also for our men."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The devil! What are you going to do?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only a little dinner, excellency, which I am giving."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And wasting those crowns you got the other day. Well, that is your +affair, not mine. Yes, you can have the leave."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A hundred thanks, excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mind you, there must be no brawling, no trouble."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, good night, and remember what I say. Here, you might remove +this wine-cup as you go."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good-night, signore," and Jacopo, lifting the goblet, went out. The +night being fairly warm, I kept my door open, and as he passed into +the portico, I saw him drain the contents of the goblet with a gulp, +and heard him draw his lips together with a smack of approval, and +march off to his quarters, chuckling at something or other.</p> + +<p class="normal">The following afternoon I rode out with Bayard and half-a-dozen +others. It was a hawking party, and there was a long gallop to our +point of operation, which was to begin a little way beyond Ponte +Molle. In a short time we started a noble heron, and Bayard flinging +his peregrine into the air, we rode after the birds. It was a glorious +ride, and Castor and Pollux far outstripped the others, so much so +that when we drew rein beside the stricken heron, and Bayard slipped +the hood on to his hawk, our companions were not in sight. This, +however, troubled us little, and turning rein we made backwards. On +our way back I seized the opportunity to mention to Bayard that St. +Armande had volunteered to aid me in my task, and that I had accepted +his offer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will do him good," he said; "he seems a noble youth, who has been +tied too long to apron-strings."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think so?" I said; "he strikes me as being effeminate to a +degree--and yet I cannot help liking him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has a wonderful pure mind," said Bayard; "the boy, for he is no +less, is as innocent as a child."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Vatican will not improve him then, especially if he plays for +gold crowns with Colonna."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Plays for gold crowns!" exclaimed Bayard; "you are surely mistaken, +cavaliere."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did he not do so last night, my lord? I understood he won three +hundred off Fabrizio?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Impossible," said Bayard, "I was at the Vatican last night, and the +party in which Colonna was playing consisted of Strigonia, Monsignore +Florido, our Lord the Pope, and Colonna himself--no more. St. Armande +was standing hard at hand for some little time, but never took a +wager. In fact, he passed most of the evening with Giulia Bella, +thrumming on a lute, much to the annoyance of his holiness. I should +say it would be well for him to quit Rome."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I am wrong," I said; "yes, I fancy it would be well for him to +quit Rome."</p> + +<p class="normal">By this time the others came up, and we said no more. As we went back +to Rome, I dropped a little behind, reflecting on what Bayard had told +me. It was certain that St. Armande had lied to me, and I began to +feel sure he had done this not for my good. In short, it seemed to me +that this innocent looking boy, with his shy retiring manners and +apparent want of knowledge of the world, was nothing more or less than +an accomplished actor. Then again he was a Frenchman, and how came he, +obviously fresh from France, to become an agent of the Medici +plotters, for so I put him down to be? There were the letters from +Madame de la Tremouille, his introductions were unimpeachable, the +cardinal believed in him--the whole thing was contradictory. Above +all, there was my strong personal liking for St. Armande. In his +presence I never felt that secret warning which all men feel when they +are with an enemy. I have never known it fail with me, and with St. +Armande there was no such warning, no such silent signal which goes +straight from soul to soul. On the contrary, I felt he was almost more +than friendly towards me, and I felt, in my turn towards him, despite +our short acquaintance, very nearly the same protective feeling that +one has towards a defenceless child. As may be imagined, I was in no +very comfortable frame of mind about this, and rode back silently, +revolving the point. When we reached the palace, almost the first +person I met was St. Armande, and as I dismounted he came up to me +with a cordial greeting and asked--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, cavaliere, good sport I trust?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very," I replied shortly, and then looked him straight in the face as +I added, "Do you intend to give the Colonna his revenge to-night?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Something in my tone caught him, he met my eyes for a moment, then +dropped his gaze, and looked towards the ground. We stood thus before +each other for a little time before he replied, and his voice was +almost inaudible.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps--I am not sure," he added with an effort.</p> + +<p class="normal">I was standing, holding Castor's reins; but as he spoke I handed the +horse over to a groom, and, linking my arm in St. Armande's, said +loudly, and with a tone of affected gaiety:</p> + +<p class="normal">"You missed a great ride, chevalier--come take a turn with me in the +garden."</p> + +<p class="normal">He yielded passively, and in a few steps we had crossed the courtyard +and were in a secluded portion of the palace gardens that was called +the Lemon Walk. This I may add was subsequently improved out of +existence by the architect, in the course of completion of the palace +and grounds. When we reached this spot I unslipped my arm, and turning +round faced St. Armande, having resolved to end my suspicions.</p> + +<p class="normal">"See here, chevalier," I said, "I am playing for heavy stakes, I am +walking on dangerous ground, and must know where I put my feet; will +you answer a plain question, are you friend or foe?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked round him in a helpless sort of way, his colour coming and +going, but said nothing. Was it possible the man was a coward?</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you do not reply," I said, "I will take the risk, and treat you as +an enemy, do you hear? you lied to me when you said last night you had +played at the Vatican with Colonna--now draw." I pulled out my weapon, +and stood before him, expecting every instant to see his rapier in his +hands; but he stood absolutely still, his head hanging down.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Man," I said, "have you not heard? Am I to think you a coward as well +as a liar?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"How dare you say that!" he burst out. "You--you of all men--Oh! what +am I saying! Yes, I did not play with Colonna; but I thought you were +hard pressed for money, and--and invented the fiction, thinking that +perhaps----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That perhaps I would accept your winnings over the gambling table, +rather than the offer of a friend. You do me much honour, chevalier."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You wrong me, Savelli,--nay, start not. I know your name and story, +and, before heaven, I say I am your friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, and am working for you; come, put by your sword. Look at me! Do +I look like an enemy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He had recovered himself, and met my gaze fearlessly. Where could I +have seen that face before? I drew my hand over my forehead as if to +sweep the cobwebs from my memory, but with no avail.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," he went on, with a smile, "do I look like an enemy? If I do, +your sword is ready. Strike now, it will be a quick riddance, come!"</p> + +<p class="normal">I put back my sword with a snap.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not understand, but I accept your explanation."</p> + +<p class="normal">He held out his hand frankly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is right, and you will still let me be your comrade?"</p> + +<p class="normal">I took his grasp.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, if you wish it."</p> + +<p class="normal">We walked back together in silence, and on reaching the courtyard St. +Armande said,</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am afraid I have fallen much in your esteem."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My esteem, chevalier, is at present of no value to man or woman."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think so?" he said, and then rapidly, "Adieu for the present; +remember, I hold you to your word that you think me a friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">I made no answer, and he ran lightly up the steps of the principal +entrance.</p> + +<p class="normal">I supped that evening for a change with the gentlemen of the suite; +but St. Armande was not there, and there were a few free remarks made +concerning the manner in which he was supposed to have been received +at the Vatican by Giulia Orsini, and Lucrezia Borgia.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If it goes on like this," said Le Clerc, "we will have to drag the +Tiber for his body, and say masses for his soul, unless he puts the +seas between himself and the Borgia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He never struck me as a man to run after the ladies," I said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," replied the abbé, "but it is the other way. You would stand no +chance against him, cavalier, for all your long moustache--a thousand +thanks," and the genial Le Clerc seized the flagon of Orvieto I passed +to him, and filled his goblet.</p> + +<p class="normal">After this the conversation changed, and I shortly retired to my +apartments, and dismissing my lackey, sat down to read a book on +falconry that the cardinal had lent me. I had not been occupied thus +for an hour when the door opened, and Jacopo cautiously peeped in. He +withdrew his head on catching my eye, and I heard him shuffling +outside.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come in."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellency," and the sound of further shuffling, but no Jacopo. I +lost patience at this, and fearing at the same time that there had +been trouble, repeated my order to come in sharply. This had the +desired effect; but as soon as my henchman appeared in view I made +certain there had been a brawl. He was very red in the face, and from +under the helmet he wore I could see a white bandage.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What the devil does this mean, Jacopo?" I asked sternly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have come to report, excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You hardly appear in a fit state to do so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perfectly fit, excellency," and Jacopo drew himself up to attention +and saluted.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is the matter of importance? For if not, you had better come +to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, your excellency--matter of importance. By your worship's leave, +as you are aware, I gave a dinner to-day, and we had----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never mind what you had; to the point."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Boiled meat with sause, sausages with garlic, a <i>risotto alla +Milanese</i>----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not care what you had, go on fool."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am going on, excellency. Where was I--a <i>risotto</i> did I say? And +bread made with yeast. And for drink, signore----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I doubt not you had store of that, Jacopo."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But a dozen flagons or so of wine, your worship--all rosso."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Jacopo--you will be good enough to retire at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am retiring, excellency; but my report."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will do for to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As your worship desires; but we have burnt the inn."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The inn, where we rested the day of our arrival in Rome, your +worship. What with one thing and another, the landlord footed up his +bill to four crowns. And I said to my friends, 'What! Are honest +soldiers to pay like this?' Whereat there was trouble, excellency; but +we came off best."</p> + +<p class="normal">I rose without a word, and seizing Jacopo by the neck, ejected him +from the room, with, I am sorry to say, very considerable violence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Cursing myself for my folly in having been so generous, I banged the +door after him, and returned to my book. I could not, however, read, +for my mind was full of the consequences that might arise from this +mad freak of my followers, and I determined to seek out the cardinal +the next day, and obtain his permission to move out of Rome to some +quieter spot, and there await his instructions. Amidst it all, +however, I could not help being pleased at the thought that +retributive justice had overtaken the scoundrel tavern-keeper, the +memory of whose bed made me shudder. I had no doubt that Jacopo was +speaking the truth, and that, even as he spoke, the flames were +sputtering merrily above that den of thieves.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_17" href="#div1Ref_17">THE VATICAN.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">The next morning I sought an early interview with D'Amboise, and +stated to him what had occurred, proposing that I should leave Rome at +once, and await his instructions at any point he should fix. To my +surprise he did not regard the matter in so serious a light, saying +that a small fine would no doubt settle the matter. "My dear +cavaliere," he said, "Our Lord does not desire the death of a sinner, +but only his purse. Make your mind easy, but keep a tighter hand on +your men."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall assuredly do so, your eminence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Another thing. I think you will have to put aside your shyness, and +attend me to the Vatican for the next few days. It is extraordinary +how suspicious the Court here is. They keep a constant watch on me, +and on all the suite, and your seclusion, and solitary rides out, have +been the subject of remark. The ladies too are taking interest in you. +In fact I have been specially asked to bring you with me, by Madonna +Lucrezia, all owing to a foolish remark made by Strigonia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am at your eminence's orders."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is a little risk, but I do not want them to think that you are +anything but a mere member of my suite. If there were the slightest +suspicion, all my plans would be upset, and the time is at hand now, a +day or two at the outside."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thank God! I am eating my heart out here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Courage, cavaliere! It will end soon. By the way, is Bayard right in +saying you have enlisted St. Armande?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, your eminence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Ciel!</i> I should not have thought he would have been one for your +purpose. But that is your affair," and he began to laugh.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have seven good swords behind me, your eminence. The chevalier may +or may not do well; but I could hardly refuse his request."</p> + +<p class="normal">D'Amboise made no answer, and our interview came to a close. I would, +however, add here that nothing ever came of the burning of the inn. No +complaint was ever laid, as far as I could find out, and the matter +might have been an every-day occurrence, so little attention did it +excite. I of course did not know that affairs had reached to such a +pitch of disorder in Rome, and lived in hourly expectation, +notwithstanding the cardinal's speech, of having considerable worry +over the revengeful zeal of Jacopo. I took care that no such thing was +likely to occur again, and Master Jacopo was penitent, swearing he +would never give me further cause for annoyance. At the <i>levée</i>, that +morning, St. Armande was, as usual, beside me, and I whispered to him +to hold himself in readiness, as the time for our business was at +hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am glad of that," he answered, his face lighting up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I attend the cardinal to-day to the Vatican," I said, by way of +continuing the conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There will be much going on this evening," he made reply. "The +Florentine envoy has been here for the past two days, and the affair +at the Vatican to-night is in his honour. Do you know that you have +excited great curiosity in the hearts of the court ladies?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed? It is not my way."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it not? Well, Lucrezia expressed a particular desire to see you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I trust it may not lead to the Tiber, chevalier. The attentions of +the Lady Lucrezia are a trifle dangerous."</p> + +<p class="normal">His face became very grave.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be civil to her, nothing more," he whispered. "You are quite right. +Oh, how I hate that place!"--and he shivered a little.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, we will soon be out of it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Please God!"</p> + +<p class="normal">There was no one at the high table at dinner that day, both the +cardinal and Bayard having gone to dine with Sforza at the Sforza +Cesarini, quite an informal business, and none of the suite +accompanied them.</p> + +<p class="normal">The conversation at our table turned much on affairs, and as there +were for once no guests, speech was very free.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The fleur-de-lis will cover our tongues," said Le Clerc, "and to-day +we may let them wag."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then how long is this truce to last?" asked De Briconnet, the captain +of the cardinal's guard. "I am sick of this idleness here," he added.</p> + +<p class="normal">"As for that, no man knows whether it is peace or war," replied Le +Clerc. "Tremouille is chafing at Passignano, swearing that the game +was ours if we had only let him march on after Fossombrone, and he was +right. Now Cesare has stamped out the Magione league, and the Borgia +are as strong as ever."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How came such a man as Roderigo Borgia ever to be made pope?" I +asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">Le Clerc laughed as he passed on the Orvieto.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When our Lord, the sainted Innocent, was called away, there were +three favourites in the conclave. One was Giuliano della Rovere, the +other Ascanio Sforza, and the third Roderigo Borgia. His eminence of +St. Sabine's was our man, and the election would have been certain had +not Borgia and Ascanio joined hands and the Milanese voted for +Roderigo."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did not think Sforza would have been so self-sacrificing," said De +Briconnet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There were compensations, Jacques," Le Clerc went on. "Four +mule-loads of gold were given to Ascanio, he was made vice-chancellor +of the church, and given Borgia's own palace, the Cesarini, where his +eminence dines to-day. Immediately after the elections were made I was +at the rota exchanging a few words with your uncle, the cardinal of +St. Malo, and he told me that as soon as the result was known, Medici +turned to Cardinal Cibo, and said, 'We are in the jaws of the wolf! +Heaven grant that he may not devour us!' As for Borgia he could do +nothing but walk about, calling out, 'I am Pope, Pontiff, Vicar of +Christ!'"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not suppose it can last long," said De Briconnet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven knows. He is close upon seventy-one and grows younger every +day. He is as strong as he was thirty years ago. And there are few men +who can sit a horse as he can, even now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is true," I remarked, and gave the story of my meeting with the +Borgia on the day of my arrival in Rome.</p> + +<p class="normal">Shortly after this our dinner, where speech had been so free, broke +up, and, finding out the hour at which the cardinal would require my +attendance, I took my book on falconry, and repaired to the garden, +intending to pass the afternoon in its perusal. I made for the Lemon +Walk, and found a companion in Bran, who was wandering there in a +disconsolate manner, evidently missing his master. I set myself down +on a sheltered seat, Bran stretching out his length at my feet, his +muzzle resting between his paws, and so we remained in quiet, the dog +absolutely motionless, and I engaged in my book.</p> + +<p class="normal">So an hour must have passed, when Bran gave a low growl, and looking +up I ran my eye up and down the walk, but could see nothing. I then +followed the direction in which the dog was gazing, and through the +leaves opposite to me, saw a stretch of green, terminating in a clump +of three huge chestnuts. A further examination showed two figures +standing in the shade of the trees, one of them was St. Armande, and +the other, his secretary, the abbé. But what surprised me, was that +the chevalier appeared to be overcome with some powerful emotion, for +he was leaning with his arm against the trunk of the tree, against +which his face was pressed, and his figure shook as if he were +weeping. The abbé stood by him, with a look of compassion on his +features, and was endeavouring to pacify him.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was clear that I was looking at something I was not intended to +see, and with a low, "Quiet, Bran," to the dog, which the well-trained +beast instantly obeyed, I rose, and whistling a catch loudly, walked +down the avenue, with my back towards St. Armande and the abbé, Bran +stalking by my side. I did not look round, and of course could not +tell what happened, but I could not help wondering what it was that +affected St. Armande so strongly. It was hardly the place for the +confessional. Yet it was no business of mine to pry into other +people's affairs. So handing over Bran to a lackey of Bayard, I went +up to my apartment, and attempted to resume my interest in my book.</p> + +<p class="normal">This, however, was not possible, for in a few minutes I found myself +with the volume in my lap, my eyes staring into vacancy, and thinking +of St. Armande. I began to try and analyse my feelings towards him, +but beyond that I was certain he had inspired me with a strong +friendship I could go no further. It was this friendship that urged me +to accede to his request to be allowed to share in my coming +adventure, although I was well able to see that he was anything but +fitted for a desperate deed. Still somehow, I could not find it in my +heart to refuse him, although I felt I was doing an unwise thing. I +consoled myself, or rather tried to console myself, with the +reflection that he would have to take his chance like any other man of +my troop, and if he fell, well, there was an end of it, and of him. +Yet I was not comfortable, and then, to give my thoughts another turn, +I bent them on other matters, and it came to my mind that it was a +little surprising I had not heard of D'Entrangues in Rome.</p> + +<p class="normal">When Bayard told me of his petition to the king, I had asked whether +anything was known of D'Entrangues' movements, and he said he did not +know. It was curious, too, how I appeared to have entirely mastered +that mad longing for revenge, which at first held me. It was a direct +answer, as it were, to my prayer, and, so thinking, I began to realise +how close in reality a man is to the divine power, which he often, too +often, thinks far from him. And a certain feeling of satisfaction came +upon me at the thought of the strength I had gained by my victory over +myself. Indeed, I felt sure, that if my enemy was in my power at the +moment that I would not injure him, but let him go without harm.</p> + +<p class="normal">In this manner, attempting to read, and trying to think, without very +much success in either undertaking, I passed my time until my lackey +came to assist me to dress, in order to be ready to accompany the +cardinal to the Vatican. After dressing, I descended the stairs, and +mounting Castor, placed myself at the head of my men, and joined De +Briconnet at the grand entrance of the palace. The captain of the +cardinal's guard had his full force of thirty swords out, it being a +reception night of some importance, and with great courtesy allowed me +to place Jacopo and my six men in front of his troop, drawing his own +horse alongside of mine, and discussing, with much cunning, of +falconry, in which he was more than an adept.</p> + +<p class="normal">We had to wait some little time for the cardinal, but at length he +came, accompanied as usual by Bayard, and with him all the gentlemen +of his suite including St. Armande. On reaching the foot of the +stairs, D'Amboise enquired somewhat sharply for me; but changed his +tone to one of pleasant greeting when he saw I was in waiting.</p> + +<p class="normal">"St. Dennis!" he exclaimed, "I thought you were not coming after all."</p> + +<p class="normal">We had but a few yards to ride, and our passage along the Via +Alessandrina to the Portone Bronse, took but a few minutes. As we rode +up there, we kept the obelisk in the centre of the Piazza di S. Pietro +to our left, and saw before us the walls of the new cathedral of St. +Peter, then about four or five feet high, the ruins of the old church +still standing around it. At the time I speak of, nothing had been +done for about fifty years towards advancing the work, begun by +Nicholas V., and the great design, afterwards altered and put into +execution by Giuliano della Rovere, when he became Pope as Julius II., +was then in a skeleton form, looking more like the remains of some +sacked shrine than the beginning of a new work. The fifty years of +neglect having the effect of making the new work almost as ruinous as +the old church founded by Constantine.</p> + +<p class="normal">Although, as I have mentioned, there were to be great doings at the +Vatican that evening, there was no crowd assembled in the Piazza of +St. Peter. It was full of soldiers, but the people of Rome, who might +have been expected to be there in numbers, to see the processions +of nobles and their followers, were conspicuous by their absence. +Men-at-arms there were in store, but no happy, jostling crowd of the +commons, for a terror was on Rome, and men kept as far as possible +from the Borgo. The piazza was, however, brilliantly lit up, and the +body guards of the various notables were strictly confined to the +places assigned to them, order being maintained by about a thousand +men of the Spanish guards of the Pope, under the immediate command of +De Leyva. The light from the lamps was reflected back by the +glittering arms of the men, and the various ensigns of the great +houses were distinctly visible. The single column of Colonna, rose +side by side with the eagle and griffin of Borghese, the six lilies of +Farnese trembled in the wind, near Colleoni's two-headed lion, and a +little in the background was drawn up a solid looking body of cavalry, +over whom fluttered the standard of the Borgia; these were Cesare's +own lambs, as he called them, veterans of many a hard fought field.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the entrance steps we halted, and were met by two chamberlains, +who, with their staffs of office in their hands, ushered us to the +bronze gates, by which we were to enter the Vatican. We passed through +amidst a blare of trumpets, each side of the passage being lined with +pikemen, standing stiff and motionless as statues. Our way led to the +Torre Borgia, the portion of the Vatican occupied by Alexander, and +the distant strains of music caught our ears as we went on, and +shortly entered the noble reception rooms, which were crowded with +people.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Pope himself stood at the extreme end of the apartment, surrounded +by a brilliant group of ladies and gentlemen, and as we came up to +make our duty, I had good opportunity of observing him. Alexander was +fully seventy years of age, but so hale, hearty, and strong-looking, +that he might have easily passed for a man of middle age. He was +dressed as a private gentleman, in Spanish costume, with high boots, a +jewelled dagger at his side, and a smart velvet cap on his head. But +the face itself struck me as remarkable to a degree. He was clean +shaven, so that all the features were clearly discernible, the heavy +sensual chin, the wide cruel mouth, surmounted by a nose almost Jewish +in its curve, the retreating forehead bulging over the eyes, and the +eyes themselves, in which there seemed to burn the fires of insatiable +appetite, and passion without end; all these, combined together to +make up a countenance which was a fitting mask for the evil soul +within. I made my obeisance with the others, stifling with difficulty +a sudden desire to fling aside the hand I touched, and walk out of the +room.</p> + +<p class="normal">I moved slightly aside, and watched the various groups as they +wandered to and fro, or stood together conversing; and the hum of +voices, the gay strains of music, and the brilliant dresses made up +together a scene well worth the looking at.</p> + +<p class="normal">The Florentine ambassador was talking to the Cardinal of Santa +Susanna, a few feet from me. I caught the tones of his voice, and as +he turned round our eyes met. Machiavelli, for it was he, glanced at +me as at a perfect stranger, and then, slightly adjusting his purple +lined robe, moved slowly onwards with his companion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We mount yet higher, signore---<i>excelsior!</i>"</p> + +<p class="normal">The words were breathed rather than whispered into my ear, and Corte +stood beside me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Excelsior!</i>" I repeated with a smile, "but are you not putting your +head in the lion's mouth?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He smiled back upon me, more of a snarl than a smile. "The beast is +gorged now. He will not think of me--see, there is some one coming +your way--adieu!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He turned and passed into the groups, and St. Armande touched my arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are to be presented to the Lady Lucrezia," he said, and the next +moment I found myself bowing over the hand of one of the most +beautiful, and certainly the most infamous woman of her age. She was +barely twenty-three; had already wedded three husbands, and was to +become a wife again, and marry Alfonso of Ferrara. She was seated in a +low lounge, and as I came up she extended her hand to me with a +charming smile. Standing before her, looking at her large limpid eyes, +at the small red bow of the lips, and the clear cut features set in a +mass of red gold hair, I could not imagine that the stories I had +heard were true. It could not be that this fair young woman who was +before me had smilingly committed crimes of nameless horror. I would +not believe it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So, cavaliere, you have come to the court at last! I thought you were +never going to do us that honour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"His Eminence of Strigonia said you meant to take the vows," and a +lady, who was leaning over Lucrezia's seat, laughed as she put in +these words. I recognised the peculiar unmusical laugh I had heart at +the gate St. Paul, and glanced at her with some interest.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My sister-in-law, Giulia Farnese--Giulia Bella, is it not?" and +Lucrezia touched her lightly on the arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, yes, Giulia Bella--and are you really going to become a hermit?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I might have had such thoughts until I came here," I said, "but I +must now put them aside."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Neatly turned, cavaliere--St. Armande himself could not have put it +better--sit here, chevalier," and Lucrezia made room for St. Armande +on her lounge.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment a commotion at the entrance attracted our attention, +and a man robed in black, followed by two others, walked up towards +the Pope.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heavens!" said Lucrezia, "it is Cesare!" and a look that was not +sisterly came over her face as she glanced at her brother, who moved +slowly up the room, men falling away from each side of him, and +greeting no one. He kept himself covered, and below his square velvet +cap, I saw a resolute face, the mouth and chin, covered by a moustache +and short beard, not so hidden, however, but that one could distinctly +see against the dark hair on his face, the full red line of the lips, +set in a habitual sneer. Bad as the whole brood of the Borgia were, +this was the worst of them all. He was as far beyond them in infamy as +they were beyond the rest of mankind in evil doing. The very room was +hushed into silence as he entered, and I watched with more interest +than I can tell, the stately figure of this wicked man, as he went up +to meet his only less wicked father. It was their first meeting since +the murder of Pierrot, and Alexander, who stood in dread of his son, +began to tremble violently as he approached, looking this way and +that, as if he would avoid him. At last they came together face to +face, Cesare speaking no word, but lifting his cap with a low bow. +Alexander almost made a motion as if he was wringing his hands; but +recovered himself with an effort, and kissed his son on the cheek.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So do the devils kiss." Lucrezia spoke these words under her breath, +and I turned sharply round and looked at her. Her eyes fell beneath my +glance of inquiry, and to raise some conversation I addressed Giulia +Bella.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So that is the Duke of Valentinois?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes--and the man immediately behind him is Don Michelotto."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The strangler."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You use strong terms, sir," the eyes of the Farnese flashed fire, and +Lucrezia added hurriedly--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, yes--you are right--the strangler."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hush, fool!" and Giulia Bella laid her hand on her friend's shoulder. +"See, they come this way--be cool!"</p> + +<p class="normal">In fact, Cesare had turned from his father without either of them +exchanging a word, and was coming directly towards us. On the way he +passed a group consisting of D'Amboise, Bayard, and the Cardinal of +Strigonia. Valentinois stopped, and in his speechless way, held out +his hand to Bayard, who merely bowed stiffly. Cesare's dark face +whitened with rage, and dropping his hand to his side he walked +straight on, and I could see that D'Amboise was expostulating with +Bayard, and Strigonia openly laughing. This insult, however, had not +added to Cesare's good temper; in fact, he came up to us as angry as a +man could be, and after greeting his sister coldly, turned to St. +Armande and looked at him in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is usual, signore," said Don Michelotto to the chevalier, "to +stand in the presence of a prince."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was not aware that you were a prince, sir," replied St. Armande, +entirely ignoring the Borgia.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You can give this young gentleman a lesson in manners at your +leisure," said Cesare. "By your leave, sir," and giving his hand to +his sister, who took it passively, he led her to another apartment, +followed by Giulia Bella, who tapped a good-bye on St. Armande's arm +with her closed fan.</p> + +<p class="normal">Our group now consisted of Michelotto and myself standing, and St. +Armande still sitting comfortably in the lounge, evidently examining +the contour of his small and shapely foot. As for me, although I knew +St. Armande to be grossly in the wrong, I was delighted with the +sudden spirit he had shown. The youngster had heart, after all, and +there was the making of a man in him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Michelotto behaved with great composure.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I trust, signore--I do not know your name--that you will give me the +chance of carrying out the duke's commands."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My name is St. Armande," replied the chevalier; "and I am ready now, +if you wish it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is scarcely the place, signore; but the Vatican gardens are a +few feet away. If you will meet me near the summer-house, in, say, +half an hour from now, it would be a convenience. If we left together +perhaps it would excite remark," and the Spaniard played with the +inlaid hilt of his dagger.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well."</p> + +<p class="normal">Michelotto gave St. Armande a bow, made a slight inclination towards +me, and strolled off. To all intents and purposes we might have been +engaged in the most friendly of conversations.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, cavaliere," said St. Armande looking up at me, "are you +satisfied now?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am satisfied, chevalier, that you are still too young to be trusted +alone. If you wanted to pick a quarrel there were a hundred courses +open to you: there are fifty other men with whom you might have +crossed swords with no danger except to yourself, and you must needs +insult Cesare, and get embroiled with a cut-throat and risk our plans. +Where is your prudence? But the wine is poured out now. You must +drink."</p> + +<p class="normal">His colour kept coming and going. "I mean to fight it out. I shall +step out in ten minutes, and await him. See! they are all gathering +round the tables. What with the wine and the dice, no one will take +heed who goes or who comes--good-bye!" and he held out his hand to me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nonsense, man--you are not going alone. You will want a second."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But not you," he replied, "any one but you. You have work to do--not +you, Savelli." His voice had almost a choke in it as he spoke.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come," I said, "put an end to this, or you will be run through the +ribs. I am going with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">He gave in with a feminine gesture of agreement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The business will not take long----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will take long enough, signore, if you go as you are going," and +Corte stood beside us. "Signore," he added, "I have overheard every +word of the scene. Do not go as you value your lives. If you do go, go +with a strong party."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Diavolo!" I exclaimed, "an affair of the dagger then!"</p> + +<p class="normal">St. Armande looked from one to another of us in surprise. "This is a +friend, chevalier," I said, "who has done us good service," and +turning to Corte, "but we must meet the man--how on earth are we to do +so in any force?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Look round you," he made answer, "like master, like man--stroll out. +You have some swords at your back. Take them with you; but better not +go at all. Ah! I see my new master, the Camulengo, looking towards +me--be wise and do not go," and Corte moved off to where the Cardinal +Ascanio Sforze was seated, surrounded by a little group of courtiers +and priests.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is that man?" asked St. Armande.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I met him under circumstances too long to tell you here," I said, +"some other day you may hear all about him. We will however take his +advice, and meet Don Michelotto with an extra sword or so at our +backs." So saying I took his arm, and we strolled through the +apartments, where every one appeared to be giving full rein to his +fancy. In fact the beginning of an orgie had set in. Alexander, +apparently recovered from the shock of meeting with his son, was at +the gaming table, playing heavily, with Giulia Bella at his side. +Bayard and Gonsalvo de Cordova were engaged in earnest converse with +each other, and Strigonia and D'Amboise were cracking a flask of wine. +I heard D'Este say as we passed him--"It is adieu to your eminence +after to-night. I am a sheep fat enough for the shambles, and must +look to my throat and my fleece."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You would be wise Strigonia," D'Amboise made answer, "if the shield +of France did not cover me, I would not be here another hour. But it +is an ill thing to lose a comrade such as you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To better times," and the prelate who could only eat, drained his +glass to the prelate who could both eat and think.</p> + +<p class="normal">We now began to hurry a little, and found that Corte was right, for +the soldiers who had lined the passage inside the Bronze Gates had +taken themselves off, and a considerable numbers of servants and +followers were enjoying here the results of piratical raids on the +supper tables.</p> + +<p class="normal">Outside, however, everything was in order, for De Leyva was a thorough +soldier. I found both the Spaniard and De Briconnet cursing their luck +at being on the guards, and attacking a capon which they were washing +down with copious draughts of Falernian. Their duties kept them +outside, and it was a poor supper they were making, by the light of +torches, seated together on the steps of the Vatican.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What! out already, cavaliere?" asked De Briconnet. "Is the cardinal +going?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, but there is a little business," I answered as I called Jacopo.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Nom du diable!</i> Can I not come?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would be a relaxation," said De Leyva.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am afraid not, gentlemen, although we thank you. Here, Jacopo! Get +three of our fellows and follow me. Tell the others to hold their +horses."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was done in a twinkling, and in a few steps, having harked back, we +were in the Papal gardens. The casino or summer-house of the Pope was +in full light, and we directed our steps there without difficulty. I +made two of our men walk in front, Jacopo and the third behind us, and +we remained in the middle. Strict orders were given to have swords +ready, and to use them at once.</p> + +<p class="normal">Except for the moonlight, the gardens themselves were not illuminated, +and as we tramped along the paths, I thought to myself how easy it +would have been for Michelotto to have got rid of both St. Armande and +myself, if we had been fools enough to go without escort.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nothing happened. We reached the casino and waited there a full hour; +but there was no sign of Michelotto.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last I lost patience.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He never meant to cross a sword with you, chevalier. I can bear +witness you were here, and kept tryst. We have escaped a felon's blow +however. Come back--it is getting late--even for his eminence." We +turned, and made our way back, but it was a good two hours before +D'Amboise retired. Bayard had gone on long before, declining all +offers of escort. When we reached the palace we found he had arrived +safely.</p> + +<p class="normal">I wished St. Armande a good night, with more respect for him in my +heart than I ever felt before, and turned to seek my apartments. Late +as it was, however, there was to be no sleep for me, as De Briconnet, +whose brain the Falernian had merely made more lively, insisted on +accompanying me, and we split another flask, and talked of falconry +till the verge of the morning.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_18" href="#div1Ref_18">THE OPAL RING.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">"His eminence will await the Signor' Donati at supper this evening."</p> + +<p class="normal">Defaure delivered his message, received his answer, and tripped away, +his little page's cap set jauntily on the side of his head, and the +haft of his dagger clinking against the silver chain which held it to +his belt. As for me, my heart leaped at the words, for I felt sure my +business was come, and summoning Jacopo, I gave him the necessary +orders to have our men in readiness for an immediate start. I then +sought St. Armande, and told him what I expected.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am ready," he said simply.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well, then sup lightly, and await me in my apartments."</p> + +<p class="normal">I turned back, and on reaching my rooms, was surprised to find I had a +visitor awaiting me. It was Corte. As I have said, he had cast aside +his fantastic dress, and was robed as a doctor. He still kept his +heavy book under his arm, and the features of his curious seamed face, +and thin bloodless lips, were as pale as if he had arisen from the +dead. His eyes alone blazed with an unnatural brilliancy, but he was +outwardly calm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I came but to see if you were safe, signore, after last night," he +said as he took my hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thanks," I replied, offering him a seat, "we are all quite safe. +Nothing happened. The Don was not there, either he had changed his +mind, or we were in too strong force."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A little of both, I should think," he said with a thin smile, as he +placed his book on the table. "Signore," he went on, "are you not a +little surprised and curious to see me as I am?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, Messer Corte, I will own to it. But I am honestly glad that +Fortune has given the wheel a right turn for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not Fortune," he said, "it is something greater. It is Fate. No +chance turn of the wheel of a sleeping goddess. When I fled from you, +signore, on that day," his voice choked a little, "I came to Rome. +Never mind how. Here a great man found me. Great men pick up little +things for their purposes sometimes. And Matthew Corte, who is but a +little man, knows things the great man does not know. Ho! ho!" and he +laughed mirthlessly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And that has put crowns in your purse?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, crowns in my purse, crowns in my purse," he repeated, and then +the old madness came upon him, and he rose and paced the room. "I +could have done it last night, made the hilt of my dagger ring against +his heart--the devil--the devil. But he is not to die this way--not +thus--not thus. He will die as no other man has died, and it will come +soon, very soon--Matthew Corte swears this."</p> + +<p class="normal">He stopped suddenly, and turned to me with the question:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you ever seen a mad dog die?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," I answered, wondering what would come next.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, my dog is dead."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am sorry," I began, but he interrupted.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dead, I say. Life went from it in writhings and twistings, in screams +of agony--the little beast, poor little beast! I would have ended its +misery, but I wanted to see. I wanted to find some death so horrible, +that it would pass the invention of man. And I have found it, signore. +See this toy of a knife! This fairy's dagger!" and he held up a tiny +lancet, "only a touch of it, and a man would die as that dog did, in +writhings, in twistings, in screams----"</p> + +<p class="normal">I rose and put my hand on his arm, keeping my eyes steadily on his +face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Corte," I said, "this is not like you. You are not well. Here is some +wine," and I poured him out a goblet of Orvieto. He drained it at a +gulp, and sat with his head buried in his hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he sat there the scene in the lonely hut, when I went forth an +outcast from Arezzo came back to me, and there rose before me the dim +light of the torch, the mad figure of my host, I could almost hear the +pattering of the rain and the dying hisses of the log fire without. +Then I saw other things as well, and a pity came on me for the man +before me. A sudden thought struck me, and acting on the impulse of +the moment, I spoke.</p> + +<p class="normal">"See here, Corte! You are ill, you want rest, quiet. Throw off these +dark thoughts, and do what I say. Two miles from Colza, in the +Bergamasque, lies a small farm. It is mine. Mine still, though +mortgaged. Go there. Ask for the Casino Savelli, and say you have come +from me--from Ugo di Savelli. You know my name now, and they will want +nothing more from you. Live there until you are better, or as long as +you like. The air is pure, in the hills there is the bouqueton for you +to hunt, the life is good. Will you do this?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He lifted his head, and looked at me. Then rising, he placed one hand +on each of my shoulders, thin hands they were, with long bony fingers +that held like claws.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Signore," he said with emotion, "Donati or Savelli--whoever you +are--you are a good man. I thank you, but it cannot be. Good-bye!" and +lifting up his book, he turned and strode out of the room, leaving me +a little chilled. I was glad indeed to hear De Briconnet's gay voice a +moment later, as he bustled in.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Sacré nom du Chien!</i>" he exclaimed. "But who is that old madman, +cavaliere, who has just left your apartments? I met him on the stairs, +muttering curses that would make a dead man's hair stand on end."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have hit it, De Briconnet. He is a madman. I have some +acquaintance with him, and his story is a sad one. I believe he has +found a protector in the Cardinal Sforza."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A queer sort of pet for his eminence to keep--thanks," and he helped +himself to the Orvieto. "<i>Ciel!</i> my head still hums after last night. +So your little affair was but a flash in the pan--eh?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, there was no blood letting, as I told you last night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I remember--no, I forget, last night is too far back to recall +anything with certainty. I want a little exercise. Take pity on me. +Come to my rooms, and have a turn with the foils. I have a new pair by +Castagni, the Milanese, and want to try them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"At your service--what! Not another glass! Then come on."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was something to do, and passed away a full hour. After that I came +back to my rooms, and, with an impatient heart, waited for my meeting +with D'Amboise. I saw to the packing of a valise, went down and looked +at the horses, closely inspected the arms and mounts of my men, who +looked capable of anything, and, in one way and another, managed to +get through the time, until about the sixth hour, when his eminence +supped. I presented myself punctually, and was ushered into an inner +apartment which I had not hitherto seen, and where the supper was +evidently to be held, for the table was set out there. I was alone at +first, and seating myself on a lounge, looked about me. The room was +small, but beautifully fitted up, and had all the appearance of being +the cardinal's private study. By my side was a table on which was +spread a map, with various crosses marked on it in red chalk, the +chalk itself lying on the map, where it had been carelessly flung. In +front of me was an altar, surmounted by a silver crucifix, bearing an +exquisitely carved Christ. Near it, in a corner, leaned a long +straight sword, from whose cross handle hung a pair of fine steel +gauntlets. Resting on a cushion, placed on a stand, was the cardinal's +hat, and behind the stand I could see the brown outline of a pair of +riding-boots, and the glitter of burnished spurs. In a corner of the +room was a large table, set out with writing materials and covered +with papers. Running my eyes over these idly, I finally let them rest +on the supper-table which was arranged with lavish profusion. The +curtains of the windows were drawn, and the light from eight tall +candles, in jewelled holders, fell on the rose and amber of the wine +in the quaint flasks, on the cheerful brown crusts of the pasties, on +the gay enamelling of the comfitures, and on the red gold of the +plate. I noticed, too, that the table was set for three only. It was +evidently a private supper, where things were to be discussed, and I +became glad, for I felt already a step onwards towards winning back my +name, and--I seemed to see in the mirror on the wall to my left, a +vision of a woman with dark hair, and dark eyes----</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your eminence!" I fairly started up. I had not observed the entrance +of D'Amboise, until he stood beside me, and touched me lightly on the +shoulder.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dreaming, cavaliere! I did not think you were so given. I am afraid +that, late as I am, I must still keep you from your supper, for I +expect another guest. Ha! there he is!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Indeed, as he spoke the door swung open noiselessly, and Machiavelli +entered. He was plainly and simply dressed, and wore no sword, merely +a dagger at his side. I thought, however, I caught the gleam of a +steel corselet under his vest, as he greeted the cardinal, and +D'Amboise's own sapphire was not more brilliant, than the single opal +which blazed on the secretary's hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is the Cavaliere Donati, your excellency," said the cardinal, +"but I think you know each other."</p> + +<p class="normal">Machiavelli extended his hand to me, with his inscrutable smile; but +as I met his eyes, I saw that they were troubled and anxious. He, +however, spoke with easy unconcern.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well met, Messer Donati. I can only say I am sorry we parted so soon. +I would have given much to have had you in Florence for a few days +more."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your excellency is most kind."</p> + +<p class="normal">"St. Dennis!" said the cardinal, "but are you gentlemen going to +exchange compliments, and starve instead of sitting to supper. Burin, +are we not ready?" and he turned to his grey-haired major-domo, who +had entered the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your eminence is served," replied the man, and we took our seats on +each side of the table, D'Amboise between us.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You need not wait, Burin, but remain in the passage." Burin stepped +out silently, and the cardinal said with an air of apology, "You +must not mind so informal a repast, gentlemen; but we have much to +discuss--pleasure first, however--my maitre d'hotel has an artist's +soul, and he will have a fit if we do not touch this pasty."</p> + +<p class="normal">The cardinal ate and talked. I now and then put in a word, but the +secretary was very silent, and hardly touched anything.</p> + +<p class="normal">"St. Dennis!" said D'Amboise, "but your excellency is a poor +trencherman. And I heard so much of you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your eminence will excuse me, when I say I have had bad news."</p> + +<p class="normal">D'Amboise became grave at once. "Let me say how sorry I am. It is not +a matter of state?" and he glanced meaningly at the secretary.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not in the least; but much worse--a domestic matter. I do not see why +I should not tell you. That cursed brigand Baglioni has seized on my +ward Angiola Castellani, and holds her a fast prisoner in Perugia."</p> + +<p class="normal">I felt cold all over to my feet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Lady Angiola?" I exclaimed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Precisely," said Machiavelli, drily; "I think you have met."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But this can be easily remedied," burst in D'Amboise; "a demand from +the Signory, a word from France."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will not bring the dead to life again," put in the secretary.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My God!" I burst out, "she is not dead?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Worse than that," he said; "it was done by Cesare's orders."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then Cesare Borgia will pay with his life for this," I exclaimed.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment there was a knock at the door, and Burin entered, +bearing a silver flagon, the stopper of which was made of a +quaintly-carved dragon.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your eminence ordered this with the second service," he said, placing +it before D'Amboise, and retiring.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I pledge you my word, your excellency, that I will not rest until +full reparation has been made for this outrage on an ally of France," +said D'Amboise. "I could almost find it in my heart to let loose open +war for this."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are not ready, your eminence. Rest assured of my thanks, and I +will gladly accept your aid; but at present we can do nothing. This, +however, has not decreased my zeal for the measures we are planning; +and with your permission we will now discuss these, and put aside my +private trouble."</p> + +<p class="normal">For me, I could hardly breathe. A hundred feelings were tossing +together within me, all that I could think of was to throw aside +everything, to gallop to Perugia, to save her at any cost. The +cardinal's voice came to me as from a distance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I agree--one glass each of this all round, and then--cavaliere, would +you mind handing me those glasses?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Three peculiar shaped, straw-coloured Venetian glasses were close to +me, these I passed onwards mechanically to D'Amboise, and he went on, +filling the glasses to the brim with wine from the flagon, as he +spoke.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I admired the rare workmanship of this flagon last night, and his +holiness sent it home with me, full to the brim with this Falernian, +which Giulia Bella herself poured into it. The wine is of a priceless +brand, and our lord was good enough to say, that if I liked it, he +would send me all in his cellars if I only let him know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will drink this then, with your eminence's permission, to the +success of the undertaking," said the secretary, poising his glass in +the air.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Right," said D'Amboise. "Gentlemen, success to our venture!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He raised the wine to his lips. I silently did the same.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hold!"</p> + +<p class="normal">We stopped in amaze, and Machiavelli, who had spoken, quietly emptied +his glass into a bowl beside him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What does this mean?" said the cardinal.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This, your eminence," and Machiavelli held out his hand, on which an +opal was flashing a moment before. The stone was still there, in the +gold band on his finger; but it was no longer an opal, but something +black as jet, devoid of all lustre.</p> + +<p class="normal">Startled by the movement, D'Amboise bent over the extended fingers, +and I followed his example. The red on the cardinal's cheek went out, +and his lips paled as he looked at the ring.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Poison! Heart of Jesus!" he muttered through pale lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," said Machiavelli, slowly, withdrawing his hand, "the ring tells +no lies. <i>Diavolo!</i> Was ever so grim a jest? Asking you to tell him if +your eminence liked the wine!"</p> + +<p class="normal">It was too near a matter to be pleasant, and the hideous jest, and the +treachery of Alexander, filled me with a hot anger. It had the effect +however of pulling me together at once, the sudden presence of death, +and the danger, recalling me to myself, for all my thoughts of +Angiola. I breathed a prayer of thanks for our escape. It was a good +omen. My luck was not yet run out.</p> + +<p class="normal">D'Amboise sprang to his feet. "By God!" he said, bringing his clenched +fist into the palm of his hand, "the Borgia will rue this day; here, +give me those glasses." He seized them, and drawing back the curtains +flung them out of the window, where they fell into the court outside, +breaking to splinters with a little tinkling crash. Then he emptied +out the contents of the flagon, and hurled it into the grate where it +lay, its fine work crushed and dented, the two emerald eyes of the +dragon on the stopper blinking at us wickedly. This outburst made +D'Amboise calmer, and it was with more composure that he struck a +small gong, and reseated himself at the table. As he did so Burin +entered the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We want a clear table," said the cardinal, "remove these things, and +hand me that map."</p> + +<p class="normal">By the time Burin had done this, his eminence showed no further trace +of excitement, except that his lips were very firmly set, and there +was a slight frown on his forehead as he smoothed out the roll of the +map. One corner kept obstinately turning up, and as Machiavelli +quietly put his hand on it to keep it in position, he said, "See! The +ring is as it was before."</p> + +<p class="normal">We looked at the opal, and sure enough the poison-tint was gone, and +under the pale, semi-opaque blue of its surface, lights of red, of +green, and of orange, flitted to and fro.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is wonderful," I said, and D'Amboise smiled grimly to himself. The +cardinal placed his finger on the map, where the port of Sinigaglia +was marked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it here he lands?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," replied Machiavelli, "and then straight to Rome."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have sure information?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then will your excellency instruct M. Donati? As arranged, I pledge +an immediate movement on the part of Tremouille, at the first sign of +success."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have agreed, cavaliere, to undertake the task?" and the secretary +turned to me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have, your excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">Machiavelli then went on, speaking incisively, wasting no words. "In +ten days or thereabouts from now, Monsignore Bozardo, the Papal envoy +to the Grand Turk, will land at Sinigaglia and start for Rome. He +brings with him a letter and a sum of money, forty thousand ducats. +These are for his holiness. Bozardo and the letter may reach, if you +like; the ducats must not."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where are they to go?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To the Duke de la Tremouille."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I follow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Understand that you take this venture at your own risk."</p> + +<p class="normal">I saw what he meant, if I failed I was to be sacrificed, and my mind +was made up. I would accept, with a condition.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I quite understand--there is one thing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ten days is a wide margin. I will stop Bozardo or die; but I propose +effecting the release of the Lady Angiola as well."</p> + +<p class="normal">A glad look came into Machiavelli's eyes; but the cardinal flashed +out--</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Nom du diable!</i> What grasshopper have you got in your head? Leave +the demoiselle to us. You cannot do two things at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then with respect to your eminence I decline the affair of the +ducats."</p> + +<p class="normal">D'Amboise looked at me in sheer amazement.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You decline--you dare;" but Machiavelli interposed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A moment, your eminence. Can we get another agent?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not now; it is too late now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And we have no money for active measures?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not a livre."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It seems to me that the cavaliere has us in his hands, and we had +better agree. After all he only risks his head twice, instead of +once."</p> + +<p class="normal">D'Amboise bit his lip, and with a frown began to drum on the table +with his fingers. I sat silent but resolved, and Machiavelli, rising, +went to the writing table, pulling out from his vest a parchment. In +this he rapidly wrote something, and dusting it over with drying +powder held it to the flame of a candle. Then he turned back +leisurely, and, as he resumed his seat, handed me the paper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have just filled in your name on this blank safe-conduct through +the Papal States. I took the precaution of obtaining this from Sforza +to-day. When can you start?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, your excellency," and I put the safe-conduct securely by.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I suppose I must agree," said the cardinal suddenly. "If it fails, +all is lost; if it succeeds----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There will probably be a new Conclave, your eminence," said +Machiavelli.</p> + +<p class="normal">D'Amboise's forehead flushed dark at the hidden meaning in the +Florentine's words. But we all knew that the chair of St. Peter was +ever before his eyes; and for this he schemed and saved, although +profuse in his habits. George of Amboise never gained his desire; but +when he died he left a fortune of eleven millions. This however was +yet to be.</p> + +<p class="normal">I had already arisen to take my leave as Machiavelli spoke, and the +cardinal, taking no notice of his last remark, turned to me, with +something of his old good temper. Perhaps the hint of Florentine +support at the next papal election was not without its softening +effect.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did I understand you to say you were ready to start at once, +cavaliere?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, your eminence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then let me wish you good fortune--adieu!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your eminence has my grateful thanks."</p> + +<p class="normal">I bowed to D'Amboise and the secretary, and withdrew; but as the door +swung behind me, I heard Machiavelli's voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The air of Rome does not suit me, your eminence. No, thanks. No more +Falernian."</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_19" href="#div1Ref_19">EXIT THE ANCIENT BRICO.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">I had gained my point without waste of words or time, but it was to be +my way or not at all. My lady was in dire peril. Against this could I +for a moment weigh any thought of myself? What cared I whether France, +Spain, or the Borgia ruled in Italy? What mattered it to me whether +one crafty statesman held the reins of power, or another outdid him in +craft and filched away his bone? My lady was in danger, and my honour +might rot, and the Most Christian, the Most Catholic, and Most Holy +wolves might tear each other's throats out before I would move a +finger, take one step, until she was free. If I had to pull down +Baglioni's hold with my hands, I would free her. If a hair of her head +was injured I should take such vengeance as man never heard of, and +then--my foot caught in the carpeting of the passage, I tripped up and +fell heavily, the shock sending stars before my eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Too much haste, cavaliere," and a hand helped me to rise. As I gained +my feet I saw Machiavelli beside me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I followed you at once," he said, "but you went so fast, I had missed +you but for that lucky trip. A word more--if you free her, take her to +the convent of St. Jerome, two miles north-west of Magione--the abbess +will do the rest. I will see to that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well. God grant I succeed!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Amen to that," and Machiavelli took my hand. "Adieu, cavaliere, once +again, I must go back to his eminence, we have a point or two to +discuss yet, but no more Falernian. <i>Corpo di Bacco!</i> I grow cold when +I think of our escape."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good-bye, your excellency," and we parted.</p> + +<p class="normal">I went on with a little more care, and being a trifle cooled by my +fall, was able to think better. By the time I reached my apartments I +had decided on my route. I should leave by the Porta del Popolo, keep +on the right bank of the river as far as Borghetto, there cross the +Tiber, and on to Perugia in a straight line by Narni and Todi. It was +close on three and thirty leagues; but I did not mean to spare +horseflesh. As I reached the entrance which led to my rooms, I found +Jacopo and my men ready, and Castor whinnied a glad welcome, pawing at +the air with his forefoot in his impatience. St. Armande and the abbé, +already mounted and attended by a couple of men, were a little to the +right.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not keep you a moment, chevalier," I called out as I passed +him, and running up the stairs to my room, began to dress rapidly. +Jacopo attended me, and as he handed me my sword, pointed to the open +window.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A fair night for a long ride, excellency!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, the moon stands well--my cloak--quick," and we descended the +stairs.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All ready, Jacopo?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Steady, Castor," and I swung into the saddle.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was the jingle of bit chains, the clank of steel scabbards, the +ring of iron-shod hoofs on the pavement, and with St. Armande by my +side and my troop behind me, I left the Palazzo Corneto.</p> + +<p class="normal">To avoid risk of stoppage I did not go down by the Alessandrina to the +Ponte di San Angelo, but determined to cross at the Ripetta. +Therefore, crossing the Borgi di San Angelo, we went northwards by the +V. d. Tre Papazzi, up the Via Cancellieri, and then turning to the +right, rode up the Via Crescenzio. To our right, as we rode, the moon +hung over San Angelo and the dark outlines of the gloomy stronghold +loomed like a vast shadow of evil above us. In front of us lay the +Tiber, and the long line of fires of the charcoal-burners. The latter +overhung by a blue cloud of smoke, into which the forked flames leaped +and danced. At the bridge we were stopped by the guard, but the +safe-conduct set us free, and we crossed at a slow pace. Above the +hollow beat of the horses' hoofs, I heard the waters churning around +the piers, and looking over the side, saw the grey river as it hummed +past below me, flecked with white foam-tipped waves, chasing each +other in lines of light across its surface, or, as they broke, +catching the moon rays, and dying in a hundred colours with an angry +hiss.</p> + +<p class="normal">Over the bridge at last! And here Jacopo with a sudden "<i>Cospitto!</i>" +put spurs to his horse, and galloped off down the Via Toma. So +unexpected was the movement, that it almost brought us to a halt, and +St. Armande called out--</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is gone!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not he, chevalier," I answered, "come on," and turning to the left we +trotted up the Ripetta. I knew Jacopo too well not to feel sure he +would catch us up again, and that he had some definite object, which +was not desertion, in going off as he did. Yet I could not help being +put out by his action, and resolved to give him the rough side of my +tongue when he came back. We were almost up to the Porta del Popolo +when he returned, coming with a loose rein, and as he drew in with the +troop, I turned round.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How now, sirrah! What does this prank mean?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pardon, excellency, it was no bee that stung me. I suddenly +remembered that we should have little luck on our journey if I did not +pay her dues to our Lady of the Fountain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Our Lady of the Fountain?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellency, the fountain of Trevi. Does not your worship know that no +one should leave Rome without dropping a piece of silver in her +basin?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Indeed! I was not aware of it, but remember--no more sudden thoughts +like this."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellency!"</p> + +<p class="normal">I said no more, and passing through the ruined Porta del Popolo where +the breaches made by Charles' cannon were still unrepaired, we took +the Flaminian Way, and galloped down the road almost in darkness owing +to the shadows thrown by the high walls on each side of us. We +re-crossed the Tiber at the Ponte Molle, and, still keeping the Via +Flaminia, turned our horses' heads in the direction of Castel Nuovo.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a wonderful night. There was no breeze, except that which we +made ourselves as we galloped along. Not a cloud obscured the sky, +arching deep blue over the yellow moon, now in her full strength. To +the left the beacon fire from the top of the Tor di Vergara blazed +like a red star low down in the horizon, and before us was the white +road stretching in a ghostly line, its ups and downs accentuated by +the moonlight. The Tiber lay to our right, but owing to the undulation +of the ground we could not see it, although an occasional flash showed +us where the waters reflected the rays of the moon.</p> + +<p class="normal">Not the best horse in the world could keep up the pace we were going +for long, and I was old enough soldier to know that our speed must be +regulated by the slowest beast if we wanted to reach in full strength, +so I slackened rein to a walk and gave the animals a rest.</p> + +<p class="normal">Excepting once, when Jacopo rode off to make his duty to the Fountain +of Trevi, I had not exchanged a word with St. Armande, indeed I was in +no mind to talk; but he broke the silence with a question.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do we ride all night, cavaliere?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have many leagues to go, St. Armande."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Ciel!</i>" he muttered under his breath, and I heard the abbé as he +leaned forward whisper, "Courage! would you give way now? Courage!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Clearly there was a mystery here to which I had no clue, and it +troubled me. I glanced at St. Armande, and through the moonlight saw +the white of his cheek, showing all the paler for the black patch he +wore transversely across it; but looking at him did not explain +matters.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What the devil does this mean?" I said half aloud to myself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you speak?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Merely something to myself, chevalier. <i>Diavolo!</i> But this is a dull +ride."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you think so?" and his tone softened suddenly.</p> + +<p class="normal">I made no reply, but stirred up Castor, and we jogged along. I left +the mystery to take care of itself, and mapped out a line of action. I +would take only two men with me into Perugia, and send the rest with +St. Armande to the convent of St. Jerome to await the result of my +attempt to free Angiola. It sounded like foolishness to give St. +Armande the control of the stronger party, especially if he meant +treachery; but this I was persuaded he did not. On the other hand a +following of six troopers was a trifle too many to pay a peaceful +visit to Baglioni, and might arouse suspicion, while they were too few +to attempt open force. In short, if I could not do what I wanted with +two men, I would not be able to effect it with six or a dozen, and +made up my mind to split our party, either after crossing the Paglia, +or beyond at San Fortunato.</p> + +<p class="normal">In this manner, sometimes galloping, sometimes trotting, and at other +times walking our horses to give them a rest, we reached Castel Nuovo +but did not enter the town, skirting it by our right, although one of +the troopers suggested our going westwards by Campagnano, a useless +detour as it seemed to me. We passed the little town exactly at +midnight, and the chime of bells striking the hour fell pleasantly on +our ears. A short way beyond we found the road so cut into ruts and +fissures that it was not possible to go at any other than a snail's +pace, so that within the next two hours we barely covered as many +leagues. The moon was now on the wane, the road became worse, and one +or two of the horses showed signs of fatigue. Jacopo rode up beside +me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"By your leave, excellency! We have the road by Soratte to cross soon, +and in the coming darkness may possibly lose our way. I would suggest, +therefore, that we halt here until dawn. It will rest the horses, and +with the light we could press on."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well. Hark! Is not that the sound of water?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, your worship."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then we will stop there."</p> + +<p class="normal">A few yards beyond we came to a ruined temple, near which a fountain +was bubbling. Here I gave the order to halt, and in less time +than I take to write this, the troopers had sprung to earth, the +saddle-girths were loosened, and all the preparations for a two hours' +halt begun.</p> + +<p class="normal">I shared a little wine with St. Armande and the abbé, and the former, +rolling himself up in his cloak, leaned his back against a fallen +pillar, and seemed to drop off at once into sleep.</p> + +<p class="normal">The abbé followed his example; but my mind was too impatient for rest, +and I walked up and down, watching the ending of the moon, until it +finally sank out of sight, and darkness fell upon us.</p> + +<p class="normal">Dark as it was around me, my mind was in a still greater darkness, for +I was unable to think of any plan by which I could gain access to +Angiola, after reaching Perugia. Time, too, was short; but that did +not matter, for I was prepared to let the affair of the ducats slide, +rather than lose any chance of rescuing her.</p> + +<p class="normal">A straw yet remained. Luck might be on my side; and with luck and a +strong heart one might do anything. There was nothing for it but to +content myself for the present with this. Until I reached Perugia I +could develop no plan. So I paced up and down with an unsettled mind, +and finally, seating myself on a stone, awaited the morning, +alternately nodding and awakening with a start.</p> + +<p class="normal">At last! The east began to whiten, and getting up stiffly, I touched +Jacopo with the end of my sword. He jumped up with an exclamation, and +recognising me, began to apologise. This I cut short, and bade him +arouse the men.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This instant, your worship. <i>Cospetto!</i> To think I should have +overslept myself! Ho, sluggards! Buffaloes! Awake! Think you that you +are going to snore here all night?" and he began to stir the men up. +They rose willingly enough, with tremendous yawnings, and stretching +of arms, and we were soon on the march again, through the increasing +daylight.</p> + +<p class="normal">The coming day seemed to warm the hearts of the men, and one of them +broke into song, the chorus being taken up by the others as we jogged +along. When this had lasted some little time, I gave Castor's reins a +shake, and off we went at a smart gallop.</p> + +<p class="normal">Shortly after passing San Oreste the road led along the side of +Soratte, and, the morning being young, besides very bright and clear, +we had a glorious view. To the left lay Civita Castellana, the walls +of the new citadel standing high above the town, which lay in the +middle of a network of deep ravines; to the right and behind us the +Sabine Hills extended in long, airy lines, and the wooded heights of +Pellachio and San Gennaro, where, close to Palembara, was an old +castle of our house, rose to the south-east. Above us was the +monastery of St. Silvestre, and Soratte itself reached towards where +Borghetto stood, on a bend of the Tiber, in a series of descending +peaks. Cool puffs of air caught us, and freshened the horses as well +as our hearts, and it was a cheery party that finally reached the +Ponte Felice, and entered the town. Here our safe-conduct again stood +us in good stead. Indeed, we had difficulty in getting away, for the +Captain Lippi, who held Borghetto for the Borghia, wished to press his +hospitality on us for a few days; but on my eventually taking him +aside, and whispering to him that I was bound on a confidential +mission, he gave in, but with some little reluctance. He, however, +invited us to share his table at dinner. I accepted, but St. Armande, +who was looking very wearied, declined, and dined quietly with the +abbé at the "Silver Eel," where I quartered my men.</p> + +<p class="normal">Lippi was an old soldier risen from the ranks, with a head more full +of drill than suspicion; but in order to remove any such weed that +might be growing there, I affected to be so delighted with his +conversation at dinner, that I begged the favour of his accompanying +me for a league or so on my way, after we had dined. To this he agreed +with alacrity, and I was subsequently sorry for my pains, for the old +bore did not quit me until we had all but reached the Nera, and saw +the campanile of St. Juvenalis rising above Narni. We did this portion +of the journey at a rapid pace, as I wanted, if possible, to shake off +the captain, but, mounted on an Apulian, he stuck to me like a burr, +dinning into my ears his opinion as to how the cross-bow was a weapon +as superior to the arquebus as the mangonel was above even Novarro's +new cannon. At length he wished us the day and departed, and the +horses, scenting the end of their day's journey, put on fresh speed as +we galloped through the oaks that studded the valley of the Nera. The +river here was hemmed into a narrow ravine, and crossing by an ancient +bridge of three spans, supposed to have been built by the Romans, we +climbed up the steep ascent that led to Narni, and there found food +and lodging for both man and beast, at an albergo, the name of which, +somehow, I have forgotten. St. Armande was quite worn out, and I saw +he was unfitted for any long strain. We supped together, and he +retired almost at once. After supper I had a detailed examination of +the horses, and found that one of them had a sore back. The trooper +who owned him, vowed he would not part with him, so I had to dismiss +the man, which I did. This reduced my fighting strength to six men, +including Jacopo. I did not include St. Armande and his followers in +estimating this, putting them down to so much encumbrance, of which I +would soon take care to be rid. I was anxious, however, to hurry on, +and so altered my original plans a little, and in the morning, after +we had gone about a league, I turned to St. Armande, and said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Chevalier, it is necessary for me to press on with all speed. I want +you, therefore, to do me a favour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Anything you like, cavaliere; but we do not part, do we?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is this. I am going on at once; I want you to take four of my +troopers, and with your own following make for the convent of St. +Jerome. It lies a little beyond Magione. Your arrival will be +expected. If not, say you are awaiting me. Await me for a week. If I +do not come then, go back to Rome, and tell the cardinal what you have +done."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I thought I was to go with you, and share your adventure."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I give you my word of honour, St. Armande, that you will share +in the adventure for which I agreed you should come--share up to the +elbows--but you will spoil everything if you do not do what I say."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is no danger to you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No more than there is to you; in one word, St. Armande, do you agree +or not?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then there is no time to lose. Jacopo!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pick out a man, and he, you, the lackey, and myself, will go on +ahead. The rest can follow. I have given all other orders to the +signor, St. Armande."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is Bande Nere, your worship."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am ready, cavaliere;" and a tall, thin, grey-moustached trooper +saluted as he spoke.</p> + +<p class="normal">He looked the man I wanted. My lackey was a stout horseman, and at a +pinch might hold a sword as well as he held my valise. So, shaking +hands with St. Armande, I put spurs to Castor, and we dashed off. +Turning the corner of a belt of forest land, I looked back and waved +my hand in further adieu to the chevalier. I caught the flutter of the +white handkerchief the young dandy carried, as he loosed it to the air +in reply to my salute, and the next moment the trees hid them from +view.</p> + +<p class="normal">We rode hard now, Castor going almost as freely as when we started. +Indeed, I would have far outpaced the others, if I did not let him +feel the bit once, and the noble beast, as if knowing his duty, +required no further warning not to outstrip his companions.</p> + +<p class="normal">Going as we were now Perugia was but a few hours away; but the pace +was too great to last long, and from Todi to Perugia there were nine +leagues and a trifle over of an ascending road. Castor might do it, +the others I was sure would not. In order, therefore, to rest the +horses, as well as to avoid question, I resolved that we should dine +at Rosaro, and after an hour or so of rest press forwards, passing by +Todi, and travelling all night, so as to reach Perugia in the morning. +If we went faster, we would only reach at night, and so late as to +find entrance into the town impossible.</p> + +<p class="normal">We clattered past the villages of San Gemini and Castel Todino, and +about noon drew up our now somewhat blown beasts at the gates of the +"Man-at-Arms," the only inn in the village.</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a poor place I saw at a glance, and as we pulled up, a crowd of +yokels in holiday attire gathered around us. The inn seemed full, too, +for the yard swarmed with people, and a half-score heads of contadini +were at each window, staring at us open-eyed.</p> + +<p class="normal">As I took this in, the landlord came running out, cap in hand and full +of apologies.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Ohime!</i> But my house is full to the garrets, signore; and it is +nothing I can do for you to-day. To-morrow is the feast of St. Mary of +the Consolation, and all the country is going to Todi----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not want to stay. We merely halt here to bait our horses and to +dine. Can you not manage that?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If that is all, excellency, yes, oh, yes. The beasts, they can rest +anywhere, and there is a polenta and room for your excellency's +followers; but for yourself, signore," and he shook his head +mournfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the difficulty?" And I dismounted, my men following suit.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But this, signore. There is but one room in the house you could use, +and that is occupied by two gentlemen of the army. Violent men, +signore, who will not allow any one to share it. <i>Lasso me!</i> But not a +paul have they paid me as yet!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give them my compliments, and say that the Cavaliere Donati begs to +be allowed a corner of their table for his dinner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alas, signore! It is useless. They have been here two days----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then it is time they made room for other travellers. Give my message, +landlord, and say I am following."</p> + +<p class="normal">Mine host trotted off with considerable misgivings expressed in his +face, and followed by my lackey, bearing my valise, I went after him +at a slower pace.</p> + +<p class="normal">When I reached the room, which could hardly be missed, seeing it was +the only one in the house that had any pretence of appearance, I found +the door open, and heard a half-drunken voice shouting:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Begone, dog! Blood of a king! But are two gentlemen to be disturbed +because a signore with a long name wants to dine? Skull of St. Jerome! +Did you ever hear the like of this? <i>Cospetto!</i> Tell him to go hang, +or I'll spit him like a lark."</p> + +<p class="normal">I heard enough to recognise the voice, and turning to the lackey said:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Send Jacopo here at once with a stout cudgel--run."</p> + +<p class="normal">The man went off on the double, and I remained without the door +listening with amusement to the ancient Brico's bluster, for it was +he, and he was having all the talk, his companion, whoever he was, now +and then giving a grunt of assent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mitre and cowl! Hell and sulphur! Will you begone, fool, or shall I +slit your windpipe?" and I heard him beat the table with his fist. +"Out, rascal," he roared, "and bring in another skin of chianti."</p> + +<p class="normal">Out came the wretched inn-keeper, and seeing me at the door began to +urge me to go; but at this moment Jacopo came running up with a stout +stick in his hand, and pushing the landlord on one side I stepped into +the room, followed by Jacopo.</p> + +<p class="normal">Brico's friend, who was quite drunk as it seemed, had fallen asleep +whilst he was talking, and lay with his head between his arms, half on +the table, half on his chair. The ancient was seated with an empty +skin before him, and rose in wrath as I entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What the----," he began in a wine-blown voice, and then his face +paled a little as he saw me.</p> + +<p class="normal">I did not waste words. "Cudgel me this fellow out, Jacopo," I said, +and Jacopo attended to the task as if he loved it. The ancient +attempted to draw his sword, but it was useless, and a minute or two +later he was flung out into the courtyard, beaten to a jelly and +howling for mercy. He lay where he was flung, too bruised to move.</p> + +<p class="normal">His friend slept through it all; but as my lackey lifted up his head +in an attempt to eject him, I recognised Piero Luigi, and felt that +some more stringent action than I had taken with Brico should be +adopted here.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This man is a thief," I said to the landlord, "and his friend little +better."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then to the stocks they go; and now," almost screamed the host, "not +a paul have they paid me, signore, I swear this, the bandits. Hi! +Giuseppe! Giovanni!"</p> + +<p class="normal">A couple of stout knaves came running in, and the innkeeper, trembling +with anger and fear combined, yelled out:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bind this brigand and his companion securely, keep them in the +stables, and to-morrow we will hale them before the podesta."</p> + +<p class="normal">I enjoyed my dinner comfortably, and on going out to see after the +horses was met by Bande Nere, who took me aside to where, in a corner +of the stables, two men were lying securely bound. One was Luigi, +still happily drunk. The other was the ancient, whose bones must have +ached sorely, for he had been beaten sober, and was feeling the full +effect of the cudgel and the ropes. He was groaning terribly, and, +being sorry for the wretch, I was about to intercede for him with the +landlord, when Jacopo interposed with a whispered--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let the scotched snake lie, signore, he knows too much."</p> + +<p class="normal">I let wisdom take its course, and left the ancient to his sorrows.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_20" href="#div1Ref_20">"A BROWN PAUL--A LITTLE COPPER."</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Such as they were, the troubles of the ancient and his crony Luigi +could not have ended soon, for although at first they were surrounded +by a jeering crowd, fresh things caught the minds of the people after +a little time, and they were left to themselves. As the following day +was a holiday in Todi, the inn-keeper probably let them lie bound +until he had more leisure on his hands, which were in truth full +enough, as the albergo hummed with custom. I never heard or saw +anything more of either of the villains again. We had time yet at our +disposal; but after an early supper, the horses being rested, we +started, and going slowly, with a halt on the right bank of the +Paglia, we crossed the Tiber near San Fortunato, and Perugia lay +before us, bright in the sunshine. In order to throw any pursuit off +the scent, for if by chance inquiries were made about us, they would +be at the southern gates, we made a turn east, then struck north, and +getting over the numberless trenches lying between us and our point, +eventually entered the city by the Porta del Carmine. Here Jacopo, +under my secret instructions, let the guard handle his wine-skin, +buzzing out as if in the confidence of the cup, that we had come from +Fabriano in the Marches and then gave them the day. We rode on, +leaving the ward at the gate to finish the skin, and found very +comfortable house-room in the Rubicon, an hotel kept by Messer +Passaro, which lay behind the house of the Piccinino family, "close to +the Duomo, the citadel, and the gallows," as the landlord, who thought +himself a merry wag, informed me whilst he received us at his door. I +took the best room available for myself, and saw to the wants of my +followers and the horses, who were as well as when they started. I +left them in comfort, bidding Bande Nere make ready to accompany me +out at noontide. Dinner I ordered at twelve, inviting the landlord to +crack a flask of his best thereafter with me. He accepted with +effusion; my object in doing this being to try and get as much +information out of him as possible, as I saw he had a loose tongue and +a gossiping heart, and I was resolved to leave no stone unturned in my +search for Angiola. It wanted two hours or more for dinner, and having +bathed and changed my attire, I sank me down in an arm-chair to enjoy +an hour or so of repose.</p> + +<p class="normal">After dinner mine host appeared, bearing with him a cob-webbed flask.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is a wine of France, excellency--Burgundy--and all my customers do +not taste this, I can tell you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am favoured, indeed, Messer Passaro; take a seat, and help +yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The condescension of your excellency!" and with a bow he settled +himself on the extreme edge of a chair.</p> + +<p class="normal">We poured out our measures, and on testing the wine I found it most +excellent; as for Passaro, he pushed himself back into his seat and +let the liquid down his throat in drops, his eyes closed in an +ecstacy. When he opened them, which he did after a time, he gasped +out:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is not that glorious, signore? Have you ever lipped the brand?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I confess it is wine for the gods," I said. "Is there much in your +cellar."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Store of it, excellency; I was not butler to His Eminence of +Strigonia for ten years for nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"His eminence is a fine judge of wines."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Cospitto!</i> And your excellency's forgiveness for swearing. He is the +finest judge in the world. There is no brand he could not name, nay, +tell you the year of vintage, were he blindfold and a drop but touched +his palate. <i>Corpo di Bacco!</i> But he is a true prince of the Church."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! you are a sly dog, Messer Passaro," and I filled him his glass; +"I warrant me you could tell many a tale of the cardinal. But come +now, has not the Baglioni as fine a taste in wines, and a better one +for a neat ankle?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hush!" he said, looking around him as he put down his empty glass, +"in your ear, excellency--the Count Carlo has big teeth and bites +hard. Let your tongue be still when his name comes up in Perugia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thanks, friend, but Count Carlo owes me no grudge, or else I should +not be here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your worship has come to join him then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you see, Messer Passaro," and I filled his glass again, "I am a +soldier and love to serve a soldier. Besides things will be on foot +soon, for what with the French at Passignano, war cannot be delayed +long."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, and a light has been put to the torch too."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hurrah! Another glass, man; we soldiers are sick of this truce. Our +purses run dry in peace. But tell me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must know, signore, that all the country east of Castiglione to +the Tiber, and lying between the Nestore and Casale, is a fief of the +Castellani, and the Count--ha! ha! It was glorious!" and he slapped +his thigh--"ha! ha!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Nothing irritates me so much as to hear a man laughing aimlessly, and +it was in a sharp tone that I said, "go on."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A moment, excellency," and he held up a fat hand, "ha! ha! I had it +all from Messer Lambro, my cousin, and groom of the chambers to Count +Carlo. Well, all the fief I spoke of is inherited by the Lady Angiola, +the daughter of old Count Adriano. The family is Ghibelline, and have +taken the French side, and seeing that Tremouille was between us and +Casale, my lady must needs go down to visit her estates. The Count, +who is looking for a wife, buckles on his armour, mounts his mare, and +with two hundred lances at his back, gallops up the left bank of the +Tiber, fords the stream, swoops down on the dovecote at Rossino, and +brings back a bride to Perugia; ha! ha! It is superb."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha! ha! Messer Passaro--diavolo! Are they married yet?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not yet--ah! The wine is wine for the gods as your worship says--not +married yet, for my lady is half beside herself they say, and the +Count, receiving a sudden message from Cesare, has had to leave +Perugia for a few days."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Cospitto!</i> How he must curse the Borgia for putting off his +happiness! And she is handsome, eh?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"For the matter of that, excellency, one does not squint at a sour +face set in a golden coif. But they do say the lady is very +beautiful."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have not seen her then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Corpo di Bacco!</i> She is under lock and key, and not for the likes of +me to look upon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the citadel I suppose--a gloomy cage for a fair bird."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Maybe, but I have let my tongue wag too freely, signore, and must be +going."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Safe enough with me, Messer Passaro, for I am on the right +side--adieu!"</p> + +<p class="normal">I made no further attempt to detain him, and he waddled off with the +best part of the now empty flask under his belt. I was sure he knew +but little more, and what I had got out of him did not amount to much. +At any rate I had discovered that Baglioni was out of Perugia, and +that she was still here. This was better than nothing; but worse than +nothing if I could not discover the place of her imprisonment. I threw +myself back in my chair, and racked my brains to no purpose. There was +nothing definite for me to get hold of, no clue of any kind. I thought +of getting the landlord to invite the Count's valet to drink a bottle +or so of his Burgundy with me, but the mere whisper of such a thing +would excite suspicion of a further object, and the slightest +suspicion would ruin the business. Bande Nere appearing at this time, +in accordance with my orders, I resolved to hang about the Palazzo +Publico, and see if I could pick up any information there. On second +thoughts I resolved to go alone, and dismissing Bande Nere, sallied +forth by myself. I went by way of the Piazza del Duomo, and here I +stopped in an idle manner, and was for a moment struck by the entrance +to the palace, which lies here. Over the gate was a splendid bronze of +a lion and a griffin, set above a series of chains and bars of gates, +trophies of an old victory gained over the Sienese. A crowd of beggars +surrounded me, but I was in no mood for charity, and drove them off +with a rough oath. One of the number, however, remained. He was lame +in both feet, supported himself on crutches, and wore a huge patch +over one of his eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is right, excellency--drive them off--the scum, the +goats--pestering every noble gentleman. It is only to the deserving +your excellency will give--a paul, excellency--a brown copper for the +poor cripple--a million thanks, excellency--may this copper be +increased to you a thousandfold in gold."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Begone, fool!" I said, and walked on; but he hobbled along at a great +rate beside me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But a favour, excellency. If your worship would but come with me, I +would show you a wonderful sight. A bird-cage, excellency; would your +lordship be pleased to buy a bird--"</p> + +<p class="normal">I turned round in my anger, and raised my hand to cuff the rascal's +ears, cripple though he was, when he suddenly added: "Or <i>free</i> a +bird, excellency--there is someone coming--a paul, quick--thanks, +excellency--may your lordship die a prince."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he spoke a couple of gentlemen and their servants pushed by us, and +I gave them the road, the beggar hopping nimbly to my side. My heart +was beating rapidly, and all my blood tingling. Was I on the edge of a +discovery?</p> + +<p class="normal">"No more riddles," I said, "who are you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not safe to talk here, signore," he answered. "Follow me." He +started off across the square, hobbling along on his crutches and +wailing out, "A copper for the poor cripple--a brown paul--a little +copper?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"By God!" I exclaimed to myself as I followed behind, "what does this +mean?" I had to find out for myself, however, and followed the man, +who stumped along at a rare pace, notwithstanding the ups and downs of +the side-streets by which we went. He never once looked behind him, +but kept up his cry of "a copper for the poor cripple--a brown paul--a +little copper," and once or twice, when I lost him in the crowd, the +cry served as a signal to me telling me where he went. Finally he +turned to the left, and on reaching the Via della Conca, made straight +for the gate. Here a toll was collected, and paying his paul he went +straight out of the town. I kept him in view now easily, and could +have caught him up as I liked, for the speed at which he had hobbled +along had no doubt breathed him. At last he left the road, and toiling +somewhat painfully over the very uneven ground, vanished behind a spur +of the hills on which Perugia is situated. I now put on my best +walking pace, and in a minute or two turned the elbow of the spur +myself, and found the mendicant seated on a stone mopping his brow, +his crutches lying beside him. He stood up with the greatest ease as I +approached.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, fellow," I said, "what does all this mean? Beware, if you have +attempted to trick me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does not your excellency know me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never saw you before."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am Gian, excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gian! Gian! That throws no light on the subject."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The cavaliere remembers the garden of St. Michael in Florence?"</p> + +<p class="normal">I was not likely to forget the place where I had received Angiola from +Luigi, but I could not connect the man before me with the +circumstance. "I remember perfectly, but I do not know you. Drop this +foolery and speak plainly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am speaking plainly, signore. I was not sure if it was you myself +until now. I am Gian, the Lady Angiola's servant, and his excellency +the secretary has sent me to you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But how did you hear I was in Perugia: his excellency did not himself +know I was coming here until a half-hour before I started, and I have +ridden hard?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The pigeon, your worship: it flew to Florence with a letter to the +Lady Marietta. She sent another one on to the convent of St. Jerome, +and the result is I am here. I was to seek out your worship, and +inform you where my lady is confined."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Basta! It was well conceived by his excellency. But where is she--in +the citadel?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, excellency; but in the Casino Baglioni, behind Santa Agnese."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How did you find out?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was brought here prisoner, excellency, and was allowed to be in +attendance on her ladyship, together with Madonna Laura, her maid. I +escaped back to Florence with a letter from the Lady Angiola a day or +so after. It was by her orders I went."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then she may not be there now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have made sure of that, excellency--but Madonna Laura----" he +stopped.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The maid--what of her--no doubt with her mistress?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alas, no, excellency! She was killed by Pluto."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pluto!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, your worship. A black bear that the cavaliere Paolo, who holds +the house, has as a pet," and he commenced to weep.</p> + +<p class="normal">I felt for the faithful fellow's grief, but said nothing, and after a +little he composed himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, Gian," I said, laying my hand on his shoulder, "be a man, and +we will have an eye for an eye."</p> + +<p class="normal">He ground his teeth but made no reply, I and went on--</p> + +<p class="normal">"How far is the house from here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Close," he said. "We can reach it by the Porto San Angelo."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, then."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is no need for the crutches now," he remarked, as he tucked +them under his arm. "I will use them when we come to the gate. Will +your excellency follow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">As we walked northward over the hills, I continued my questions:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is the Cavaliere Paolo?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A cousin of Count Carlo Baglioni, your worship. A man in middle +life--my age--and a perfect devil."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I doubt not, the breed is a bad one. Has he many men with him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"About six, excellency, and then, of course, there is the guard at the +Porta San Angelo always at hand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now listen to me, for we may not have time to talk further of this. +When you have shown me the house we must separate. Go to the Albergo +of the Rubicon--you know it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alas! no, excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is behind the Palazzo Piccinino; you cannot miss it. Go there, and +await me a few steps from the doors--you follow?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, your worship."</p> + +<p class="normal">We had now crossed the Vici dell' Elce, but passing the gate of that +name, went onwards, and after a stiff climb reached the Porta San +Angelo. Here my companion, betaking himself once more to his crutches +and keeping ahead of me, turned southwards along the road which lined +the walls towards Santa Agnese. Shortly before reaching the church, we +came to a small but solid-looking building, half fortress, half +dwelling-house, and Gian, stopping dead in front of it, turned round +and began his whine:</p> + +<p class="normal">"A copper for the poor cripple--a brown copper. The house, signore," +speaking the last words under his breath as I came up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know the room?" I asked pretending to fumble for a coin.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the tower behind," he answered rapidly, "may the saints bless your +lordship," and he limped away.</p> + +<p class="normal">In order to gain time to look about, I put back my purse leisurely, +and then, with the same object, proceeded to rearrange and retie the +bows on my doublet. The face of the house was a little way back from +the wall which it overlooked. The massive doorway was shut, and the +windows on each side of it, as well as those set above, heavily +grated. I was too near the house to see the tower behind, and it +looked so deserted that it was hardly possible for six men to be on +guard there.</p> + +<p class="normal">"An odd sort of bower to place one's lady-love in," I said, half +aloud, to myself; but then Baglioni's wooing was a rough one. There +was obviously nothing to be got by staring at the front of the house, +and I turned to my left, pausing between two dead walls, until I +obtained a view of the tower behind. The windows of the topmost room +were all closed and strongly barred, and it seemed deserted. I glanced +lower down, and to my joy saw that the room below was evidently +occupied, and once I caught a glimpse of a figure moving within. It +was a brief glimpse; but the eyes of love are sharp, and I knew it was +Angiola. I made up my mind at once, and stepping back quickly to the +front of the house, hammered loudly at the door with the knocker. +After a moment's silence, I heard the firm tread of a soldier. A small +barrier was let down, a bearded face looked up, and a rough voice +asked--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who knocks?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Diavolo!" I exclaimed. "You are polite. Is the Cavaliere Paolo +within?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is not," replied the man shortly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Expected soon?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cannot say."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you do not answer more civilly it will be bad for you. Tell him +when he comes that the Cavaliere di Savelli"--I gave my proper +name--"has arrived from Rome on an urgent affair, and will call on +him to-morrow; forget, and it will be the worse for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">The man seemed a little surprised, and altered his tone at once.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will give your message, signore."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Beware how you fail--harkee--is there a road to the Via Appia behind +this house?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, signore, straight on, after taking the passage."</p> + +<p class="normal">I did not even thank him, but turned on my heel, and walked off +whistling a catch. I went down the passage between the two walls, and +after some considerable stumblings up and down the vile roads, reached +the Via Appia and turned southwards to my hostel. I had formed the +somewhat daring plan of trying to force the house in broad daylight, +choosing my time an hour or so after dinner, and if done boldly this +would probably be successful, as my own force was nearly equal to that +of the garrison including Pluto.</p> + +<p class="normal">As I was approaching the Rubicon, I heard a voice at my side.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A copper, signore--a brown paul."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gian."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Drop the beggar, and attend--can you ride?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well!"</p> + +<p class="normal">I said no more and went on in silence, but a little distance from the +hostel I bade Gian stop, and entering the yard, sought out Jacopo.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has the landlord any horses for sale?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Two, your excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good ones?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fairly so, excellency--about twenty crowns a piece with saddle +included."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then buy one--and here--a few steps to the right of the entrance you +will find a cripple, he is one of my men, do not speak, but attend--go +out quietly--get him decently clothed, and bring him back here, the +horse will be for him. You can get clothes to fit him anywhere, for +the shops do not shut until late; get him a sword too, there are some +good and cheap weapons in Perugia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It shall be done, excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then be off at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">I went on, and had a look at the horses. Bande Nere was with them, +seated on a rough wooden bench cleaning his corselet, which already +shone like silver. He rose to the salute as I came up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How are the horses, Bande Nere?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"As well as possible, signore, they are all in high mettle."</p> + +<p class="normal">With a parting pat to Castor, I sought my chamber, reaching it a +little after the supper hour. I kept up an outward composure, but my +mind within me was aflame with excitement. I ordered another flask of +the Burgundy and forced myself to eat and drink a little. Then I +betook myself to the arm-chair, and my thoughts. So impatient was I, +that the idea came on me to make the attempt there and then, and it +was with difficulty I persuaded myself to abandon such a plan, which +could have only ended in disaster. Finally, I was about to retire for +want of something better to do, when Jacopo came in, followed by Gian.</p> + +<p class="normal">The latter was entirely transformed, except for the patch which he +still wore over his eye, and I was able to recall him now as the old +servant who had come somewhat fiercely up to me in the garden of St. +Michael. He had the art which I found so difficult, of completely +disguising himself when he chose. Jacopo had performed his task well, +and bidding them keep their tongues closed, I dismissed them with a +good night.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_21" href="#div1Ref_21">THE RESCUE OF ANGIOLA.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">The next day as the big gun from the citadel boomed out the twelfth +hour, and all the bells of the town clanged forth the time, five +horsemen rode through the gate of St. Angelo, whose doors were spread +wide open. The single sentry on duty paced sleepily up and down, he +was longing for his noontide siesta, and the guard of a half-score of +Baglioni's lances, lay with their armour off, basking in the mellow +sun. A subaltern officer, who had evidently dined to some purpose, +reclined on his back, half in half out of the shade of a few olive +trees that grew to the left of the gate, and the ruby on his cheeks +showed up all the brighter against the green of the grass on which he +was stretched. The horsemen were myself and my four followers. We had +taken the route I went the day before with Gian, and the plan I had +formed was this. On my gaining admittance to the house, Jacopo and +Bande Nere were to put themselves at the door, and engage the guard +there in conversation. Gian and the lackey were to hold the horses. As +soon as I ascertained the position of Angiola's room, I would blow +shrilly on a whistle I had purchased for the purpose. My men at the +door, who were armed with arquebuses as well as their swords, would +hold the passage, and I should try and account for the Cavaliere Paolo +and bear off the prize. If we succeeded, we could easily make the +gate, and then, the road to St. Jerome lay open before us. The fact +that the attempt was to be made in broad daylight too would be a +safeguard, as no one would deem that such a deed, usually done under +cover of night, was to be adventured at this hour. I had partly paved +the way for my entrance by my call of yesterday, and was provided with +a sufficiently plausible story to keep the cavaliere engaged, whilst I +took stock of his surroundings. Jacopo too had been carefully drilled +as to how he was to announce me, and the question resolved itself into +hard hitting, and a little luck. I had dressed myself with particular +care, wearing my buff-coat under a gay jerkin, and a short velvet +cloak hung from my shoulders. This almost gala attire was to act as a +further blind, and give all the appearance of a mere visit of +ceremony. There was of course the possibility of my being refused +admittance, and of the Cavaliere Paolo declining to see me; but this +was not probable, and if it did happen, I was ready for a bold stroke, +and for this Bande Nere carried with him a grenade with which to blow +open the door. As it turned out, however, we had no difficulty on this +score. On reaching the house I glanced up, and saw a face peering at +us through the caging of one of the windows above; but it was almost +immediately withdrawn. Jacopo dismounted and knocked firmly. The same +performance, I have described, of opening a grating was gone through, +but on my name being mentioned the porter shut his peep-hole, there +was the sound of the removal of a bar, the clank of chains, and the +door swung open with a sullen groan, disclosing a hall, in which stood +two men, completely armed, their arquebuses at the ready in their +hands, whilst the doorkeeper himself, a sturdy knave, stood full in +the entrance, swinging a bunch of keys.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is the Cavaliere Paolo Baglioni within?" I asked as I dismounted, +taking it for granted I was to be received, from the preparation I saw +was made.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is, signore--be pleased to follow."</p> + +<p class="normal">With a warning glance to Jacopo I stepped in, finding myself in a hall +of middle size, the walls discoloured with age, and chipped and +cracked in many places--clearly the Casino Baglioni needed repairs. At +the end of the hall was a spiral staircase, whose stone steps, worn to +a hollow in the middle, by the passing and repassing of feet, marked +its great age. Up this narrow stairway I followed the man, until we +reached a corridor, hung on each side with rusty suits of armour, and +old and tattered banners. The place was very damp, and there was a +musty smell about it, as if no pure air ever came that way. It was +evident that the cavaliere was on the alert, for a man was on guard +here, armed like those below, with sword and arquebus. To him my guide +addressed himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has come," he said, jerking his thumb backwards at me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, announce him," said the sentinel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is for you," answered the janitor, "I had enough of Pluto this +morning." With this he turned on his heel and ran back downstairs, +jingling his keys.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sentry stood still, however, and after waiting for half a minute, +I spoke, my blood rising a little within me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you be good enough to announce the Cavaliere di Savelli--on an +urgent affair?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The man turned round to a closed door behind him, rapping at it with +his mailed hand. From inside I heard a shuffling noise, a heavy body +lurched against the door, and there was a scratching at the wood. No +answer, however, came to the knock.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Knock again," I said, a little impatiently, and this time a deep +voice called out--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Enter."</p> + +<p class="normal">I placed my hand on the door to open it when the sentry spoke with +unexpected civility.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take care of the beast, signore!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The beast--what beast?" I asked, pretending not to know anything of +Pluto's existence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"His excellency's bear--do not fear it--else it might injure +you--<i>cospetto!</i> But it is a perfect fiend if you run from it. It +killed a poor woman the other day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thanks, friend, I will beware," I answered, and pushed open the door, +springing back a yard as I did so, for with a short roar that echoed +through the house, a huge bear rose on his hind legs, and struck out +at my face with his claws.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Diavolo!</i> go back," shouted the sentry to the brute, and I whipped +out my sword; but the animal merely stood in the open doorway, making +no further advance, his great jaws open, and puffing like a +blacksmith's bellows.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Cospetto!</i> excellency, call off the bear," shouted the sentry again, +indeed he seemed positively to hate the animal, and from inside came a +low deep-toned but mocking laugh. "Come back, Pluto--down, you +brute--down!" then there was a heavy "thud," the tinkling of shivered +glass, and the bear dropping on its fore feet, shambled back into the +room. I was considerably startled, and not a little angry; but +concealing these feelings, stepped boldly into the room, keeping my +drawn sword still in my hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Cavaliere di Baglioni?" I enquired.</p> + +<p class="normal">"At the Cavaliere di Savelli's service," and a tall figure rose from a +lounge chair and surveyed me. I confess that my heart began to beat a +little fast when I saw the man against whom I was to pit myself. He +was far above the middle height, and proportionately broad. His +grizzled hair, parted in the middle, hung down straightly to his neck, +and a thick grey beard and moustache hid his mouth and chin. A cruel +hooked nose, almost Hebraic in shape, was set between a pair of small +and piercing eyes. His complexion was deathly pale, and by the light +which fell from the barred window, I saw beneath the skin the little +red lines of swollen veins which marked an intemperate life. At a +small table beside the chair was a pack of cards, and a glass half +filled with red wine, the bottle from which the wine was taken was +lying in fragments at the door, where it had fallen and broken to +bits, after being flung at Pluto. The bear was now beside his master, +facing me, his huge head held down and swaying from side to side. We +remained for a half minute staring at each other, and then Baglioni +spoke again, with his deep sneering accent, "Is it usual for the +Cavaliere di Savelli to pay visits with a drawn sword in his hand?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is it usual," I replied, "for gentlemen to be received by having a +savage beast set at them?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, Pluto!" and he touched the bear, "Pluto was not set at you, +man--you would not be here if he was."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Probably--if however you will call the beast to one side, I would +like to discuss my business with you, cavaliere."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shut the door, and sit down there," he replied, "Pluto will not +disturb us--you can put back your sword. It would avail you little," +he grinned.</p> + +<p class="normal">It cost me an effort, but I did as I was bidden, and Baglioni sank +back into his lounge, the bear still standing, and keeping its fierce +eyes on me. Its master however kept running his hand up and down its +shaggy coat, whilst he asked in his measured voice--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, and to what do I owe the honour of this visit?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You would prefer no beating about the bush?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is my way."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, then, cavaliere, I have come from Rome with a special object, +and that is to ask you to change sides, and to use your influence with +your cousin, Count Carlo, to do likewise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I follow the head of my house."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Exactly. You are aware that His Holiness is now over seventy years of +age."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The lambkin of God, Alexander--yes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, he cannot go on for ever, and if he were to die, it is an end +to the Borgia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ho! ho!" he laughed, "it is an end to the Borgia--Cavaliere, your +employers are mad. It will take not a little to break Cesare--Cesare +Borgia, Duke of Romagna, Imola and Faenza, Marquis of Rimini, Count of +Forli, Lord of Pesaro and Fano, Gonfaloniere of the Church--good for a +low-born bastard--eh? Ho! ho! break Cesare! Not you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stronger trees have fallen, signore--remember we have France, and the +Florentines on our side, and twenty thousand men, under Tremouille and +Trevulzio, are not twenty miles from you."</p> + +<p class="normal">I was playing a risky game. If I did succeed in inducing this man to +listen to my proposals, and he actually persuaded his cousin to do +likewise, it would be a terrible blow to the Borgia. On the other hand +I ran the immediate risk of being arrested, and kept a prisoner, or +killed outright. But it was the only way to gain time, and look about +me; and whilst Baglioni reflectively stroked his strange pet, making +no reply to my last speech, I glanced cautiously but carefully around +the room. Like the passage outside, the walls were hung with old +armour and old flags. Time had defaced the pictures on the ceiling, +and such furniture as there was, was old, and the coverings of the +chairs and tables moth-eaten and wine stained. The stale odour of wine +mingled with the must of a long untouched room, and everywhere, on the +tables, on the chairs, and strewn here and there on the floor, were +cards. Evidently the cavaliere had a weakness in this direction, and +like lightning it flashed upon me, that if he were a gambler the game +was probably in my hands, and I would drop policy and turn to the +cards. My thoughts were interrupted by Baglioni, who broke the +silence. "What evidence have you, to show you are the person you +represent yourself to be?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can offer you none. In matters like this one does not carry +evidence about--but if you like to send a trusted messenger to Rome, +to the Cardinal d'Amboise--see the reception he will get--or nearer +still to Tremouille?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And why come to me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because of your influence with your cousin, and because you are a man +who will play for a big stake," and I risked the shot. His eyes +flashed, and his hand stopped in its movement through the fur of the +bear.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My influence with my cousin is--that," he snapped his fingers, "but a +big stake--yes--I like playing for big stakes."</p> + +<p class="normal">I stooped and picked up a card, holding it idly up between my finger +and thumb.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This, what I propose, is a bigger stake than you could ever get on +the king, cavaliere," and with a twist of my wrist I sent the card +from me, it hit the wall opposite with a smart tap, and then floated +slowly and noiselessly down to the floor of the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">The man's eyes followed the card, and he muttered as if to himself--</p> + +<p class="normal">"A big stake--yes--Carlo gives me nothing--I am his jailor--I, who in +a single night have lost two lordships to Riario, have now not a ducat +to fling in the air, except what the niggard allows me."</p> + +<p class="normal">I did not like the part I was playing; but I knew enough of the state +of affairs to be certain that D'Amboise would richly reward the person +who could detach Baglioni from the Borgia. I said no more than the +truth therefore when I added quietly--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You would have another lordship, or two maybe, to stake, if my +proposal were carried out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Cospetto!</i>" he said, "it is useless."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I am sorry," I replied, rising as if to depart, "but must wish +you good day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Diavolo!</i> Cavaliere, you are not going without some refreshment. Ho! +without there," and his deep voice pealed out like a great bell.</p> + +<p class="normal">The bear, which had stretched itself on the floor, rose with a grunt, +but Baglioni pressed its head down, and it sank back, and began to hum +to itself between its paws, like an enormous bee, or rather with the +sound a thousand bees might make.</p> + +<p class="normal">After a little delay there was a knock at the door, but apparently, as +usual, the person outside, whoever he was, did not feel disposed to +come in. My host rose in anger, and stepped across the room, followed +by his beast, the latter passing unpleasantly close to me.</p> + +<p class="normal">There was an altercation at the door, my host went out with his pet, +and for a minute or two I was left alone. I moved my seat nearer to +the small table beside Baglioni's lounge, and taking up the pack of +cards began to shuffle and cut them.</p> + +<p class="normal">The cavaliere came back very soon, a flask in one hand and a glass in +the other.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Blood of St. John!" he exclaimed as he set them down with a clink on +the table, "those rascals--I will have their ears cut off--they fear +this poor lamb," and he fondled the great bear, which rose on its hind +feet and began muzzling its master.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not surprised. <i>Corpo di Bacco!</i> The king again!" and I flung +down the pack in apparent disgust.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Down, Pluto!" and Baglioni turned to me, "The king again. What was +that you said?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cutting left hand against the right. I lost three times."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I lost ten thousand one night over cutting--but help yourself," and +he pushed the flask towards me, and then filled his own, which he +drained at a gulp.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, cavaliere--you are in no hurry--cut me through the pack."</p> + +<p class="normal">"With pleasure; but my purse-bearer is downstairs--will you permit me +to see him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"By all means--the heavier the purse the better for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A favour--I cannot play with that beast near me--could you not send +him away?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Send him away--my familiar," he said with an awful smile, "No, no, Di +Savelli--he is my luck; but I shall keep him at a distance if you +like."</p> + +<p class="normal">I rose and went down to Jacopo, and found him and Bande Nere already +on friendly terms with the guard. I took my purse from him, and found +time to whisper a warning to strike the moment he heard my whistle. +When I came back, I was relieved to find the bear fastened by a chain +to a ring in the wall. The chain itself was weak, and could have been +snapped with ease, but the animal made no effort to strain at it, and +lay down as contentedly as a dog. Baglioni had pulled a table into the +centre of the room, and was seated at it, impatiently ruffling the +cards.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Back at last," he said, and his voice had lost its measured cadence, +"heavens, I have not spread the cards for a whole year--what stakes?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Simply cutting the cards?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes. It is the quickest game I know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Say a crown each turn to begin with."</p> + +<p class="normal">We cut through four times, and I paid over two crowns. Baglioni +laughed as he put them on one side, "peddling stakes these, +cavaliere--make them ten crowns a cut."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Agreed--three cuts and a shuffle."</p> + +<p class="normal">He nodded, and I paid ten crowns, feeling at this rate that my purse +would soon be empty; but I saw that the fever was taking hold of him, +and offered to double the stakes and won. From that moment luck +favoured me, and at the end of half an hour's play the cavaliere +had lost all his ready money, about sixty crowns, and owed me five +hundred besides. He did not take his losses well, all the restrained +self-command which he first exhibited, gave place to a wild +excitement, and his hands shook as he shuffled the cards, his white +face paling whiter than ever.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Curse the cards!" he said, "I have no luck."</p> + +<p class="normal">The moment had come for which I had been watching. Time after time I +felt inclined to strike a sudden blow; but held myself in.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No more to-day, cavaliere," I said, filling my glass, "I have +business and must away."</p> + +<p class="normal">A red flush came to his forehead, "I cannot pay you at once," he said +in a low tone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tush!" I replied, "the word of Baglioni is enough--but if you want a +last try for your revenge, I will cut you----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Double or quits?" he burst in.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, cavaliere," and I dropped the words out slowly, "the five hundred +against a five minutes' interview with the Lady Angiola."</p> + +<p class="normal">He leaned back in his chair in amaze, and I went on, "Listen to me, I +only want five minutes' speech with her--in your presence if you +will--come, shall I cut or will you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Diavolo!</i>" he muttered, "if Carlo hears of this--well, yes--I will +cut first--the ten--a bad card to beat."</p> + +<p class="normal">I cut carelessly, and faced my card. It was a king.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hell and Furies!" he burst out. "You have won. Come, sir," and rising +he advanced towards the bear.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A moment, cavaliere. I said in <i>your</i> presence. I did not include +Messer Pluto there in the interview."</p> + +<p class="normal">He gave me an unpleasant look; but stopped short.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well," he said, and taking a large key from his girdle, went on +before me.</p> + +<p class="normal">It cost me a great effort to keep cool, up to now my luck had been so +great that every moment there was a temptation to put all to the +hazard of one stroke. I smiled, under my beard, as I thought of the +imposing fool Count Carlo had placed in charge of his prize, and when +I saw the huge shaking hand clutching the key, I could not help +thinking that nerves like that would never hold a sword straight, and +that for all his size and courage, the cavaliere was not a very +formidable foe.</p> + +<p class="normal">In a few steps we reached the door he wanted, and Baglioni, after +knocking once, simply turned the key and pushed open the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">Looking over his shoulder I saw a small but well-furnished room, and +standing in the middle of it, in startled surprise at this sudden +intrusion, the figure of Angiola. Quick as thought I made a warning +gesture, and almost at the moment Baglioni turned round with--</p> + +<p class="normal">"A visitor for you, madam."</p> + +<p class="normal">She did not seem to recognise me, but at the warning gesture I made, a +faint flush came into her cheek. She stood looking at us half +frightened, half indignant, and at last spoke.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not recognise----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ugo di Savelli, madam," and I bowed.</p> + +<p class="normal">Her lips curled a little as she answered--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, Messer Ugo di Savelli--Cavaliere Ugo di Savelli I should +say--is it not so? May I ask your business? If it is any message from +your master, I decline to hear it," and she turned away with a motion +of supreme disdain, thinking no doubt that I was a follower of Count +Carlo.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ho! ho!" laughed Baglioni, at my look of discomfiture, "the future +countess can speak her mind. I pity Carlo. You had best cut short your +five minutes, cavaliere, and come back to the cards."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment I heard the bear whining below, impatient for his +master, and I knew his bonds were all too slender to hold him. There +was nothing for it, but to save Angiola in spite of herself. All this +happened in a flash, and with my full strength I hit Baglioni below +the left ear, just where the neck and head united. So sudden, so +unexpected was the blow, that the huge man rolled over like an ox, and +a short shrill scream broke from Angiola. My sword was out in a +moment, and I stood over Baglioni.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A cry, a movement, and I kill you like a dog," I gasped out, my +breath coming thick and fast; "throw the key to the lady--pick it up, +girl--quick--now run to the door and stand there--I am here to save +you." It was done at once, for Baglioni saw he must obey or die, and +springing back, I closed the door quickly and turned the key. Almost +as I did so, I heard footsteps hurrying below, and blew loudly on my +whistle. The sound of the whistle was followed by an angry shouting +that was drowned by a terrible roar, and I saw Pluto before me, +rushing up the stair, with the end of his broken chain still hanging +to him. Baglioni was battering at the door behind me. He was safe +enough, but my companion had dropped in a faint, and I wanted all my +hands and all my nerve to meet the beast, who was now on the stairway, +not ten feet away from me. Close to me was a heavy stool, I seized +this, and flung it at the animal with all my strength, and getting +between his forefeet, it caused him to stumble and slip back a +half-dozen steps; but with another roar Pluto gathered himself +together, and rushed up again, his jaws agape, and white with foam. I +gave him the point deep into his neck. It might have been a pinprick, +and he dented the steel with his teeth. Rising to his feet, he struck +at me, tearing my short cloak clean off my shoulders, and then, my +sword was up to the hilt in his side, and we grappled. My left cheek +was once touched by his claws, and seemed to be hanging in ribbons; +but although almost blinded with blood, and choked by his fœtid +breath, I held my head well down, and drove my dagger again and again +into the beast. Angiola had recovered from her faint, and above the +grunting of the bear, the battering at the door, and the clash of +steel below, I heard her laughing in shrill hysterics. My strength was +failing. I was about to give up all for lost, when there was a loud +report, and with a howl the bear fell backwards. My hand somehow +fastened itself to the hilt of my sword, sticking in the animal's +side, and the weight of him, as he fell back, and as I shook myself +clear, freed the blade. I stood half dazed, watching the huge black +body sliding limply down the stairs, until it lay in a shapeless heap +on the landing. Jacopo's voice brought me to myself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For the love of God--quick, excellency--quick!"</p> + +<p class="normal">God, I suppose, gives men strength sometimes, for his own purposes. +And so it must have been with me, for I picked my dear up in my arms, +and half giddy, and staggering, made my way to the entrance door. I +need not say I had no time to look about me; but Jacopo helped me with +my burden. Lifting her to the pommel of the saddle, I sprang up +behind, and drawing my darling close to me, with a shout of triumph, I +set free my plunging horse and let him go with a loose rein.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_22" href="#div1Ref_22">THE RIDE TO ST. JEROME.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">We galloped at a break-neck pace to the gate, but the guard was +already alarmed, and half-a-dozen men came hastening towards us. +They were on foot, however, and had no mind to stand the shock of +meeting horses coming at full speed down an incline, so skipped +nimbly aside. The officer alone held his ground, paying for his +courage with his life, for Bande Nere sliced his head in two like a +ripe water-melon--poor wretch. Had they only closed the gates we were +lost, but we reached them just in time, and passing through like a +flash were free of the town. A bullet or two whizzed past us, but did +no damage. It was done, and another half hour of the pace we were +going would place us beyond pursuit. It was no easy matter, however, +to sit the horse and hold Angiola as I was doing, and I very soon +began to feel that the strain on my arm was getting beyond me, and +that she was slipping from my grasp. She lay still and passive, her +eyes closed, her head resting on my shoulder, and seemed in a faint. +Perhaps I spoke roughly, but it was no time to mince words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, madam," I said, "you must rouse yourself--take another day to +swoon--hold me as closely as you can--quick."</p> + +<p class="normal">My words--and the tone they were spoken in--had the effect I wanted. +She looked a little indignant, but held on, leaving my left arm, which +was getting numbed, more free to guide the horse, and my sword arm +greater liberty should occasion arise.</p> + +<p class="normal">The country, rugged although it was, descended in a slope towards the +basin of Trasimene, but I turned sharp aside from the road, fearing +there might be a picquet thereon, and galloped across the open, far +out-pacing my followers, who I saw were coming after me in a bunch, +and at their utmost speed--the honest knaves. The glance over my +shoulder that I took to observe this also showed me a strong body of +horse spurring from the gate, and I chuckled to myself as I thought we +had gained a mile's start and that they had to deal with Castor. Five +leagues to go--it was nothing to the brave horse; and in answer to my +call he stretched himself out as he had never done before. As for me, +such thoughts as I had when I felt the arms of the woman I loved +clasped about me are to be recalled for one's self alone, and concern +none else beside. Once or twice I glanced down, meeting her eyes, and +as she dropped her lids over them they seemed to me to be alive with a +soft light. After a little I felt her arms beginning to relax.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hold tight," I said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot; my strength is going."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Courage, take heart; see, to our left is the Tower of Magione--a few +minutes and we are safe."</p> + +<p class="normal">I drew her closer towards me. With an effort she rallied, her arms +again tightened in their clasp, and we sped down the long slope which +led to Trasimene, Castor stretching himself like a greyhound. I looked +again over my shoulder. Far behind my men were riding for their lives, +and farther still was the dark line of our pursuers, coming on with +dogged persistence, the sun lighting up their armour and flashing from +their spears. Once beyond Magione we were comparatively safe, but a +false step, a stumble, and all was lost. Magione itself was held by +the Baglioni, and from the old watch-tower, built by the Sforza, which +stood high above the country, we might have already been spied, and a +party sent out to intercept us. The thought seemed to grow into a +reality, and a despair began to come over me. "On, on, Castor!" I +spoke to the good horse, and he laid his ears back at the sound of my +voice, and even as he did so I saw a cloud of dust coming towards our +left, and knew that the danger I feared was at hand. Going as we were +I was riding right into the party from Magione, and therefore with a +touch on the rein, I swung Castor round to the north, and we raced on, +leaving the tower over my shoulder. The double burden and the +tremendous pace, however, began to tell on the horse, and within the +next five minutes he slackened perceptibly in his stride. To my horror +I saw that the ground began to be furrowed and cut up by ravines and +that we were approaching the bed of a river. I had therefore to +slacken the pace, and at the same time our new pursuers sighting us, +came on with all the speed of their fresh horses. Castor scrambled in +and out of the ravines like a cat, but we were going slowly now, and +the enemy had all the advantage of the level ground to come up, which +they did at a dreadful rate. With the failing strength of my companion +I dared not risk jumps, weighted as I was, but the brave horse did his +utmost, as if knowing our danger.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For God's sake hold on!" I cried out as we topped a deep ravine with +a plunge that almost caused Angiola to slip from my grasp, and as I +said this I heard a shot and a ball from an arquebus whistled over my +head. The enemy were in the rough ground now themselves, but they were +within gun-range, and I dreaded that some of them might dismount and +pick me off. This however did not occur to them, and on we went, with +every now and again a bullet, fired from horseback with an unsteady +aim singing past us. My charge had twisted her arms into my shoulder +belt and held on bravely, but I saw by her white face and the blue +coming into her lips that this could not last, and if she fainted +there was an end of all.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the outside it was a matter of a few minutes now, one way or the +other; but as I came to the crest of another ravine I saw before me a +steep bank leading down to a small stream that was swishing along in a +white flood, and on the opposite shore a sight that made my heart +leap, for drawn up in array, evidently roused by the sound of the +shots, was a strong body of men-at-arms, and over them fluttered the +pennon of Hawkwood, a red hand on a white field. I knew in a moment we +were within the king's outposts.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Saved!" I shouted in my joy. "Saved!"--and risking all I made the +horse fly the last ravine, and the next instant we had slid down the +bank, and the white water was churning round Castor as he dashed into +the stream.</p> + +<p class="normal">A puff of smoke above us, a flash as of lightning, a deafening roar, +and one of Novarro's nine pounders belched out a storm of grape, that +hissed over our heads in the direction of our pursuers, and stopped +them, beaten and baffled. One effort more, we were out of the stream, +up the bank, and panting, breathless and still bleeding, with my +companion in a dead faint in my arms, I reined in Castor. In a moment +we were surrounded, but the faces were kindly, and dismounting slowly, +I placed my lifeless burden on a heap of cloaks that were flung to the +earth for her, and then turning round, saw Hawkwood before me. It was +the first time we had met since the affair at Arezzo, when I was cast +forth a dishonoured man. I did not know how to greet him, and there +was a constraint in his face, for I saw he knew me, and was like +myself at a loss for speech. I had, however, to take the matter in my +hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Signore," I said, "accept my thanks. This lady is the Countess +Angiola Castellani, a ward of the Florentine secretary, whom I have +brought off from Perugia, and have to take to the convent of St. +Jerome."</p> + +<p class="normal">He tugged at his tawny moustache.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have merely carried out orders--you have nothing to thank me for, +signore. My instructions were to prevent any of Baglioni's men +crossing the Sanguinetta, and to protect all fugitives from the +territories of the Borgia."</p> + +<p class="normal">I bowed and added, with a pain in my tone I could not conceal, for +this man was once my friend--</p> + +<p class="normal">"All the same I thank you, signore; I have, however, four followers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can do nothing for them if they are on the other bank," he +interrupted, and went on, "St. Jerome is not a half-league from here. +My men will make up a litter, and help to bear the lady there. It will +be easier for her. I wish you a good day." He turned on his heel and +gave some orders to his men in English, a language I do not know, +leaving me standing by the body of Angiola. All the misery of the past +came back to me in a flash. Would the stain never be wiped out? All +the kindness I had received from Bayard and the cardinal, all the +efforts made by those who believed in me, seemed to be swept away as +dust in the wind. Almost did I feel that I would accept the ban cast +on me, and turn wolf in earnest. It cost me much to restrain myself +from drawing on Hawkwood, but a glance at the still pale face before +me recalled me to my duty. A man very kindly brought me a little wine, +I knelt down and forced some of it between her blue lips. In a short +time she revived, some colour came into her cheeks, and she attempted +to rise, with a look of fear on her face at the number of armed men +she saw around her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is nothing to fear, madam," I said to reassure her, "you are +safe, and in an hour will be at St. Jerome--a litter is being made +ready for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Without a word she held out her hand, and thanked me with this and the +look in her eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">The litter was now ready, half-a-dozen men volunteered their services, +and placing her therein, we started for the convent. Ere we had gone +half a mile we heard shouts behind us, and I was more than glad to see +Jacopo and my men riding up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How did you get off?" I asked as they came up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the rear of the troop from Magione, excellency," was Jacopo's +reply, "they did not observe us, having eyes only for you; and seeing +you were safe, we forded the stream lower down and crossed--but, +excellency, your face--are you hurt?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Somewhat, but at St. Jerome I will have it attended to."</p> + +<p class="normal">In truth the left side of my face appeared to be laid open, and +although I felt that the wound was not so dangerous as it seemed, yet +I had bled freely, and now that the excitement was over, began to +suffer much pain. Indeed at times I felt as if I could hardly hold +myself straight in the saddle, succeeding in doing so only by an +effort of will. I did not approach the litter. I was afraid that the +sight of my face would alarm Angiola, for now she was probably able to +look about her, and see that which she had not been able to observe +before. Once, however, in a bend of the road, that fortunately went to +the left and hid my wounded side, our eyes met, and I caught so bright +a smile of thanks, that it paid me for my hurt. I reined in, for I +knew my face showed too much, and henceforth kept well behind. I sent +Gian on to the convent with the good news of Angiola's rescue, and on +nearing the gates was met by St. Armande and the rest of my followers, +whom I was glad indeed to see.</p> + +<p class="normal">He came up with a merry greeting. "Welcome," he cried, "so, gallant +knight, you have saved the damsel in distress;" then catching sight of +my wounded face his tone changed. "Good God! you are hurt."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A little."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You should have it seen to at once--come--we are not allowed to enter +the convent; but the abbess has done all she can for us, and we camp +or lodge, whichever way you put it, in that house there," he pointed +to a small villa, set in what seemed a wilderness of holm-oak that hid +all but its roof from view.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not so fast, chevalier. I must leave my charge at the convent first."</p> + +<p class="normal">He had to rest satisfied with this, but I was surprised that he made +no inquiry as to the condition of Angiola, an ordinary civility that +might have been expected.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the gates of the convent, within which we were not allowed to +enter, we were met by the lady abbess and her train. I dismounted, +intending to assist Angiola out of the litter, but as it was set down, +she sprang out of it of her own accord, and the next minute she was in +the arms of the abbess, and there was much kissing and many +congratulations, mingled with tears of joy.</p> + +<p class="normal">I did not stay to receive the thanks I saw would shortly be showered +on me, and thrusting a handful of crowns into the hands of the leader +of the good fellows who bore the litter, as some reward for himself +and his men, I looped Castor's reins into my arm, and set forward to +walk to the villa. The chevalier came with me, and by the time I +reached it I was quite giddy, being weak with the pain and the loss of +blood. The saturnine old abbé was there, with more concern in his face +than I had seen for a long time, and seeing me stagger, he put an arm +round me and, aided by St. Armande, assisted me to a couch. The +chevalier himself dressed my wound, with a gentle and skilful hand, +making as much of me as if I had been run through the vitals. As he +finished dressing the wound, the abbé remarked that I would have to +rest for a few days to enable it to heal, and I had replied with some +difficulty, my jaw being bandaged up, that this was impossible, when +Gian came in with a note. It was from Angiola, chiding me gently for +not waiting to receive her thanks and those of the abbess, and begging +me to come the following day, with a postscript to the effect that the +lady abbess would so far relax the rules of the order, as to admit me +within the courtyard. I dismissed Gian with thanks, and a message that +I would be at the convent, charging him to say nothing of my wound, +and then my thoughts went a wool-gathering, and I lay back with the +missive in my hands. St. Armande was leaning against the window, his +back to the light. He had taken up this position after whispering a +word or two to the abbé, who left the room. I did not, however, +observe him or anything else, my mind was full of mad thoughts, and +for the moment I let them have full play, making no effort to resist. +Folding the letter up carefully, I placed it under my pillow, and was +about to close my eyes, when the abbé returned, bearing a bowl in his +hands. This St. Armande took from him, and approaching me said--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, cavaliere--you must drink this at once."</p> + +<p class="normal">His tone was sharp and incisive, and looking up in some surprise, I +saw he was pale to the lips, and wondered what bee had stung him. I +rose to a sitting posture to take the cup; but he would not have it +so, and passing his arm round my neck, made me drink like a child. The +draught was cool and refreshing, and as I sank back on my pillows, my +heart for a moment being gay at the thought of the letter, I said +jestingly--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Chevalier, you would make a most excellent nurse. Shave off that +little moustache of yours, put on a black hood and gown, and +<i>diavolo!</i> But you would break as many hearts as you cured wounds." +The words were barely out of my mouth, when he brought his foot down +with an angry stamp on the carpet, and with a face as scarlet now as +it had been pale before, turned on his heel and walked out of the +room.</p> + +<p class="normal">I looked to the abbé, who was sitting watching me, stroking his chin +with his hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"St. John! But is he often taken this way?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The cleric rose, and not answering my question, spoke.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You had better try and sleep now, cavaliere, or else the potion may +lose its effect." He then followed St. Armande.</p> + +<p class="normal">I would have risen to apologise, but I felt a pleasant numbness +stealing over me, and in a minute or so my thoughts began to grow +confused, and I seemed to sink into a sleep. Not so profound a +slumber, however, as to be unconscious of what was going on around me. +I was sure I once heard Bande Nere and Jacopo in my room, and that I +was being carried apparently to a more comfortable bed. Then I felt +soft hands bathing my wound, and heard a gentle voice whispering words +of deep love in my ear. It was a dream, of course, but all through the +night that soon came, Doris d'Entrangues hung over me, and tended me +with words I cannot repeat.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_23" href="#div1Ref_23">THE PAVILION OF TREMOUILLE.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">When I awoke the next morning, my head was still dazed, but I was +otherwise strong. At least, I felt so, as I lay still in my bed, all +sense of fatigue gone, and trying to collect my thoughts. After a +little, I glanced round the chamber, which was not the room where I +had taken the potion, but another and a larger apartment. It was no +fancy then, the voices of Jacopo and Bande Nere I heard and the +sensation of being lifted and moved, which I experienced in the night. +My removal was doubtless effected whilst I was under the influence of +the drug; but the voice of madame? The almost certainty that she was +by me through the hours of the night? I could not account for this, +and seeing any such effort was useless, ceased to rack my brain on the +subject, putting it down to a mad dream. For some while I lay +mustering up courage to rise, fanned by the mild breeze, which played +in from the open window on my right. Outside I could see the branches +of the trees, as they swayed to and fro in the wind, and the joyous +song of a mavis trilled out sweetly through the morning, from the +thorn bushes whence he piped. In about a half hour my head began to +grow clearer, I remembered Angiola's letter, and thrust my hand under +the pillow to find it. Of course it was not there, as I had been +moved, and a short exclamation of annoyance broke from me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellency!"</p> + +<p class="normal">It was Jacopo's voice, and the good fellow, who had evidently been +watching me, came forward from behind the head of the bed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, Jacopo! Is it you? Here, help me to rise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Signore--but is your worship able--the chevalier----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never mind the chevalier. I am as well as ever, and there was no need +of that to-do yesterday--<i>diavolo!</i>" and a twinge in my face brought +me up sharply, and recalled Pluto's claws. I put my hand up to my +face, and found I was still bandaged.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was lucky he only touched your worship."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Luckier still your being there with your arquebus, else. St. Peter +and I had surely shaken hands--there--thanks--I will sit here for a +few minutes," and I sank into an easy chair, being really weaker than +I thought I was, the effects more of the narcotic than anything else.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will your worship breakfast here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No--but before doing anything, go to the room where I was last +evening, and bring me the letter you will find under the cushions of +the couch there."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellency!" and Jacopo left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">I now for the first time observed a bouquet of red and white roses, +whose fragrance filled the chamber. I had been conscious of their +perfume before, but thought the scent was borne in by the breeze from +the garden outside. Whilst I was admiring the flowers, Jacopo +returned.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The letter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is not there, signore, I have searched carefully."</p> + +<p class="normal">It was a disappointment, but I said nothing, having determined to see +for myself. As Jacopo assisted me to dress, I enquired to whom I was +indebted for the flowers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot say, excellency; they were here when I came this morning. +Possibly the Signor de St. Armande, who was with your worship all +night."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All night!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Signore."</p> + +<p class="normal">I could not help being touched by this proof of devotion, and when I +had dressed went down, with the intention of finding my letter, and +thanking the chevalier for his kindness. I was, I saw, still a little +weak, but a few hours' rest would make me fit for action, and I could +not help thinking I had been made much over, on too small an occasion. +St. Armande was in the room where I had left the letter, and at the +first glance I saw he was haggard and worn, with dark circles under +his eyes, eyes which many a beauty would have been proud to own. He +seemed so slim, so small and delicate, as he came to meet me, that my +heart began to misgive me again, as to his powers to endure the labour +involved in the difficult adventure we had before us. He was much +concerned at my having risen, made many enquiries about my condition, +and put aside my thanks.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Per Bacco!</i> chevalier," I said, "you look more of an invalid than I. +I fear me, I shall have to be nurse in my turn."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is but a touch of the megrims, I have; but you must not think of +doing anything for a week."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Or a month, or a year," I gibed, as I turned over the cushions of the +couch, and in answer to St. Armande's enquiring look, went on, "The +letter I received yesterday--I am certain I left it here."</p> + +<p class="normal">He came forward to help me, but with no avail.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It must have been blown away," he said.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I put it under the cushions!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"True--but you forget you were moved, and the things were shifted. +Come to breakfast now, and I will have a thorough search made +afterwards."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not yet; I will but step over to the convent, and enquire after the +Lady Angiola----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What! With a bandaged face?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is a wound," I answered coldly, and turning, went out of the +villa. My lackey ran forward to enquire if a horse should be made +ready; but thinking the walk would do me good, I declined. I was right +in this, the fresh, air acted as a tonic, and when I reached the gates +of the convent, all the giddiness had passed. There, to my dismay, I +heard that Angiola was unable to leave her room, a thing I might have +expected, and sending a civil message I retraced my steps, entering +the villa by a side gate, and walking towards it through a deserted +portion of the garden. I went leisurely, stopping every now and again +to admire the flowers and the trees. In one of these rests, whilst I +idly gazed about me, my eye was arrested by a number of fragments of +paper, that lay on the green turf at my feet. Yielding to an impulse I +could not control, I stopped and picked up one of the pieces, and saw +in a moment it was a piece of Angiola's letter to me. I lost no time +in collecting the remaining bits of the paper, and carefully placed +them in my vest pocket. Then I retraced my steps to the villa.</p> + +<p class="normal">As we sat down to breakfast, the chevalier explained that he had made +a further search for the letter, but in vain.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I ought to have told you," I said, "I have found it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the garden--in shreds and tatters."</p> + +<p class="normal">He became suddenly very silent, and so we finished our meal. All that +day I rested, more for the horses' sake than my own, and be sure I did +not fail to make frequent enquiry of Angiola's condition, hearing each +time she was better, and would certainly see me on the morrow. Whilst +I lay resting, my mind was active. I cast up the time I had left at my +disposal. I still had four clear days to carry out my mission, and to +make my plans to intercept Bozardo. But after my adventure in Perugia +I had need for extra care, and could not afford to throw away an hour +of the four days that were left to me. There were many points to think +of. Bozardo would no doubt be strongly escorted, and if the forty +thousand ducats he had with him were in gold, they would be difficult +to carry away, and would be a great temptation to my men. I could +answer for Jacopo and Bande Nere; of course St. Armande was beyond +suspicion, my doubts of him were at rest; but for the others? They +might or might not yield to temptation. If they did yield, affairs +would be serious indeed. I deliberated long and carefully, making up +my mind to adopt the following course. Tremouille was but a few miles +from me. I would see him, tell him of the enterprise which D'Amboise +had entrusted to me, and ask him to send a troop, or some trusted men, +to whom I could hand over the money in case I succeeded. If he could +send these men on to Sassoferrato, I meant to ambuscade on the banks +of the Misa, make my dash at Bozardo there, and if all went well, they +could receive the money in a few hours, and relieve me of that +anxiety. Of course Tremouille might refuse to see me; he might even do +worse; but I would give him the chance and accept the risk.</p> + +<p class="normal">When I came to think of it, it was hardly possible that he was +unacquainted with the cardinal's design, and I could form no better +plan than the one I had resolved upon. I would have to deny myself the +pleasure of seeing Angiola on the morrow, but the four days gave me no +margin. The day's repose did me much good, and, after supper, which we +took about six o'clock, I ordered Castor to be saddled. St. Armande +looked surprised, but I wasted no words, telling him briefly that I +was bound on business, and that on my return we should have to make an +immediate start. I refused all offer of companionship, and shortly +after Castor and I were galloping through the glow of a late sunset to +the camp of Tremouille.</p> + +<p class="normal">I skirted the shores of Trasimene, the road being easier there, and as +I went on, could not help wondering to myself what manner of reception +I would have from the duke. Good or bad, I was determined to see him, +and I soon caught sight of the line of tents, cresting the hills that +overhung the defile where Hannibal caught the Romans. The tents were +soon lost to view in the grey of the coming night. One by one the camp +fires began to light the hills; the mist that rises here after sundown +enveloped me, and slackening speed, I let Castor pick his way up an +ascending road, covered with loose stones, and cut into ruts and +fissures. In a while I came to an outpost, and at once challenged by +the sentry, and surrounded by the piquet. I explained that I was from +Rome to see the duke, and could not possibly give the pass word. The +officer of the watch replied that this was my affair, not his, and +that I would have to remain here until the morning, or until a field +officer inspected the posts, in which case he would take his orders. +There was no help for it, and I resigned myself to circumstances, with +an impatient heart So an hour or two passed, which I beguiled by +discourse with the subaltern, telling him of Rome; he was a cadet of +the house of Albani, and hearing petty items of news in return, the +chief of which was that the Seigneur de Bayard had returned to the +camp. Even as he said this, we heard the deep bay of a hound, and I +recognised Bran's throat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Per Bacco!</i> It is Bayard himself going the grand rounds," exclaimed +the subaltern springing to his feet, and giving the order for the men +to stand at attention. In a few minutes we heard the sound of horse's +hoofs, the sharp clink of steel scabbards, and a half-dozen horsemen +rode up. As they approached, Castor neighed in recognition of his twin +brother, and an answering call showed that Pollux knew the greeting, +and gave it back. The hound too came up, and rising on his hind feet, +fawned a welcome on me. I made myself known to Bayard at once.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Ciel!</i>" he said, "you are the last man I expected to meet, and you +want to see the duke, come with me then."</p> + +<p class="normal">On the way I told him of the success of my attempt to free Angiola.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have just heard of it," he said, "and it has gone far in your +favour. In fact Madame de la Tremouille, who is back again, could +speak of nothing else at supper this evening. It was a brave deed, and +I envied your luck, cavalier."</p> + +<p class="normal">I told him of my plan, enquiring if he thought Tremouille would give +me the assistance I wanted, pointing out that the movement of any +troops, where I wanted the detachment to go, could not possibly be +taken as a breach of the truce.</p> + +<p class="normal">"As for the truce," he made answer, "it is in the air. The king has +really left Maçon at last. It is said that the advance guard under the +Seneschal of Beauçaire has already crossed the Ombrone. Tremouille +cannot possibly refuse, and here we are."</p> + +<p class="normal">We pulled up at the entrance to a large pavilion, out of whose open +door a broad band of light streamed into the night.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Follow me," said Bayard, and I did so, the guards saluting +respectfully as we entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">I had not time to look about me, but saw that Tremouille, who was in +his armour, was pacing up and down the tent, with his limping gait, +and dictating a despatch to his secretary. He stopped short in his +walk, and greeting Bayard cheerfully, looked at me with a grave +surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is M. di Savelli," said Bayard, "he has business of such +importance with your excellency, that I have taken it upon myself to +bring him here."</p> + +<p class="normal">The duke glanced at me keenly, the thin lines of his lips closing +together.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you aware of the risk you run by coming to my camp?" he asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am perfectly aware, your excellency, but----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must either be a fool, or a very brave man," he interrupted.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I lay claim to neither honour, my lord, and I take the risk: will you +hear me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He nodded, and I laid my proposal before him. When I had finished his +face expressed approval.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Very well," he said, "I will detach Hawkwood. If you succeed, hand +the money over to him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand, my lord," and bowing I retired. As I reached the door +of the pavilion, I heard the duke's voice again:</p> + +<p class="normal">"M. di Savelli."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My lord," and I faced him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Succeed in this, and count me as a friend. I give you the word of +Tremouille."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank your excellency," and turning again I went forth. Bayard +followed me out.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have half a mind to ask you to let me share your adventure," he +said, "I am afraid, however, they will not allow me to go. At any rate +I will ride back to the outposts with you--down, Bran," and he swung +into the saddle.</p> + +<p class="normal">When I shook hands with Bayard on parting from him, his last speech +was--"Be careful, cavaliere, for Tremouille is a man of his word--if +you fail, however, remember the game is not yet lost--good-bye, and +good luck."</p> + +<p class="normal">I turned Castor's head towards the convent, and leaving the camp fires +behind me, went on through the darkness. It was midnight when I +reached the villa. Those tough old soldiers Jacopo and Bande Nere were +on the watch. Everything was ready; and after sharing a skin of wine +all round, we rode out--shadowy figures through the mist, now faintly +lit up by a young moon, whose thin crescent lay quietly in the sky. I +looked back at the walls of the convent; from a window of an upper +chamber a light was shining. Perhaps it was hers! And I bent down my +head in a silent prayer, for God's help in my fight back to honour.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_24" href="#div1Ref_24">TOO DEARLY BOUGHT.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">About a mile from Arcevia, the road from Sinigaglia to Rome, begins to +ascend the oak-shrouded hills whence the Misa has its source, passes +Sassoferrato, and then, turning due south, goes on for some nine miles +over the mountains. At the point where this road, up to now following +the banks of the Misa, and advancing in a gentle slope, begins the +somewhat abrupt ascent of the outer chain of the Pennine Alps, on a +high overhanging rock, covered with twisted and gnarled oaks, stood a +ruined and deserted castle. It was of the eleventh century, and +originally belonged to the Malatesta, whose battered and defaced +scutcheon frowned over the half-falling arch of the gate. Now it was +ownerless, but there were tenants there, for the falcon had made her +eyrie in its rocks, in the crannies of the falling towers were +numberless nests of swallows, on the ruined <i>débris</i> of the walls the +little red lizard basked in the sunlight, and, when the night came, +the melancholy hoot of the owl was heard, and tawny fox, and grey wild +cat, stole forth on plundering quests, from their secure retreats +amidst the thorn, the wild serpythum, and the fragments of the +overthrown outer wall, which afforded these bandits of nature so safe +a hiding place.</p> + +<p class="normal">For once, however, for many years, the castle was again occupied by +man. There were a dozen good horses under the lee of the north wall +which still stood intact, and in the great hall, part of whose roof +lay open to the sky, a fire of oak-logs was burning, whilst around it +were gathered Jacopo and my men, cracking jokes, and finding the +bottom of a wine skin. In a smaller chamber, a little to the right, I +sat with St. Armande and the abbé. We, that is the chevalier and +myself, had been dicing a little together to kill time, the abbé +improving the occasion by reading from his Breviary. We had now been +here for three days, on the watch for Bozardo's party, but there was +no sign of them. They had certainly not gone on, for we had carefully +enquired, and were doubtless detained by some reason, of which we knew +not the details. In order not to be taken by surprise, I had sent +Bande Nere on to scout, with instructions to come back with a free +rein, the instant he had news of the party. Two days had passed since +he went, there was no sign of him, and I was beginning to feel a +little anxious.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Diavolo!</i>" I exclaimed, "I am getting sick of sitting like a vulture +on a rock here. I wish Monsignore Bozardo would hasten his steps."</p> + +<p class="normal">The abbé looked up in a mild surprise, and St. Armande put in +gently--"The compulsory rest has done your wound good at any rate."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I fancy, chevalier, I owe more thanks to your skilful doctoring than +to the rest. <i>Per Bacco!</i> But I think I shall carry those claw marks +to my grave."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What one carries to the grave does not matter," said the abbé, "it is +what one carries beyond the grave that the signor' cavaliere should +think of."</p> + +<p class="normal">"True, reverend sir, I trust I may ever remember that," and rising, I +put my hand on St. Armande's shoulder, "come, chevalier, I go to take +a turn outside, will you join me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He rose with pleasure on his face. On our way out we passed through +the great hall, and listened for a moment to Jacopo, who in a tuneful +voice was singing a Tuscan love song. So absorbed was he and his +audience, that they did not observe us, nor did our footfalls attract +any attention as we passed out into the open air.</p> + +<p class="normal">The moon was still young enough for all the stars to be visible, and +leaning over the ruined battlements we looked out into the night. Far +below us we heard the river, murmuring onwards towards the sea, behind +us the castle stood grim and silent, a red light showing from the +windows of the hall, through which we could catch the lilting chorus +to Jacopo's song.</p> + +<p class="normal">For a time neither of us spoke, and then to make some conversation I +turned to my companion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who is that abbé, chevalier, who accompanies you everywhere? Not a +tutor surely?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In a way--yes," he answered, "he was born and brought up on our +estates, and is a faithful servant of our house--you must know," he +went on, "that in Picardy, the name of St. Armande is honoured as that +of the king. I would trust Carillon with more than my life; my honour, +if need be; for he and his fathers have served us more faithfully I +fear than we have served France."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not more faithfully than you mean to though--eh, St. Armande?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I live," was the reply, as he made a slight gesture, a movement of +the head that brought back to me the shadowy memory I was always +trying to grasp.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Live--why of course you will live," I answered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I shall not see the sun set to-morrow."</p> + +<p class="normal">I looked at him blankly for a moment. Moon and stars were sufficient +to light his face, so that I could see the sad, far-away eyes, eyes +more fit for a saint than a soldier.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Animo!</i> Do not talk like that. It is nonsense," but I felt a +foreboding myself that I could not account for, and it chilled me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not nonsense," he said in his dreamy voice, and then, as if +rousing suddenly, "Cavaliere--di Savelli--I want you to promise me one +thing. Do not hesitate; but promise. It is about myself I ask--will +you?" and he held me by the arm with his slight fingers that I felt +were shaking. To soothe him I answered gravely, "I promise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know that I will not live beyond to-morrow. When I die, bury me as +I am--here--here in this ruin--and--and you will not forget me, will +you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">As he said this his voice took a cadence, his face took an expression +that suddenly brought back a hundred old memories, no longer vague and +misty, but clear and distinct. In a moment the scales fell from my +eyes, and I saw. I seemed to be once more hawking on the banks of the +Chiana with madame, I was once more in the aisles of the church at +Arezzo, treading down temptation, and bidding farewell to a woman who +was trying to be strong.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God in heaven!" I gasped to myself as I leaned back against the +parapet, and drew my hand across my forehead, as if to wake myself +from a dream. St. Armande did not notice my exclamation, he did not +even observe my movement. His own excitement carried him away.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Promise," he said, and shook my arm in his earnest entreaty.</p> + +<p class="normal">"As there is a God above me I promise."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I believe you," he said simply, "and now I am going in."</p> + +<p class="normal">I made no offer to bear him company, and his slight figure drifted +into the moonlight. I saw it clearly again, making a dark bar against +the red glare in the open door of the hall, and then vanished from +view. I was utterly thunderstruck by the discovery I had made. A +hundred actions, a hundred tricks of gesture, of speech, of manner, +should have disclosed St. Armande's identity to me. Now I knew it, it +was all so simple and clear, that I wondered at my denseness in not +having guessed through the disguise before. Now that I had discovered +it however, now that my blindness was cured, what was I to do? I +resolved on keeping the secret I had probed, and never once letting +St. Armande know he was other than what he pretended to be. A great +pity came up in my heart, for there was a time when I almost thought I +loved this woman, and it required little conceit to see, after what +had happened, that madame was prepared to make almost any sacrifice +for my sake. I was sorry, more sorry than I can tell, for I knew my +own hands were not clean in this matter, and I paced up and down, +flinging bitter reproaches at myself, and utterly at a loss to plan +out some way of escaping from the difficulty in which I was placed. I +made up my mind that St. Armande, as I will still speak of the +disguised chevalier, should be placed in no danger, resolving that as +soon as the affair on which we were engaged was over, that I would +send him, or rather her, with a message to the cardinal, and the +message was to be one that, I hoped and trusted, would have the effect +of making madame cease her foolish prank--I had it at this moment +almost in my heart to be angry with her; but I could not, for the +small voice that kept whispering to me--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thou art not free from blame." I was not; but nothing would induce me +to add another wrong to the one I had committed. That in itself was +sufficient to haunt me to the grave, and I shivered as I thought of +the abbé's words, "It is what one carries beyond the grave that the +Signor Cavaliere should think of."</p> + +<p class="normal">So alternately reproaching myself, and praying for aid, prayers that +brought no relief, I passed the night, and in the small hours of the +morning stole back into the castle. Round the fire in the great hall, +the figures of my followers were stretched, all but one, who kept +watch, but recognising me did not challenge. I passed by softly, and +entered the other room. The abbé had dropped asleep over his breviary, +the lamp burning low beside him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Rolled in a cloak, and half reclining against a saddle, St. Armande +was in a profound slumber. I took the lamp in my hand, and holding it +aloft, surveyed the sleeping figure. A last hope had come to my mind +that I was mistaken, that perhaps I was jumping too quickly to +conclusions. But no, there was not a doubt of it. There could be no +mistaking that fair face with its delicate features, the straight +nose, the curved bow of the lips, half hidden under its disguise, the +small shapely head with its natural curls of short golden hair--oh! I +knew all these too well. It was Doris d'Entrangues without shadow of +doubt, and no blind beggar, who groped his way through a life-long +darkness, was blinder than I had been. I set down the lamp softly, and +with a sick heart stepped back into the hall, where I found room for +myself until the morning, which indeed it was already. With the +sunrise, I was awakened from a fitful sleep by hearing Bande Nere's +voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What news?" I asked as I drew the old soldier aside.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have been as far as Sinigaglia, excellency, and all goes well. The +party left Sinigaglia the morning I arrived, and I followed in their +track, letting them keep well ahead of me to avoid suspicion. Last +night, however, I passed them. They will be here about noon, maybe a +little before."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The numbers?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ten lances, excellency, for escort. It is those we have to deal with. +Then there are about a score of mounted servants, four laden mules, +and Monsignore Bozardo."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Um!</i> That is rather strong, if the servants carry weapons."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But they march as through a friendly country, signore, the servants +going on ahead to prepare for Monsignore's arrival. He himself keeps +close to the mules, with one or two men, and of course the escort."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know who commands the escort?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, excellency--I did not wish to risk anything, and asked no +questions."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right, and have done well--here are ten crowns."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your excellency is generosity itself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not more than you deserve. Go and get something to eat now, and +take as much rest as you can within the next hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellency," and Bande Nere stepped back to join his fellows, who +surrounded him with eager questions, and there was a bustling and a +buckling-to of arms and armour.</p> + +<p class="normal">When we met a little later my face showed no signs of my discovery to +St. Armande, and whilst we breakfasted together I told him that the +time was come for which we had been waiting.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Remember your promise," he said with an affected gaiety, but his +voice nearly broke down and I saw the abbé glance at him with a deep +compassion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not forget," I answered, "but God grant there may be no need +to keep it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should say 'Amen' to that," he answered, "only I cannot."</p> + +<p class="normal">My plans were already made, and as soon as we had breakfasted we set +forth from the castle. The road, as I have already explained, ascended +abruptly a short distance from the base of the rock on which the +castle was perched. Between the base of the rock and the road was a +narrow but thick belt of forest, which afforded admirable concealment, +and here we posted ourselves secure from all view. The abbé and St. +Armande insisted on accompanying us, and in order to put the chevalier +from harm I placed him a little way up the rock, with instructions to +charge down as soon as he heard my whistle, which I never intended to +blow. The abbé took his station beside him, saying where the chevalier +was it was his duty to be. St. Armande held out a small hand to me as +I was turning away, and I took it gently for a moment in mine. The +quick impulsive movement reminded me much of that day when madame had +held the flowers I gathered to her husband's face. Something almost +choked me as I turned away hastily, having only strength to repeat my +warning--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not move till you hear my whistle."</p> + +<p class="normal">I borrowed an arquebus from one of my men, and the arrangement was +that we were to charge out after a volley, the first shot of which I +was to fire. All being now ready, it was only necessary for us to +wait. I would merely add that in order to prevent discovery by the +neighing of the horses, we had muzzled ours as far as possible. There +was now a dead silence, that was only broken by the rustle of the +leaves overhead, an occasional crack amongst the dry boughs as a +squirrel moved against them, or the uneasy movement of a horse, which +caused a clink of a chain-bit, and a straining sound made by the +leathers of the saddlery, that was not in reality so loud as it +seemed; but caused Jacopo and Bande Nere to scowl fiercely at the +unfortunate rider, a scowl which was only equalled by their own +stolidly impassive faces, when their own beasts sinned. We had not +long to wait; presently we heard voices shouting, the clatter of +horses trotting, a rapid reining in at the ascent, and a number of +followers and lackeys, some mounted on horses, others on mules, with +led mules beside them, came past, and went on, heedless of the eager +faces watching them through the trees. One or two of our horses became +so uneasy that I was afraid of immediate discovery, but so occupied +were the knaves in babbling together, all at once, that what with +this, and the thwacking of their animals, and in some cases the +efforts to remain on, we remained unnoticed. Then there was a short +interval, and the suspense was strained to breaking point. In a while +we heard the firm beat of a war-horse's hoof, and our quarry came in +view. First came Monsignore Bozardo, a tall thin man, wrapped in a +purple cloak, with a fur cap on his head. He rode a strong ambling +mule, and by his side was the commander of the escort. Immediately +behind were four troopers, then the mules with the ducats, behind +these again six other lances, whilst the rear was brought up by +half-a-dozen lackeys, without a sword amongst them. But what struck me +almost dumb with surprise was that the leader of the escort was none +other than D'Entrangues himself. There could be no mistake, his visor +was up, and I saw the sallow face, the long red moustaches, and almost +caught the cold glint of his cruel eye. At last! I raised my arquebus +and covered him. At last! But a touch of my finger and the man was +dead. I could not miss, my heart was mad within me, but my wrist as +firm as steel. In another moment he would be dead, dead, and my +revenge accomplished. It was already in my hand. I looked aside for a +second at the line of breathless faces watching me, then back again to +the muzzle of my weapon. D'Entrangues was now not twenty yards away. I +could scarcely breathe as I pointed the arquebus at his heart. I had +already begun to press the trigger, when something seemed to come +across my mind like lightning. I saw in a moment that lonely room in +the Albizzi Palace, where I had kneeled to my God and sworn to put +aside my vengeance. The weapon shook in my grasp.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fire, signore," whispered Jacopo hoarsely.</p> + +<p class="normal">With an effort I jerked the muzzle in the air, and pulled the trigger. +The report was followed by four others, and two of the troopers fell. +The next moment we were on them with a shout, and there was the clash +of steel, as fierce blows were struck and received, now and again a +short angry oath, and sometimes a cry of pain. I did not want to take +life, but a trooper came at me, so I had to run him through the heart, +and the man fell forward under Castor's hoofs, with a yell I shall +never forget. The next instant D'Entrangues and I crossed blades, and +whether he recognised me or not I do not know, but he fought with a +skill and fierceness I have never seen equalled. At last I lost my +temper, and cut savagely at him. He parried on the forte of his blade, +but so furious was the stroke that it broke the weapon in his hand, +and almost unhorsed him. Reining back skilfully he avoided another cut +I made at him, and drawing a wheel lock pistol from his holster, fired +it straight at me. At the flash, someone dashed between us. I heard a +scream which froze the blood in me, and a body lurched forwards and +fell to my side, whilst a riderless horse plunged through the press, +and galloped away. I saw the light of the golden head as it fell, and +forgetting everything, forgetting D'Entrangues, forgetting all but the +fact that a dreadful deed was done, I sprang down from Castor, and +raised St. Armande in my arms. As I did this a hoarse yell from my men +told me the day was won; but I had no ears for this, no eyes for +anything, except the slight figure, which lay in my arms gasping out +its life.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Congratulations, signore, we have taken the lot," and Jacopo, +bleeding and dusty, rode up beside me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"At too great a price," I groaned; "help me to carry----," I could say +no more.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here, two of you secure those mules--Bande Nere, see to the +wounded--Queen of Heaven--the chevalier----" and Jacopo, giving his +sharp orders, sprang down beside me, and together we bore our +unconscious burden under the shadow of the oaks. A dark figure stepped +to our side, and kneeling down supported the lifeless head on his arm, +whilst hot tears fell from his eyes, as he prayed over her. It was the +abbé.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How did this happen?" I asked, "did I not say you were not to move?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was done at once," he answered, "I could not prevent it--alas! How +can I carry this tale back to St. Armande?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Water, excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">Jacopo had brought some clear water in his helmet. I thanked him with +a look, and he stepped back, leaving us three together, two who were +living, and one who was going away.</p> + +<p class="normal">I bathed the forehead and drawn lips, from which flowed a thin stream +of blood, and as I did so her eyes opened, but the film of death was +on them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Di Savelli--Ugo--," and she was gone.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gone like a flash, flung swiftly and fast into eternity, struck down, +perhaps unwittingly, by the arm which should have been a shield to +her. I have often wondered if D'Entrangues ever knew who fell to his +pistol shot. If he did, God pity him! In the one glimpse I caught of +his white face, as he swung round and rode off, I thought I saw a look +of horror. But everything went so quickly, that then I had no time to +think, and now I can recall but the end.</p> + +<p class="normal">To her dead lips Carillon pressed his crucifix, into her dead ears he +mumbled prayers. I knelt tearless, and prayerless, beside him, +thinking only of the great love that had laid down a life.</p> + +<p class="normal">One by one my men stole up, and stood in a half circle, leaning on the +cross-handles of their swords, over which the grim, bearded faces +looked down on us in pity.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly Carillon raised his crucifix aloft.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My Father," he cried, "receive her soul!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And someone said softly,</p> + +<p class="normal">"Amen!"</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_25" href="#div1Ref_25">THE VENGEANCE OF CORTE.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">We buried our dead; and madame slept beneath the ilex, in the +courtyard of the castle, below the north wall. Over her nameless grave +we raised a rude cross, and after it was done, Carillon bade me +farewell. He was going, he said, to bear the story to St. Armande, and +when he reached it, I wit there was sorrow in the Picard chateau, +whence madame took her name. It was with a heart of lead that I rode +into Sassoferrato, and there, as arranged, made over my prize to +Hawkwood. The tale of the ducats was complete, and the Englishman, +giving me my quittance, held out his hand, saying bluntly--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wronged you, Di Savelli; but I know now. We all know, for Bayard +has told us."</p> + +<p class="normal">I hesitated. Many memories came to me, and there was bitter resentment +in my soul. They had all been too ready to believe. They had flung me +forth as a thing too vile to touch, and now--it was an easy matter to +hold out a hand, to say, "I am sorry," to think that a civil word +would heal a hideous wound. The kind world was going to forgive me, +because it had wronged me. Such as it was, however, it was the world, +and things had made me a little humble. After all, if the positions +were reversed; if I stood in Hawkwood's place, and he in mine, how +should I have acted? I would not like to say.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come," said Hawkwood, "let the past be covered. Come back--we want +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"As you will," and I took his grasp; "I will come back in a little +time. Till then adieu!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good-bye!" and we parted.</p> + +<p class="normal">Five minutes later, I was spurring to Rome, my following at my heels. +It was, in a manner, putting my neck on the block, for Bozardo was +probably making his way thither with all speed, and doubtless +D'Entrangues as well. Recognition was almost certain; but risk or no +risk, I was bound to see the cardinal, and tell him my task was done. +Little did I think, however, as Castor bore me, with his long, easy +gallop, across the oak forests of the Nera, that the face of affairs +in Rome had been changed in an hour, and that, had I so wished, I +might have, in safety, proclaimed what I had done from the very +house-tops. As we came nearer the city, it was evident that there was +some great commotion within, for, from every quarter pillars of dim +smoke rose up in spiral columns, and then spreading out like a fan +hung sullenly in the yellow of the sunset. It was clear that houses +were burning, and swords were out. We soon began to meet parties of +fugitives, hurrying from the city, and making across country in all +directions. They avoided us like the plague, and the mere glint of our +arms was sufficient to make them scatter to right and left, leaving +such property as they could not bear with them, to the tender mercies +of the road-side. Some of my men were eager to ride after the +runaways, and question them; but I forbade this, knowing we should +hear soon enough, and that if there were danger, it would be best to +hold together.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Per Bacco!</i>" and Jacopo, riding up beside me, pointed to a black +cloud, which slowly rose, and settled above the vineyards of the +Pincian Hill, "we had best go with a leaden boot, excellency. There is +a devil's carnival in Rome, or I am foresworn."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this juncture, we turned an abrupt corner of the road, coming upon +a crowd of fugitives, who seemed to be running forwards, caring little +where they went, so that they put a distance between them and Rome. +Amongst the throng was a figure I recognised; and in a mean habit, +mounted on a mule, which was seized with an obstinate fit, and refused +to budge, although soundly thwacked, I saw the Cardinal of Strigonia. +Bidding Jacopo keep the men together, I rode up to him, and asked--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Can I render your eminence any aid?"</p> + +<p class="normal">His round eyes, starting out of his head like a runaway hare's, +glanced at me in fear, and the stick he bore dropped from his hand, no +doubt much to the satisfaction of the mule. At first he was unable to +speak, for my words seemed to fill the man with terror, and I had to +repeat the question, before he stammered out--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are mistaken, sir; I am no eminence, but a poor brother of Mount +Carmel, on my way to Foligno, out of this hell behind me," and he +glanced over his shoulder towards Rome.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I see," I answered with a smile, "but if the poor brother of Mount +Carmel will look more closely at me, he will see a friend. In short, +your eminence, I am Di Savelli."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Corpo di Bacco!</i> I mean our Lady be thanked. And so it is you, +cavaliere! Take my advice, and turn your horse's head to Foligno. On +beast!" and he kicked at the mule, which moved not an inch.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am for Rome, your eminence; but what has happened?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, that I had a horse!" he groaned. "What has happened? Everything +has happened. Alexander is dead or dying. Cesare dead, they say, and +burning in Hades by this. Orsini and Colonna at the old game of hammer +and tongs----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And the Cardinal--D'Amboise?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Safe enough I believe, as the Orsini hold the Borgo, and have +declared for France."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Trust me, your reverence, you will be safer in Rome than out of it. +The whole country will rise at the news, and the habit of Mount Carmel +will not save the Cardinal of Strigonia. Turn back with me, and I will +escort you to the Palazzo Corneto."</p> + +<p class="normal">To make a short story, D'Este agreed after a little persuasion, and +the mule was kind enough to amble back very willingly to Rome. We +placed his eminence in the centre of our troops, and went onwards, +entering the city by the Porta Pinciana, riding along leisurely in the +direction of S. Trinita di Monti, and thence straight on towards the +Ripetta. It was a work of no little danger to make this last passage, +for everywhere bands of plunderers were engaged in gutting the houses, +many of which were in flames, and we continually came across dead +bodies, or passed houses from which we heard shrieks of agony. We +could help no one. It was all we could do to keep our own heads on our +shoulders; but by dint of shouting, "<i>A Colonna!</i>" with the Colonna, +and "<i>Orsini</i>! <i>Orsini!</i>" with their rivals, and sometimes hitting a +shrewd blow or two, we crossed the Ripetta, and in a few minutes were +safe in the Palazzo Corneto.</p> + +<p class="normal">Here we were received by Le Clerc, who comforted the trembling +Strigonia, with the assurance that an excellent supper awaited him, +informing me, almost in the same breath, that D'Amboise was in the +Vatican. I lost no time in repairing thither, which I did on foot, +accompanied by Jacopo alone, and made my way without let or hindrance +to the Torre Borgia. Here everything was in the wildest confusion, and +the Spanish soldiers of the Pope were plundering right and left. I +stumbled across De Leyva, who, with a few men at his back, was trying +to maintain order. He gladly accepted the offer of my sword, and we +did what we could to prevent the wholesale robbery from going on. In a +brief interval of rest, I asked,</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know where D'Amboise is?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the Sistine Chapel, with half-a-dozen others; De Briconnet guards +the entrance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And Alexander?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dead or dying--I do not even know where he is; Don Michele has seized +as much as he can, and carrying Cesare on a litter, has escaped to +Ostia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then Cesare is not dead----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No. Cross of St. James! see that?" and he pointed to a reeling +drunken crowd, full with wine and plunder, who passed by us with +yells, into the great reception rooms.</p> + +<p class="normal">Followed by the few men who remained steady, De Leyva dashed after +them, and with Jacopo at my heels, I made for the Sistine Chapel. I +reached the Scala Begia, and although I knew the Sistine Chapel was +but a few feet distant, yet, owing to the darkness that prevailed, I +missed the way, and Jacopo was of course unable to help me. Groping +onwards we came to a small door, and pushing it, found it to open +easily. It led into a narrow, vaulted passage, where the darkness was +as if a velvet curtain of black hung before us. "I like not the look +of this, excellency," said Jacopo, as we halted in front of the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Keep a drawn sword," I answered, "and follow me."</p> + +<p class="normal">We could only go in single file, and picked our way with the greatest +care, our feet ringing on the stone floor. Except for this, the +silence was intense, and we could hear no sound of the devilry +outside. The passage continued, until we almost began to think it had +no end, but at last the darkness gave way to a semi-gloom, and a faint +bar of light gleamed ahead of us. At this we increased our pace, +finding a sharp corner, a little beyond which rose a winding flight of +stairs, ending before a half-open door, through which the dim light +came. I put my foot on the first of the steps, and was about to +ascend, when we were startled by hearing a moan of mortal agony, +followed by a laugh, so wild and shrill, so exultant, and yet so full +of malice, that it chilled us to the bone. It pealed through the door, +and echoed down the passage behind us, until the horrid cadence became +fainter and fainter, finally dying away into the black darkness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God save us!" exclaimed Jacopo, "it is a fiend laughing its way to +hell."</p> + +<p class="normal">He went on, with chattering teeth, to adjure me to go no further; but +crossing myself, I bade him be silent, and stepped forwards. Since +that moan of agony, and terrible laugh of triumph, there was no sound, +and I could almost hear my heart beating, as I reached the door. +Jacopo had nerved himself to follow me, and stood pale and trembling +at my shoulder, his sword quivering in his shaking hand. I was myself +not free from fear, for no man may combat with spirits, but after a +moment's hesitation, I looked cautiously in. I saw before me a room of +great size, dimly lighted by two tall candles, burning on each side of +a massive bedstead, on which lay a man bound, and writhing in the +throes of death. The light, though faint around the room, fell full on +the face of the man, and horribly as the features were changed, +distorted as they were, I saw they were those of Alexander, and +that he was in his last agony, alone and friendless in his splendid +palace. Yet not alone, there was another figure in the room. As I +looked, it stepped out of the gloom of the rich curtains at the +window, and standing over the bed, laughed again, that terrible laugh +of devilish joy. At the sound, the dying man moaned through his black, +foam-clothed lips, and Corte, for it was he, bent over the body and +mocked him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Roderigo Borgia, Vicar of Christ, hell yawns for you; but a few +moments, Borgia, but a few moments of life; think you, that you suffer +now? There is more coming--things I even cannot dream of." In the face +of Alexander came so awful a look of entreaty that I could bear it no +longer. I stepped into the room, and putting my hand on Corte's +shoulder, said,</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come, let him die in peace."</p> + +<p class="normal">He turned on me with a snarl, but recognising me, laughed again.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ha! ha! Let him die in peace. Why, man, you saw her die, and can say +this? But he is going too. It is a week since his doctor, Matthew +Corte, bled him for an ague, and touched him with a little knife, just +a little pin-prick. He began to die then; but hell is not yet hot +enough for him. He dies in too much peace. Why, my dog died in more +agony! But he has felt something. See those torn curtains! See this +disordered room! He tore those curtains in his madness. He bit at the +wood of the chairs, he howled like a dog at the moon, and they tied +him here, and left him. I alone watch. I will let him die in peace. +Ha! ha! It is good. I do not want him to die yet. I give him food, and +he lives. In a little while perhaps he will die. But in peace! ha! ha! +I could almost die with laughter, when I hear that. It is too good! +Ha! ha!"</p> + +<p class="normal">I saw it was hopeless to do anything with Corte, and the Pope was +beyond repair. I might have cut down the madman, but it would have +served no purpose. For a moment I thought I would pass my sword +through the Borgia, and free him from pain. It would have been a +mercy, but I luckily had the sense to restrain myself. Again, +Alexander deserved his fate, and a few minutes more or less would make +no difference. So I left the wretch to die the death of a dog, that +befitted his life, and turning on my heel, went back through the +passage.</p> + +<p class="normal">Jacopo heaved a sigh of relief as we came out, and I felt a different +man as I ran down the steps of the Scala Regia. Here I met with De +Leyva again, and told him what I had seen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Camerlengo has just gone to him," he answered, referring to the +Pope, "and you have missed D'Amboise. He has returned to the Palazzo +Corneto. I can do nothing here, and am going myself. Do you walk or +ride? I have no horse."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Walk," I answered, and the Spaniard linked his arm in mine, as, +followed by Jacopo, we took our way back to the cardinal's house.</p> + +<p class="normal">On reaching I sought D'Amboise at once. He had heard of my arrival, +and was awaiting me. After a brief greeting, I told him his business +was done, and handed him the quittance I had received from Hawkwood. +He was mightily pleased, as may be imagined. I felt it my duty to +inform him of the death of St. Armande, telling him how it occurred, +without in any way disclosing my knowledge of the secret. He was much +affected.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is a sad business," he said, "but we have other things to think of +now. <i>Mon Dieu</i>! <i>mon Dieu!</i>" And to this day I am unaware if he knew +or not.</p> + +<p class="normal">But the night was not yet over, and late as it was, there were yet +things to be done. About midnight we heard that Alexander was dead, +and a few minutes later Gentil' Orsini hurried to the cardinal. They +held a hasty council, and De Briconnet and I were summoned. News had +come that Cesare had not yet left Ostia, that he was too ill to +travel, and D'Amboise and Orsini resolved on a bold stroke. It was +nothing less than the capture of Borgia. Orsini offered to lend two +hundred lances for the purpose, but a leader was wanted. He could not +go himself, as his archenemy, Fabrizio Colonna, held all Rome on the +left bank of the Tiber, and was in sufficient force to make a dash for +the Borgo at any moment. The short of it was, that at the cardinal's +recommendation, I received the command, and about two in the morning +set out for Ostia. If the ships Cesare had hired had arrived the +matter was ended, and we could do nothing; but if not, there was every +chance of his surrendering without a blow, as although he had about +five hundred men with him, they were not to be relied on, except the +half-dozen cut-throats who formed his personal guard, and who might be +trusted to fight to the last. The luck which had followed me so far +favoured me again, and pressing on as fast as our horses could bear +us, we came up with the fugitives in the early morning. Only one ship, +too small to hold all, had come, and they were crowded on the banks of +the Tiber, making every effort to embark. The river-shore was strewn +with the enormous quantity of baggage they had with them, and a scene +of the utmost confusion took place on our arrival. The ship was +drawing up to the quay, and we could see the litter of the Borgia, +surrounded by the few men who meant to fight. The affair was over in +five minutes, and Cesare was my prisoner. Seeing how matters stood, +the master of the ship anchored in midstream, heedless of the yells +and execrations of the followers of the Borgia, who were not spared by +my men. Indeed, I had great difficulty in keeping Cesare from harm. He +was in truth very ill, but was able to gasp out as he yielded:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Maldetto!</i> It is my fate. I had prepared for everything except being +ill." He then lay back in his litter, and spoke no more.</p> + +<p class="normal">One short and desperate attempt was made to rescue him. About a dozen +horsemen charged right at us, and for a moment it appeared as if they +would succeed. But we were too strong, and although they inflicted +severe loss on us, killing Bande Nere amongst others, they were cut +down, all but one, who led them. This man, seeing all was lost, and +determined not to be taken himself, galloped to the quay, and striking +his spurs home, leaped his horse far into the river, and made for the +vessel. The stream was running fast and strong, but the good beast, +despite his burden, struggled bravely against the flood. To relieve +the horse, the cavalier, having torn off his morion, slipped from the +saddle, and with his hand on the pommel, attempted manfully to swim +beside the animal. The weight of his cuirass, however, bore him down. +Twice his head sank below the water, twice he rose again and battled +with the flood. Those on the ship made no effort to save him, and we +on shore could do nothing. He had now, fighting every inch of his way, +drifted astern of the vessel, and someone flung a rope at him. His +hand reached out to clasp it, but missed, and then the under-current +caught man and horse and dragged them down. He rose yet once again, +his white despairing face turned towards us, and with a supreme effort +of hate, shook his clenched hand at me, and was gone.</p> + +<p class="normal">So died Crépin D'Entrangues, the death of a brave man, unyielding and +fighting to the last. The yellow Tiber hissed in white foam over the +spot where he sank. Perchance the mad currents dragged his body down +to the slime of the river-bed, picked it up again in their swirl, +tossed it in sport from one to another, and finally flung it to rot on +some lonely bank, where the gulls screamed above it, and the foxes of +the Maremma gnawed at the rusty armour, and snapped and snarled over +the white bones in the moonlight.</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_26" href="#div1Ref_26">CONCERNING MANY THINGS.</a></h3> +<br> + + +<p class="normal">Everyone knows the history of the times, and it is not my intention to +dilate on this, but merely to set down, without comment, those matters +of state in which Fortune allowed me to play a part. When Cesare +surrendered at Ostia the Borgia were broken for ever, and Valentinois +allowed, after a short confinement, to escape to Spain, where he died +like a soldier. Now that the game was in their hands, the allies began +to quarrel amongst themselves, the French king to drivel away his +opportunities in gaiety, and the Venetians to step in, in their Most +Serene way, and claim a share of the spoils for the Lion of St. Mark. +Events moved quickly, the genius of the Great Captain won victory +after victory for Spain, the death of Francis Piccolomini paved the +way for the accession of Rouvere to the Papacy as Julius II., and the +Holy League was formed, by means of which the French were finally +driven from Italy. Thus, in a few years, the work of D'Amboise was +scattered to the winds, but long before that time I had sheathed my +sword, and concerned myself no more with war.</p> + +<p class="normal">But on the day that I surrendered my prisoner to D'Amboise and Orsini, +the former already in thought sat in St. Peter's Chair, and the +latter, at the very least, imagined himself the Lord of the Romagna. I +sent forward couriers, with the news of my success, to the cardinal, +and ere we reached Malafede, met with a return messenger from +D'Amboise, bearing a brief note of congratulation, and adding that +Colonna had made terms to evacuate the portions of the city he held. +The messenger informed me, that the Bailly of Caen had already entered +Rome by the Porta Pia, and that, finding himself between two fires, +old Fabrizi Colonna had made a virtue of necessity, and by yielding +now, reserved himself for another day. This enabled me to go back by +an easier route than we had come, and as we rode through the Ostian +Gate, I could not help contrasting my present entry to the day when +Jacopo and I had reined in our weary steeds to let the Borgia pass, +and give his following the road. At the Ponte S. Angelo, I surrendered +my prisoner to Orsini in person, and truly thought he would have but a +few hours more to live, for Gentil' Virginio had a long score to +settle with the Borgia, and a longer memory for a wrong. The blood, +too, of Paolo, whom Cesare strangled at Sinigaglia, and that of the +Cardinal Orsini, whom he brutally murdered in Rome, called aloud for +vengeance. Cesare himself seemed to be aware of this, for whereas up +to now he had remained in a sullen silence, he found tongue to implore +me, in the most servile manner, not to deliver him to Orsini, and when +I told him I had no option, he tried to creep out of his litter, and +lay his cap at the feet of his enemy. Orsini spoke nothing, merely +ordering him to be borne to S. Angelo; but as the Borgia shrank back +into his litter, he said with a grim smile that he trusted the duke +would find his entertainment to his liking. How it happened that +Cesare came off with a whole skin I never knew, but he did, as I have +mentioned above, and it surpasses belief. He turned cur at the last, +and the low blood showed in him; but he was one of those men who knew +how to be thoroughly bad. Orsini took back his lances, saying he had +need of them, so that it was with my own few men that I reached the +Palazzo Corneto. I must except Bande Nere from this number, and I was +truly sorry for his death, for his was an honest sword. The cardinal +received me in the little chamber where we had supped with +Machiavelli. He had thrown aside his clerical habit and was in mail, +but wore his barettina on his head. He was more than kind, +congratulating me heartily on my success, going so far as to say that +by capturing Cesare I had given a kingdom to France. I then left him +with further assurances of his goodwill towards me, and saw him no +more for the day.</p> + +<p class="normal">Towards the small hours of the next morning I was aroused from a deep +sleep by Jacopo. Starting up, I inquired what was astir, and was told +that Defaure, the page, was waiting to see me. I gave orders for his +instant admission, and, on coming in, he informed me that his eminence +desired my immediate attendance. Telling Jacopo to have Castor +saddled, for I smelt work afoot, I flung myself into my clothes, and +hastened to D'Amboise.</p> + +<p class="normal">He had evidently not slept all night, and was pacing the room in +agitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"St. Dennis!" he burst out, as I entered, "do you know what they have +done? The king holds a tourney at Arezzo instead of marching on at +once. What is worse, he has granted an extension of the truce to +Spain, and Tremouille and the rest of them are off to the junkets. +They are making a May-day with those ducats you captured. By God! they +would dance away a kingdom."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your eminence has no doubt sent news of the capture of Cesare?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was only yesterday, man," he snapped, "and De Briconnet is +riding for his life to the king. But it is about this I sent for you," +he went on rapidly. "De Briconnet may come to harm. Here are other +despatches. Take them and follow him; overtake him if you can. When +can you start?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good--here are the papers. And this for Tremouille. Adieu!"--and he +held out his hand--"<i>Monsieur le Compte</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">I started a little at the last words which he uttered in French, but +had no time to ask for explanation or make inquiry. I hurried to my +apartments and found Castor ready. Bidding Jacopo follow me to Arezzo +with my men as soon as possible, I gave Castor the rein and rode out +of Rome. At Citta del Pieve I got my first news of De Briconnet. At +Cartona he was but two hours ahead of me, and when on the afternoon of +the second day I reined in the staggering Castor at the gates of the +Villa Accolti, where the king was, I saw in the courtyard a dead +horse, his sides still bleeding from the spur marks, and judged that +De Briconnet had barely beaten me by a head for all his twelve hours' +start. So once again had I entered the Villa Accolti! And as I sprang +to the ground, loosed the girths over Castor's heaving flanks, and +resigned the reins to a willing groom who led the poor beast to rest, +all the past came back to me with a vivid force, and I looked around, +almost expecting to meet again the glances of scorn and contempt, to +hear once more the hisses, the mockery, and the foul reproach of that +day.</p> + +<p class="normal">The cardinal was right enough when he said that high junkets were to +be held. And the day seemed to be one of merry-making. Flags were +flying from all parts of the villa, and the wide grounds were full of +the followers of the court, and the townspeople either watching, or +engaged in sports of wrestling, archery, and other games.</p> + +<p class="normal">For the great ones, however, the out-of-door amusement of the day came +to an end with the dinner-hour, and they were now disporting +themselves within. From the open windows strains of music floated out +into the sunlight and gay figures passed and repassed, or moved in and +out of the balcony overhanging the grand entrance which seemed, from +the constant movement and the brilliant dresses of those who crowded +thereon, to be like a bed of flowers stirring in the wind. As I came +below the balcony, I did not dare to look up, but with my sword in the +loop of my arm and my despatches clenched in my right hand, walked up +the marble steps.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Post from Rome! Post from the Lord Cardinal!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The sonorous voice of the ushers pealed this out, and I found myself +at the entrance to the gallery leading to the great hall where I had +been tried.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not here, sir--to the left." My way was barred by an equerry in +violet and gold.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not so, De Brienne, the king receives these despatches in person," +and Bayard had linked his arm in mine.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But, my lord!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I take the blame," and Bayard, blazing in full mail, led me through +the gallery whose sides were lined with the archers of the Scottish +Guard. Archers in name only now, and little as my time was, I could +not forbear glancing at these fine troops, who, although few in +number, bore an unequalled reputation for service in the field. The +doors at the entrance to the hall, which were guarded by two gigantic +men-at-arms, were opened only at fixed intervals to let people in and +out, and by this means an attempt was made to avoid overcrowding. +There were a considerable number before us, and having to go slowly, +we had time to exchange a few words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I suppose De Briconnet has passed in?" I asked, "he could only have +just arrived, for his horse lies dead at the gates."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I doubt it. All posts are received by De Vesci, whose wrath we are +going to brave. If De Briconnet came in here direct, he was probably +stopped and sent to the seneschal's apartments."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If so, as he was the first-comer, he should present the despatches," +I urged; "I bear but duplicates?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is no time to think of that now," replied Bayard, and as he +spoke the doors unfolded, and in a crash of music and the murmur of +voices, above which now and again trilled a peal of clear feminine +laughter, we entered the hall. At first we were unobserved, for the +interest of every one was gathered to the centre of the room, where to +the strains of music a game of chess was being played with living +figures. The king himself took part in it, and I had good opportunity +of observing him. Time had not changed Louis much, although his +reckless life had enfeebled his constitution. He had the features of +his house, the wide forehead, the oval face, the pointed chin, below +which his short brown beard was neatly trimmed. His grey eyes were set +somewhat wide apart, and his hair, which was naturally straight, he +wore carefully curled, in a length that all but touched his shoulders. +He was dressed in a tight-fitting surcoat of green, with green +trunk-hose and stockings of the same colour. A short cloak, also of +green, fell from his shoulder, and below his left knee was bound the +ribbon of the English Order of the Garter, of which he was very proud. +On his head was a velvet cap lapelled in front and on either side, and +alive with the light of jewels, with which it was studded. He was +playing king in the game, Madame de la Tremouille acting as queen, and +the rival king was Tremouille himself, who had for his partner Isabel +the Good, the wife of Gonsaga of Mantua, a princess distinguished +alike for her beauty and her virtue. A little apart from the players, +and watching the game with a grave interest, stood Etienne de Vesci, +the Seneschal of Beauçaire, who was, after the cardinal, the most +powerful man in France, and, indeed, was supposed by many to have more +of the king's ear. Close by him were a number of ladies, and I ran my +eye amongst them and around the hall, hoping in vain to catch sight of +the one face I longed to see. Whilst so engaged De Vesci observed me, +and seeing the papers in my hand, made an imperious gesture, beckoning +me towards him. This I pretended not to observe, and the seneschal, +biting his lip, edged his way towards me. It was easy to see from my +travelled and stained appearance, the red on my spurs, and the packet +in my hand, that I was the bearer of news.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is not monsieur aware," he said in a harsh voice, speaking in French, +"that papers for the king should be brought to me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"These are for the king's hand," I answered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is enough. Give them to me," and he held forth his hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have said, my lord, that they are for His Majesty's own hands."</p> + +<p class="normal">Bayard, who was watching the game now drawing to a close, turned round +at this, and grasping the matter, cut in.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Ciel!</i> My Lord, let the cavaliere deliver his packet. It will come +to you soon enough. Take a holiday for once."</p> + +<p class="normal">De Vesci frowned, and was about to make a hot answer, when there was a +sudden shout and a clapping of hands, and Louis, who had won the game, +came forward leading Madame de la Tremouille in triumph. The last move +was made but a few feet from us, and as the king faced round with his +partner he caught sight of our group and called out as he advanced--</p> + +<p class="normal">"Victory! We have won. Why those black looks, De Vesci? Come and +congratulate us."</p> + +<p class="normal">With an effort the seneschal smoothed his face, "Victory always +attends your majesty, and with so fair a partner defeat would be +impossible," and he bowed with a courtly grace; but the wrinkles of +his frown were still on his forehead. The duchess grew red with +pleasure at the compliment, and Louis clapped his hands like a boy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellent! Trust a courtier's lip for a soft speech;" and then, +observing me, "but what have we here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"From Rome, your majesty," and dropping to my knee, I presented my +papers, which the king took irresolutely in his hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Diable!</i>" he exclaimed, with an impatient gesture, "from my lord +cardinal no doubt?" And he glanced at me.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your majesty, and of the most vital import," and I rose.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must read them, I suppose. A plague on the cardinal! We were just +going to the minuet----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will deal with the matter, sire. The papers should have come to +me," and De Vesci, saying this in his harsh, grating voice, reached +forth his hand. Usually a perfect master of his temper, he had +somehow, for once, let it get the better of him; and his closing words +and manner were almost those of command. Louis, though a brave man, +had a weak nature and a hasty temper. A temper that was often aroused +to fits of obstinacy, little short of mulish. He caught the +seneschal's tone, and perhaps also the suppressed smile that nickered +on the faces of his courtiers. His forehead darkened, "You mistake, my +lord, these papers come rightly to me," and turning his back on the +seneschal, he tore open the packet.</p> + +<p class="normal">De Vesci stepped back, white to the lips, and the court gathered round +the king in silence. Seeing Tremouille at hand, I made bold to step up +to him, and give him D'Amboise's note. He glanced at it, and turning +to me said, "I gave my word, and it shall be kept. The honour of +Tremouille is pledged."</p> + +<p class="normal">I was at a loss to understand; but had no time to think, for Louis +suddenly called out, "Tremouille--Bayard--gentlemen! The Borgia is +taken! Rome is ours!"</p> + +<p class="normal">At once there was a buzz, and a murmur of voices, in eager +congratulation at the glad tidings. Standing alone and apart from all, +I could barely see Louis, so closely did the court press around him; +but it seemed that Tremouille was urging something on him, and the +duchess too, for I caught the flash of the jewels on her fingers, as +in her eagerness she laid them on the king's arm. Then Bayard's deep +voice came to me clearly, "If done, 'twere well done quickly, sire."</p> + +<p class="normal">I do not exactly know how it happened; but I found myself kneeling +before the king, who stood above me, his drawn sword in his hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"M. di Savelli," he said, "one king of France owed you his life, +another all but owes you a kingdom. Wear again your cross. It was +nobly won. Take back your knighthood." He laid the blade gently on my +shoulder, "for God, for your King, for your Lady. Arise, Sir Knight!" +He stretched forth his hand to aid me to my feet, and I stood up +again, with my honour white, in the very hall, almost on the very +spot, whence I had been cast out in ignominy and shame.</p> + +<p class="normal">I could not speak--I was choked--my eyes were wet with tears. Seeing +my emotion, Louis placed his hand kindly on my shoulder.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Remember, Di Savelli," he said, "France needs you yet. To the minuet, +my lords and ladies--to the minuet!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he turned down the hall, not waiting for my thanks. But friends +sprang up everywhere. The first to give me her good wishes was the +Duchesse de la Tremouille, then came the duke, old Ives d'Alegres, and +others I can scarcely name. It was whilst in their midst that I saw a +face I knew well, and Machiavelli came up.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Late, but not the less warm in my congratulations," he said; "so the +good ship is safe in port at last! We owe you too much for speech, and +can never thank you enough."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your excellency is most kind. Is the Lady Angiola well?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He was silent for a moment, and laughed to himself, as if something +stirred him. "As well as ever she was," he answered at length, and +added, "You must sup with us this evening. We lodge in the Borgo di +San Vito, and never mind your attire. My wife longs to see you, and +thank you in person."</p> + +<p class="normal">Other friends coming up, our converse was brought to an end, and I +managed to effect my escape, and take refuge in the pavilion of +Bayard, who insisted on my being his guest. I would have willingly +foregone the supper at the Borgo di San Vito, as I was weary; but +having promised, borrowed a horse from my host, and set out. I reached +the secretary's lodging, punctually to the hour, and was received by +Gian, who, after a respectful inquiry concerning my health, ushered me +into an apartment, where, on entering, I found myself alone. I had to +wait some little time, and wondering at the strangeness of my +reception, I walked towards a window, overlooking the private gardens +of the house. As I reached it, I heard the rustle of trailing +garments, and turning round beheld Angiola before me. She came up with +outstretched hands, and I took them in mine, and looked into her eyes. +Then I found words; they come to every man at the right time, and I +spoke. She made no answer as I pleaded my cause, and fearing the +worst, I dropped her hands, with a bitter reproach against my age and +my scarred face. When I had done she remained still, with her eyes +down, and there was a silence. Then she looked up again.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Di Savelli," and her voice was very low, "you say your face is +scarred by wounds. Do you know, cavaliere, I would I were a man, that +I too might bear wounds on my face, and looking in my mirror, see how +they became me." And the rest concerns not anyone.</p> + +<hr class="W20"> + +<p class="normal">We were married before the end of the truce, and on my wedding day, I +received from His Majesty the King, the patents of the county of +Fresnoy, in Guienne, a distinction that was extended to me in Italy, +by His Holiness Pope Pius III., who, on my purchasing a portion of my +ancestral estates back from Amilcar Chigi, confirmed to me the title +in my native land. But the gift I valued most of all, was a tari of +Amalfi, to which still clung a shred of the gold link, by which it had +been attached to a bracelet. And this was from my wife!</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<h3><a name="div1_27" href="#div1Ref_27">MY LORD, THE COUNT.</a></h3> + +<p class="center"><i>Portion of a letter from the Countess di Savelli to her<br> + +cousin Vittoria Ordelaffi of Forli</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p class="center" style="letter-spacing:20pt">* * * * * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">It is, as you know, gentle cousin, six years since my lord, having +lost his sword-arm at the storming of Santa Croce, retired to his +castle of Aquila in the Sabine Mountains, and ceased to help further +in stirring the times. In truth, he has yielded to my wish in this +matter, and although, in the war of the Holy League, he was offered a +command, Di Savelli, at my entreaty, refused the honour.</p> + +<p class="normal">The count, my lord, is well, but his wounds troubling him in the +winter, he may no longer follow the wolf in our mountains, yet still +hunts the stag in the Ciminian Forests of our kinsman, Amilcar Chigi, +to whom we have been reconciled, and whom we visit yearly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Last winter we spent in France, at the château of the Seigneur de +Bayard, which lies on the Garonne, and met there, amongst others, +Madame de la Tremouille, who is now a widow, the Duke having died of a +tertian ague at Milan. There also was a very gay and noble gentleman, +the Viscompte de Briconnet, who avers that my lord owes him a county +for having forestalled him in bearing to the king the news of the +surrender of Borgia. My Lord of Bayard, whom the Count thinks above +all men, visits us in the autumn; and, gentle cousin, come you too, +for we are to have a house full. The children are well, and Ugo grows +a strong boy, but wilful. He has his father's features, but my eyes. +They have just gone a riding, my lord on his great war horse Castor, +and Ugo on his little white pony, bred on our farm in the Bergamasque. +I see them as I write, going down the avenue.</p> + +<p class="normal">Your namesake Vittoria, sends you a hundred kisses, and bids you come +and be heartily welcome. I send this by a sure hand, that of my lord's +esquire, Messer Jacopo Jacopi, a faithful servant and a good sword, +though his tongue be ever wagging. Give him an answer, to say you are +coming.</p> +<br> + + +<p class="center" style="letter-spacing:20pt">* * * * * * * *</p> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h3>THE END.</h3> +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Honour of Savelli, by S. (Sidney) Levett-Yeats + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HONOUR OF SAVELLI *** + +***** This file should be named 38250-h.htm or 38250-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/8/2/5/38250/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Booka + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Honour of Savelli + A Romance + +Author: S. (Sidney) Levett-Yeats + +Release Date: December 9, 2011 [EBook #38250] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HONOUR OF SAVELLI *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by Google Booka + + + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + 1. Page scan source: + http://books.google.com/books?id=jQM1AAAAMAAJ + + 2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + + + THE + + HONOUR OF SAVELLI + + + + _A ROMANCE_ + + + + + + BY + + S. LEVETT YEATS + + + + + + NEW YORK + D. APPLETON AND COMPANY + 1895 + + + + + + + Copyright, 1895, + By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY. + + + + + + + PREFACE. + + +Is writing this book the Author has made no effort to point a moral; +all that has been done is an attempt to catch the "spirit of the true +Romance," and to amuse. The book was partly written in the intervals +of work in India, and was completed during the leisure allowed by +furlough on medical certificate. In dealing with this period of +Italian history, in which the story is set, the Author would say he +has taken Dumas for his model, but hopes that he has worked out his +scheme on original lines; and he has used, as far as possible, the +language in which an Italian living in the beginning of the sixteenth +century would express himself. At the time the book was written the +Author had not read Mr. Stanley Weyman's brilliant novel, "A Gentleman +of France." Had he done so the style of the present book would +doubtless have been much improved from the lessons taught by a +master-hand. The Author, in bringing this to the notice of the reader, +would humbly add that he is making no challenge to break a lance with +so redoubted a knight as the creator of Gaston de Marsac. + + + + + CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER + + I. A Bolt from the Blue. + + II. Ruin. + + III. Madame D'Entrangues. + + IV. A Fool's Cap and a Sore Heart. + + V. D'Entrangues Scores a Point. + + VI. Bernabo Ceci. + + VII. The Garden of St. Michael. + + VIII. Temptation. + + IX. The Marzocco Inn. + + X. Niccolo Machiavelli. + + XI. The Letter to D'Amboise. + + XII. The Ambuscade. + + XIII. Rome. + + XIV. George of Amboise. + + XV. The Gift of Bayard. + + XVI. Friend or Foe. + + XVII. The Vatican. + + XVIII. The Opal Ring. + + XIX. Exit the Ancient Brico. + + XX. "A Brown Paul--a Little Copper." + + XXI. The Rescue of Angiola. + + XXII. The Ride to St. Jerome. + + XXIII. The Pavilion of Tremouille. + + XXIV. Too Dearly Bought. + + XXV. The Vengeance of Corte. + + XXVI. Concerning many Things. + + XXVII. My Lord, the Count. + + + + + PRELUDE. + + + I. + + He rydes untoe ye Dragon's Gate, + And blowes a ryngynge calle: + A gallant Knyghte in armoure bryghte, + 'Twere sadde toe see him falle. + Deare Sayntes of Mercy steele hys harte, + And nerve hys arme withalle! + + II. + + Noe glove bears he uponne hys creste, + And lettynge droppe hys visor's barres, + I sawe hys starke soule lookynge forthe, + Toe meete ye whysperes of ye starres. + True Knyghte of God, whose arme is stronge, + Whose harte is pure, whose lance is longe. + + III. + + Lette wyn, lette lose, belyke 'tis true, + Ye issue of ye daye will bee, + Notte toe ye dreamers; butte toe those + Who stayke their alle on victorie. + Notte to ye skiffes uponne ye streames, + Butte ye stronge shippes uponne ye sea. + + _Vanity Fair, 12th October, 1893_. + + + + + THE HONOUR OF SAVELLI. + + CHAPTER I. + + A BOLT FROM THE BLUE. + + +"I do not drink with a thief!" + +D'Entrangues spoke in clear, distinct tones, that rose above the hum +of voices, and every one caught the words. In an instant the room was +still. The laughter on all faces died away, leaving them grave; and +twenty pairs of curious eyes, and twenty curious faces were turned +towards us. It was so sudden, so unexpected, this jarring discord in +our harmony, that it fell as if a bolt from a mangonel, or a shot from +one of Messer Novarro's new guns, had dropped in amongst us. Even +that, I take it, would have caused less surprise, although for the +present there was a truce in the land. Prospero Colonna turned half +round in his seat and looked at me. Our host and commander, old Ives +d'Alegres, who was pouring himself out a glass of white vernaccia, +held the decanter in mid-air, an expression of blank amazement in his +blue eyes. Even the Englishman, Hawkwood, who sat next to me, was +startled out of his habitual calm. Every eye was on us, on me where I +sat dazed, and on D'Entrangues, who was leaning back slightly, a +forced smile on his face, the fingers of one hand playing with the +empty glass before him, whilst with the other he slowly twisted his +long red moustache. I was completely taken aback. Only that afternoon +I parted from D'Entrangues, apparently on the best of terms. We had +played together, and he had won my crowns. It is true he was not paid +in full at the time; but he knew the word of a Savelli. On leaving, +Madame D'Entrangues asked me to join her hawking party for the morrow, +and he urged the invitation. I accepted, and backed my new peregrine +against D'Entrangues' old hawk Bibbo for ten crowns, the best of three +flights, and the wager was taken. Never indeed had I known him so +cordial. I did not like the man, but for his wife's sake was friendly +to him. Of a truth, there were few of the youngsters in Tremouille's +camp who were not in love with her, and some of us older fellows too, +though we hid our feelings better. I was grateful to Madame. She had +been kind to me after the affair of San Miniato, when a Florentine +pike somehow found its way through my breastplate. Indeed, I may say I +owed my recovery to her nursing. In return, I had been of some service +to her in the retreat up the valley of the Taro, after Fornovo--she +called it saving her life. In this manner a friendship sprang up +between us, which was increased by the opportunities we had of meeting +whilst the army lay inactive before Arezzo. Long years of camp life +made me fully appreciate the society of a woman, remarkable alike for +her beauty and her talent; and she, on the other hand, felt for me, I +was sure, only that friendship which it is possible for a good woman +to hold for a man who is not her husband. + +I do not for one moment mean to imply that Doris D'Entrangues was +perfection. I knew her to be wayward and rash, sometimes foolish if +you will; but withal a pure woman. I soon found she was unhappy, and +in time she got into a way of confiding her troubles to me, and they +were not a few, for D'Entrangues was--what all men knew him to be. +Finding that I could be of help to Madame, I avoided all difference +with the husband, and for her sake was, as I have said, friendly to +him. Perhaps my course of action was not prudent; but who is there +amongst us who is always guided by the head? At any rate, I expiated +my fault, and paid the price of my folly to the end of the measure. + +As I sat in the now silent supper-room with the man's words buzzing in +my ears, a curious recollection of a scene that occurred about a month +ago came back to me. Madame and I had over-ridden ourselves hawking, +and I had dismounted at her request and gathered for her a posy of +yellow coronilla and scarlet amaryllis. This, in her quick impulsive +way, she held to her husband's face when we met him, a half-league or +so on our way back, saying, "See what lovely flowers Di Savelli has +given me!" He snatched them from her hand, and flung them under his +horse with an oath, adding something which I did not catch. Madame +flushed crimson, and the incident ended there, for I did not care to +press the matter. + +It all came back to me now, in the oddest manner, as I sat staring at +D'Entrangues. He had come in late to the supper, and, after greeting +D'Alegres, slipped into the seat opposite me in silence. Across him +two men were discussing a series of thefts that had recently disturbed +us. They were not common thefts, such as are of daily occurrence in a +military camp; but were the work of some one both daring and +enterprising. Even then the matter would not have attracted the +attention it did but for the loss of a ruby circlet by the Duchesse de +la Tremouille, which, besides its intrinsic value, was the gift of a +king. Madame de la Tremouille made an outcry, and the duke, as the +matter touched him, was leaving no stone unturned to find the thief. +It had come to be that every robbery in the camp was put down to this +same light-fingered gentleman; and Visconti, one of the two men who +were discussing the question, was loudly lamenting the loss of a rare +medallion of which he had just been relieved. Throughout their +conversation D'Entrangues, though once or twice addressed, spoke no +word, but maintained a moody silence. When the wine was circling round +I, being warmed, and wishing to stand well with the husband of Madame, +made some rallying allusion to our match for the morrow, and offered +to drink to him. His reply is known. + +The silence which followed his speech was so utter that one may have +heard a feather fall; and then some one, I know not who, laughed +shortly. The sound brought me to myself, and in a fury, hardly knowing +what I was doing, I jumped up and drew my dagger, but was instantly +seized by Colonna and Hawkwood. The latter was a man of great size, +and between him and Colonna I was helpless. + +"Give him rope," whispered Hawkwood, and his voice was kind, "this is +not an affair to be settled with a poniard thrust." + +The whole room was in an uproar now, all crowding around us; +D'Entrangues half-risen from his seat, his hand on his sword, and I +quivering in the grasp of my kind enemies. Old Ives d'Alegres rushed +forwards, "Silence, gentlemen!" he called out, "remember I command +here. Savelli, give up that dagger; D'Entrangues, your sword. Now, +gentlemen, words have been used which blood alone cannot wash out. M. +d'Entrangues, I await your explanation!" + +"Liar!" I shouted out, "you will give it to me at the sword's point," +and big Hawkwood's restraining arms tightened over me. + +"Thanks," replied D'Entrangues, "you remember the sword at last; a +moment before I saw in your hands your natural weapon." + +"A truce to this, sirs! I await you," interrupted D'Alegres. + +"Your pardon," said D'Entrangues. "Gentlemen, you want an explanation. +It is simple enough. We have a thief in our midst, and he is there." + +"A thief--Di Savelli!" called out a dozen voices, and Ives d'Alegres +said, "Impossible! you are mad, D'Entrangues." + +"No more so, sir, than you, or any one of us here. I confess, though, +I thought I was mad when I first knew of it, for this man has been my +comrade, we have fought side by side, and he has borne himself as a +gallant soldier. I thought I was mad, I say, when I first knew of +this; but the proofs are too strong." + +"What are they?" D'Alegres spoke very shortly. + +"You shall have them. You all know there have been a series of +unaccountable thefts amongst us lately. The duchess's rubies have +gone. Hardly a lady but has lost some valuable, my wife, amongst other +things, a bracelet. The thief did not confine his attentions to the +fair sex; but visited us men as well. They were not common thefts. +From the circumstances attending them, the robber must have known us +intimately, and had easy access to our quarters. Up to now the matter +has been a mystery. A lot of people have been wrongly suspected, and +two poor wretches are now swinging on the gibbet, condemned for +nothing that I know of." + +"It was done by my orders, sir," said D'Alegres, "the matter is beside +the point." + +"I stand corrected, General. Some little time ago a fortunate chance +revealed to me who the culprit was. I made no sign, but set to work +until complete proofs were in my hands." + +"You have said so before. Why beat about the bush? If you have proofs, +produce them?" + +"A moment, sir. May I ask any of you to state what your most recent +losses have been?" + +"My medallion by Cimabue," put in Visconti in his drawling voice. + +"Fifty fat gold crowns in a leather bag," grumbled Hawkwood, "the +residue of the Abbot Basilio's ransom. God send such another prize to +me, for I know not how to pay my lances." + +There was a little laugh at Hawkwood's moan, but it soon stilled, and, +one by one, each man stated his latest loss. + +"I will add to these Madame's bracelet," said D'Entrangues, "and shall +not be surprised if the duchess thanks me for her rubies to-morrow." + +"Tremouille has sworn to crucify the thief if he is found." + +"The duke knows the value of his gems." + +"He ought to be consoled, for he has a true wife left, and, his +eminence of St. Sabines tells me, such a possession is more precious +than rubies," drawled Visconti. + +"Gentlemen, you interrupt M. D'Entrangues. Let us end this painful +scene." + +"There is but one thing more, sir. I ask you now to have +this"--D'Entrangues indicated me with an insolent look--"this person's +quarters searched." + +Whilst he was speaking, D'Alegres gave a whispered order to a young +officer, who left the room immediately, although with a somewhat +discontented air at being sent away. As D'Entrangues finished, the +door was opened, a couple of files of Swiss infantry entered, and with +them Braccio Fortebraccio, our provost-marshal. At a sign from +D'Alegres one of the files surrounded me, the other D'Entrangues, and +Braccio called out in a loud voice, "Ugo di Savelli, and Crepin +D'Entrangues, I arrest you in the king's name!" + +"At your service, provost," said D'Entrangues with a bow, "my sword is +already given up. May I ask, sir," he continued, turning to D'Alegres, +"if you will put my proofs to the test?" + +"At once. Provost, lead your prisoners to M. di Savelli's quarters." + +"Thank God!" The expression burst from me, so great was my relief. I +was sure of being acquitted, and madame or no madame, I should kill +D'Entrangues the following day, even though I knew Tremouille had +sworn to hang the next man caught duelling within the jurisdiction of +his camp. We were, as I have stated, at Arezzo, and had passed the +winter there, in the truce following the expulsion of the Duke of Bari +from Lombardy. It had, however, become necessary to menace the Pope, +who was hilt deep in intrigue as well as crime, and Tremouille leaving +Monsignore d'Amboise in Milan, marched south, and with the aid of our +Florentine allies, held the Borgia and Spain in check. Acting under +the advice of Trevulzio, Ives d'Alegres, and others, the duke had not +entered the town; but kept us in camp near Giove, outside the walls. +The gates of the city and the citadel were, however, at the same time +strongly garrisoned, and Trevulzio held command within. It was all the +more urgent to keep the main body of the troops outside the walls, as +they were composed, with the exception of a few French regiments, +mainly of mercenaries, and by holding the town with picked men, upon +whom he could rely, Tremouille would be able, in case of any change of +front on the part of his mercenaries, to have them between two fires. +Ives d'Alegres, who then acted as lieutenant-general to the duke, was +immediately in command of the camp, and had fixed his headquarters in +a large villa, the property of the Accolti, and it was here that the +supper, which ended so disastrously for me, was given. My own quarters +were but a bow-shot or two away, in the direction of the town. When we +reached them, I was surprised to find at the door, my servant Tarbes +in the hands of two of the marshal's men, a half troop of French +lancers drawn up before my tent, and my own small _condotta_ of ten +lances, which I had raised for the war by pawning my last acre, all +under guard. As if any attempt at rescue were possible! I saw in a +moment that this accounted for D'Entrangues' late arrival at the +supper: but entered the tent sure of the results. A dozen blazing +torches threw a clear enough light, and D'Alegres briefly requested +the provost to begin the search. The practised hands of the field +police did this very effectually, but to no purpose, and I felt that +the faces of all were looking friendly towards me. D'Entrangues seemed +nervous, and his sallow cheek was pale. + +"Send for Tarbes," he said, and at a word from the provost my knave +was led in. This man was a Spaniard, whom I had taken into my service, +some little while ago, on the recommendation of D'Entrangues. Except +on one occasion when he lost, or maybe stole, a pair of silver spurs, +for which I cuffed him roundly, he had served me well. At the present +moment he seemed overcome with fear, trembled in every limb, and +refused to look at me. + +"Signor Tarbes," said the provost, "do you know what the wheel is?" + +The man made no answer, and Braccio went on-- + +"Signor Tarbes, we want a little information which I am persuaded you +possess. If you give it freely, we will be merciful; if you +prevaricate, if you attempt to conceal anything, we will do to you +what we did to the death hunters after San Miniato--you remember?" + +"Speak freely, Tarbes. There is no fear," I added. + +"Even your master, the excellent cavaliere, advises you, and I must +say advises you well," continued Braccio. "Signor Tarbes, you will now +show us," and he rubbed his hands together softly, "where the valiant +knight, Ugo di Savelli, keeps his prizes of war, the spoils of his bow +and spear--I was going to say fin----" + +"Have a care, sir," said D'Alegres sternly, "you are here to do your +duty, not to play the jester." Braccio shrank back at his look, and +the general turned to Tarbes, "In brief, we want to know, if your +master, M. di Savelli, has any concealed property here? Will you +answer at once, or do you prefer to be put to the question?" + +"I will speak--say anything, my lord--only have mercy. I swear what I +say is true. His excellency, my master, has nothing beyond what you +have seen--and what lies in the leather valise under this rug." + +Now this rug in question lay flat on the turf, on which my tent stood, +and at the time of the search D'Alegres and others were standing on +it. Owing to this, and to the crowded state of the tent, it had +hitherto escaped the attention, which it would doubtless have received +sooner or later, for nothing ever passed Braccio's eyes. In a moment +the rug was swept aside, and, as the torches were held to the turf, it +was evident that it had been dug away and then replaced somewhat +carelessly. + +Braccio was in his element. + +"_Pouf!_" he exclaimed, "a clumsy amateur after all! I thought better +of his valour. Here! give me a pike! And hold the torches so!" + +With a sharp point of the pike he quickly cleared away the turf, and, +stooping down, lifted up from the hole he exposed, a small brown +valise, which had been concealed in the earth. The interest was now +intense. Every one crowded round Braccio. Even the vigilance of the +guards over me completely relaxed. I felt a touch on my shoulder, and, +looking back, saw Hawkwood. + +"Would you like to go?" he whispered rapidly. "My horse is ready +saddled--you know where to find him." + +I thanked him with a look; but shook my head, and the giant fell back. + +"Shall I break it open, excellency?" and Braccio held the bag out to +D'Alegres. + +"My master has the key," put in Tarbes; "I know no more." + +"I--the key!" I exclaimed. "Villain, the bag is not mine!" + +"It bears your arms, however;" Braccio pointed to a little metal plate +on which they were distinctly engraved. + +"You must, I am afraid, submit to the further indignity of being +searched," said D'Alegres. + +There was no hope in resistance and I endured this. Braccio himself +searched me, and almost as soon as he began, pulled from an inner +pocket of my vest a small key, attached to a fine gold chain. + +"Here is the noble knight's key," he exclaimed, "and see; it fits +exactly!" He turned it in the lock, opened the valise, and emptied the +contents out on a rough camp table. A low murmur went up, for amongst +the small heap of articles was Hawkwood's leather bag, and madame's +bracelet, whilst something rolled a little on one side, and fell off +softly to the turf. A soldier picked it up, and placed it face upwards +on the table--the lost medallion. + +One by one D'Alegres held up the articles sadly, and I looked round in +my agony on the faces of those who but an hour ago were my friends. +They had all shrunk back from me, and I was alone within the circle of +the guards. D'Entrangues stood with folded arms, and a smile on his +lips, and Tarbes glanced from side to side, like an ape seeking chance +for escape. I looked towards Hawkwood, but even his face was hard and +set. + +"I do not see the duchess' rubies here," said D'Alegres. + +"I am prepared to produce them to-morrow," replied D'Entrangues; "in +the meantime, I trust you have sufficient proof?" + +"Give M. d'Entrangues his sword. You need not fight this man," +D'Alegres added, pointing to me, "even if he challenges you. Were you +a French subject," he said to me, "I would hang you in your boots; as +it is I will submit the case to the duke. D'Entrangues, I hold you to +your word about the rubies. Provost, see that your prisoner is +carefully guarded. You will answer for him with your life." + +"Prisoner, your excellency! There are two." + +"I have restored M. d'Entrangues his sword." + +"There is still another," and the provost pointed to Tarbes. + +"Pah!" exclaimed D'Alegres, "hang him out of hand--come, gentlemen!" + +One by one they went out. Not another look did they give me. I heard +the tread of feet, and the sound of voices in eager conversation, +dying out in the distance. I stood as in a dream. Tarbes had been +dragged away speechless, and half fainting. When he was outside he +found voice, and I heard him alternately cursing D'Alegres, and +D'Entrangues and screaming for mercy. Braccio touched me on the arm. + +"Come, signore," he said, "_you_, at any rate, have a few hours left." + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + RUIN. + + +I started at the man's words, and my rage and despair may be imagined, +when I saw that he proposed to bind me, a noble, like any thief! From +this I hoped to escape by bringing on death, and, on a sudden, hit the +guard next to me on the face, with all my force. Down he went like an +ox, and I made a rush to the tent door, little doubting that I should +be cut down, and put out of my misery. But they were too quick. I was +one, and they were many. In a hand turn I was tripped up, my wrists +securely fastened behind my back, and any further resistance on my +part impossible. The man whom I felled, scrambled up, and attempted to +brain me with the butt of his pike as I went down; but Braccio struck +him senseless with the hilt of his sword, and this time he lay in a +huddled heap, quiet enough. + +I besought Braccio to give me my parole, swearing on the faith of a +gentleman, on the honour of a Savelli, that I would not attempt +escape, and would go with him quietly, if I were but free from the +ignominy of the cords that bound me. + +"Shut the cage door, keep your bird," he laughed brutally, "I have to +answer for you to-morrow, and I weigh the faith of a gentleman, and +the honour--God save the mark--of a Savelli, as _that_," he snapped +his fingers, "when it comes to a consideration of Braccio +Fortebraccio's head. So your knighthood must even go as you are, with +my love-knots on you. Here, two of you, take charge of this tent, and +see after Arnulf there--I never thought his skull so thin--march!" + +And in this manner was I led out, two men in front of me, two behind, +one on either hand, all with their weapons ready, whilst the provost +himself brought up the rear, with his drawn sword in one hand and a +lighted torch in the other. Not that light was needed, for the moon +had risen, and was in its full. I believe, however, that Braccio held +the torch, so that the additional light might the more clearly show +who his prisoner was, and I hung down my head as, with quick steps, we +marched to the military prison. + +"_Qui vive la_," the challenge rang out crisply, and on the instant +the provost replied, "France and Tremouille." + +"Pass on," and the sentry, one of Bucicault's arquebusiers, looked at +us curiously as we went by. And now, to add to my shame, we met, face +to face, a group of late revellers returning to the camp. + +"_Diable!_" called out a gay voice, "our respectable provost is at +work I see. What have you got there, Braccio?" + +I shuddered, for I recognised Bellegarde, a young noble of the Franche +Compte, who had come to seek glory in the Italian war. + +"Close up, men--another of my strayed lambs brought back to the fold, +Viscompte--pardon me--it is late, and I must hurry on." + +But Bellegarde was merry with wine. "Not till you have drunk our +health," he laughed, barring the way with his drawn rapier, as he +added, "Lowenthal here has a skin of wine from the Rhineland, have a +pull at it, man, and let us see the prisoner." + +"_Blitzen!_ Der brisoner first, he will hang pefore der herr brovost," +and the half-drunk Lanzknecht thrust his wine-skin towards me. + +"Gentlemen--gentlemen! have you a care! See here, Viscompte," and +Braccio whispered to Bellegarde. + +"My God!" said the latter; and then hastily, "Come on, Lowenthal! Let +them go." + +"Let der brisoner drink. Would you debrife a boor man of his liquor?" +replied Lowenthal, and to hide my face, I seized the skin, and raised +it to my lips. Even Braccio held the torch away, and Von Lowenthal +failed to recognise me in the half-light. My throat was red-hot with +thirst, and sick as I was with shame, I drank greedily, and handed the +wine-skin back to the German. + +"_Blitzen!_" he said, giving it a shake, "you drink like an honest +man. Now, herr brovost, a health to Germany, in honest German wine. +What! No! Then drink to der halter, man, and Lowenthal will knight +you," swaying to and fro, he attempted to draw his sword. + +Matters were at a crisis, for Braccio was not to be trifled with any +longer. At this juncture, Bellegarde and the others with him again +intervened, and dragged Von Lowenthal away. The provost instantly +pressed forwards with a hurried good-night. We did not go so fast, +however, as not to perceive, from the noises behind us, that the +Lanzknecht had subsided to earth, and was apparently abandoned there, +with his wine-skin, by his companions. The sound of his voice, engaged +in a drunken monologue, reached us. + +"Der rascal Braccio, der knight of der noose und halter. I will gif +him der accolade. I----" But we lost the rest as we hurried on, the +guards smiling to themselves, and Braccio very ill-tempered. + +In a few paces we passed D'Alegres' headquarters, and through an open +window, I saw half-a-dozen of my late companions playing at dice, and +heard Hawkwood's bass calling the mains. A few steps more brought us +to our point, a fortified wing of the Villa Accolti itself, and +Braccio, thrusting me into a strong room, turned the key of the door, +and with a gruff order, which I did not catch, walked away. Now, +indeed, was I in a distressful state, and the agony of my mind so +great, that I heeded not the pain of the cords, but paced up and down +like any caged animal. I fully recognised that I was the victim of a +deeply laid plot on the part of D'Entrangues, and saw clearly that I +was completely in his hands. It was a stroke of genius on his part, +not to interfere in any way to save his creature, the wretched Tarbes. +That hasty order of D'Alegres had removed the only danger of his +scheme being laid bare. I tried to think out some plan of action; but +to no purpose, for my mind was altogether confused and bewildered, and +I was incapable of thought. The room in which I was confined was bare +of all furniture, not even a camp-stool. There was only one window, +and that, iron-grated, was set high up, near the ceiling. The +moonlight straggled through the grating in long white ribbons, and +dimly showed up the walls around me. Hour after hour passed away. I +could hear the occasional barking of dogs, the distant cries of the +sentinels as they called to one another, and the sound of the guard +being relieved at my door. Then the moon sank and the morning came. +From sheer weariness I threw myself on the floor, and fell into a +troubled sleep, from which I was aroused by the cords biting into my +flesh. This, and the constrained position in which my arms were held, +gave me torture. I attempted by shouting to attract the attention of +the sentinel over me; but though I heard the clod tramping up and +down, I received no answer. + +At length, about the sixth hour, I made another effort to get some one +to hear me. I fortunately chose a moment when the guards were being +visited. After a short discussion outside, an under-officer entered +the cell. I begged him to free me from the cords, pointing out that +escape was impossible, swearing that I would not attempt it, and ended +by offering him five crowns for the good office. He hesitated at +first, but either pity for my condition, or the bait of the crowns +moved the man, for he freed me with a touch of his dagger, and for +another five crowns I obtained from him the promise of procuring for +me a change of attire from my tent. I had, hidden in a belt, worn +under my shirt, thirty crowns, and this I reached with some +difficulty, owing to the stiffness of my arms, and paid him the money. +I specially begged he would get for me a pair of Spanish leather +boots, that were lying in my quarters, for the sole of one of my +_contigie_ had come off during the struggle of last night. The honest +fellow promised to do his best, and shortly returned with the articles +I wanted, and in addition brought me some food and a cup of wine, for +which he refused all payment, saying that I had treated him generously +enough. To eat was out of the question, but the wine was grateful, +and, after drinking it, I devoted myself to putting my attire in +order. And here I may mention an odd circumstance, to wit, that my +gold cross of St. Lazare, which I wore pinned to my breast at the +supper, had by some chance remained intact, despite the struggle I had +gone through, and was still hanging in its place by a shred of the +ribbon. I carefully unfastened it, and placed it for security in my +belt. To me it seemed an omen of fortune, this lost little tag of +honour which clung to me. I succeeded indifferently well in arranging +my dress, and so passed a full hour. Heavens! when I recall that +night, although more was to befall me, I do not think I ever endured +such misery; nor has the noiseless file of time ever been able to +eradicate the memory of those hours. + +At about noon Braccio entered the cell. He raged beyond measure at +finding me loosed of my bonds, and insisted at first on securing me +again. I shrewdly suspected, however, that Messer Braccio was a trifle +afraid of the consequences of his violence the night before, and that +his furious language was in this case but bluster. I showed a bold +front therefore, and the under-officer putting in a word for me, the +provost gave in with apparent reluctance. He informed me that my +affair was to be dealt with by the duke in person, and that I should +make ready to go with him. I replied that I was prepared to go at +once, and without more ado was escorted to the main building of the +villa. I could see that a considerable crowd was collected, and from +the litters and riding-horses that were being led to and fro, +perceived that some ladies had heard the news, and were come to +gratify their curiosity at my expense, and see such trial as I was to +undergo. I was led into the great hall, which was full of people, and +in the gallery above the dais saw, amongst other ladies, the Duchesse +de la Tremouille, and by her side Madame d'Entrangues. The latter kept +her eyes down, and fanned herself with a fan of peacock feathers, +which, even at that moment, I was able to recognise as my gift. On the +dais was a table with seats set about it, which were as yet empty. At +the steps of the dais stood D'Entrangues, and beside him a small man +cloaked in a sad-coloured mantle, with a keen, cleanly-shaven face, +and watchful eyes. He held in his hand a small packet, and surveyed me +with no little interest. D'Entrangues did not meet my look, and his +hang-dog face was turned towards the doorway immediately opposite to +him. In a moment or so that door was opened, and the duke entered, +talking earnestly with a cavalier of a most gracious and distinguished +presence. Tremouille himself was a small, slightly-built man, of +features in no way remarkable; but redeemed in some part by the alert +intelligence of his glance. In early life he had met with an accident +which left him lame ever after. Yet he was a good horseman and of a +constitution that nothing could tire. As for his companion, his face +was then strange to me; but in after times when I was admitted to his +intimacy and honoured with his friendship, I came to know him as great +beyond all men; and this I do not say in gratitude for the debt I owe +him; but simply to add my humble testimony to that of others, his +companions-in-arms, and equals in station, who with one consent allow +him to be the glory of his age, and of knighthood. Immediately behind +Tremouille came D'Alegres and Trevulzio, who had raised himself to his +present high position, and was a most capable soldier. These four took +their seats at the table, and the numerous and brilliant staff of +officers who accompanied them ranged themselves behind. From the +manner in which the stranger took his seat, I gathered, and I was not +mistaken, that he was there as one of my judges, and for the moment I +wondered who he was. That he was of the highest rank was clear from +his aspect and bearing, and from the fact that he wore round his +neck the collar of the Holy Ghost. The proceedings of this public +court-martial began at once. It is needless to set them down in full +detail. D'Entrangues stated his case, D'Alegres briefly set forth the +action taken by him, and Visconti and Hawkwood testified to having +found their property in my possession, under the circumstances already +explained. I will do them the justice to say that they did so with +evident and genuine reluctance. Tremouille, who had doubtless heard +all this before, listened patiently to the end, and then asked me what +I had to say. What could I say? I looked at the faces around me and +saw no sympathy. I looked up at the gallery where the ladies sat, and +caught a whisper: + +"I do not care--I know it is false; he is not guilty." + +The words gave me courage. The charge was false. As false as hell. +Then I found tongue. I asked if it were possible that I, a noble, +whose career had hitherto been blameless, could have suddenly become +so vile as to sink to common theft? I pointed out my long years of +service, and called D'Alegres and Trevulzio, under whose banners I had +served, to witness if they had ever known me sully my honour. + +"It is known, M. di Savelli, that you are hard put for money," said +Tremouille. + +I admitted the fact, and also admitted that at the time I stood there +I owed money lost at play; but that the sum did not amount to more +than fifty crowns, and there was twice that amount due to me from the +military chest. I then went on to point out how unlikely it was that, +even if I had stolen the jewels, I should have hoarded them up and not +turned them into money, for which I allowed I was pressed, and wound +up by saying I was the victim of a conspiracy, and that I was prepared +to assert my honour, man to man, against D'Entrangues, or any other +who would take up his cause. + +"What say you, my lord of Bayard?" and Tremouille turned to the +stranger who sat beside him. Even whilst waiting for his answer, and +on the cross with anxiety as I was, I could not help looking with the +greatest interest at the man. This then was the celebrated Pierre du +Terrail, the noblest knight in Christendom. Vague rumours that he was +about to join the army of Tremouille, with a high command, had +reached us. But we had merely looked upon them as rumours. And now he +had come, apparently suddenly, and without warning. I felt sure that +he brought war with him, but had no more time to think, for he +answered--"A fair offer--M. d'Entrangues can do no less than accept." + +But Trevulzio then cut in, pointing out, that practically the case was +proved. That to allow me the ordeal by combat would upset all the +course of military discipline, under which he thought the matter +should be decided. Even if the ordeal of battle was allowed, and I +won, it would not prove my innocence in the face of the damning +evidence against me. + +"If there is any shadow of doubt, your excellency," and D'Entrangues +advanced to the table, "this will clear it up. Messer Vieri, kindly +hand that package to the duke." + +The man whom he addressed, who was no other than he whom I had +remarked, on entering the justice room as D'Entrangues' companion, +stepped forward and placed the packet before Tremouille, who opened it +amidst a dead silence. + +"Messer Vieri, how did you obtain this?" asked Tremouille. + +"The matter is simple, excellency," replied the banker, "but first may +I ask if madame the duchess recognises the trinket?" + +The circlet was handed to the duchess, who said in a low voice-- + +"It is mine: it was stolen from me a month ago--on the seventh of +March." + +"On the eighth of March a packet was delivered to me at my house of +business by one Tarbes, calling himself servant to the Cavaliere di +Savelli. He did not know the contents of the parcel; but it was sent +to me for safe keeping by his master, so he said. I gave him a receipt +for it. I myself did not know what the nature of the packet was until +to-day; but hearing the charges preferred against the cavaliere, I +opened the case and at once recognised madame's circlet, which I have +the pleasure to restore." + +"How did you come to hear these charges against the Cavaliere di +Savelli?" asked Bayard. + +"I was informed of them by the knight, Messer d'Entrangues." + +"That is to say, M. d'Entrangues must have known that the jewels were +pledged to you. Is this not odd?" + +It was a straw of hope that floated to me, and I could scarcely +breathe. D'Entrangues, however, replied boldly, "I was told of the +matter by one Tarbes, a servant to M. di Savelli." + +"You forget to add," I burst out, "that he was a creature of yours, +whom I employed on your recommendation." + +D'Entrangues made no reply, and Bayard said, "M. d'Entrangues appears +to have usurped the functions of the provost and played catchpole. +Could we not see this Tarbes?" + +"Call Tarbes," said the duke. + +Braccio came forward and explained that he had been dealt with +summarily, under the orders of the lieutenant-general. + +"Mine!" said D'Alegres in astonishment. + +"Yes, excellency, he was the prisoner whom your excellency ordered me +to hang last night." + +"A pity," remarked the duke, and Trevulzio, between whom and D'Alegres +there was little love, smiled. + +"I suppose you have nothing to say to this?" said Tremouille to me. + +"I was not in the camp on the seventh." + +"Where were you?" + +But this question I could not answer for I caught Madame d'Entrangues' +eye imploring me to silence. I looked back at the duke, and as I did +so felt that Bayard had followed my glance, and that his eyes were +resting on madame's face. He glanced down almost as soon as I did and +turned to me, and there was a grave encouragement in his look from +which I took heart. To me it was a great thing to show I was not at or +near the camp on the seventh; and yet if I did so I would ruin a +woman's name. It had been a harmless frolic, I swear this, as I know I +will come to judgment before a higher tribunal than that of man; and +yet had I spoken there would have been but one construction. I hated +D'Entrangues, too, and this would have struck at a vital part. For a +second I hesitated, and looked up once more at madame. She was pale as +death. + +I looked at Bayard, and his glance seemed to penetrate my thoughts. + +"I cannot say!" + +There was a sound of a gasping sigh, and a heavy fall. The peacock fan +fluttered slowly down from the gallery to my feet, and lay there with +its hundred eyes staring at me. + +"This ruins you," exclaimed D'Alegres. + +"Think again before you reply," said the duke: "I will give you time." + +"I thank your excellency; but I have no further answer." + +Tremouille shrugged his shoulders with a disappointed air, and dropped +his chin between his clasped hands, his elbows resting on the table, a +favourite position of his. Whilst he was thus considering, Bayard was +whispering earnestly to Trevulzio, and the old soldier seemed to +assent, and his hard face almost softened as he looked at me. They +then turned their gaze on D'Entrangues, and Trevulzio, with a shake of +his head, noted something briefly on a slip of paper and passed it on +to D'Alegres. The lieutenant-general looked surprised; but after a +moment nodded assent, and in his turn passed the paper on to the duke, +saying "I agree." Tremouille read the paper slowly, and then they +consulted together in low tones. + +And now, in a few brief words I heard my sentence, and it was carried +out at once. Braccio himself hacked off my spurs, my sword was brought +in and solemnly broken, and I was warned to leave the camp within an +hour, on pain of being hanged as a thief. Such property as I had was +declared confiscate, and the men of my _condotta_ were to be enrolled, +by force if necessary, under another banner. How I went through it all +I do not know. I cannot say how I passed down that great hall with the +eyes of all fixed on me, a dishonoured man, an outcast, and a leper. +One thing, however, did happen. Whilst the sentence was being carried +out, Tremouille sat apparently absorbed in thought. When the provost +broke my sword he rose to leave the room, and as he passed +D'Entrangues the duke stopped. + +"Monsieur," he said, "you have mistaken your vocation. His majesty +does not desire his officers to be thief-hunters. For such talents as +yours you will doubtless find room elsewhere, and I have to tell you +that the king--my master--regrets he has no further need of your +services." + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + MADAME D'ENTRANGUES. + + +When I left the door of the justice room I had to pass through the +main court-yard, and run the gauntlet of open scorn and contempt, +bestowed upon me by all assembled there. It was a great thing for +them, for those whom the French call _canaille_--we have no such +appropriate word in our own tongue--to see a noble dragged in the dust +and covered with infamy. And they did not spare me, taunt and jeer +passed from mouth to mouth. Some even would have gone so far as to +strike at me, had not their officers prevented them. + +"Ah, _Croque-mort!_" exclaimed an arquebusier, "you should hang;" but +the man stepped back a half-pace at my look, and, gaining the outer +gate, I pressed on, hardly knowing whither my steps led me. I soon +found out I was going in the direction of Arezzo itself, and as that +was as good as any other place for me at present, I made no alteration +in my course; but anxious to get on as fast as possible, quickened my +pace almost to a run, until I was tired out, and perforce compelled to +go slower. + +This happened when I had covered about a mile, and was beginning the +ascent leading to the town; and here I heard behind me the clatter of +horses' hoofs, and looking back beheld a party riding in my direction. +I turned aside, and, concealing myself behind the stem of a locust +tree, waited until the riders should pass. This they did in a few +moments, and I saw it was Tremouille and his staff returning to the +town. By the side of the duchess, who was riding with her husband, was +Bayard, mounted on a bay English horse, which he managed with infinite +grace and dexterity. + +Madame de la Tremouille was in the best of humours, most probably at +the recovery of her circlet, for she was laughing gaily as she said +something; but they went by too rapidly for me to catch the words. I +waited until the troop was lost in the yellow dust which rose behind +them, and then, stepping forth from my hiding-place, became aware that +I was not alone; but that a body was hanging from a branch of the tree +close to where I was standing, and this I had not noticed in my +eagerness to escape observation. It needed but a glance to recognise +Tarbes, my scoundrel, who had paid so long a price for his treachery; +he was swinging there dead enough, overreached and destroyed by the +master-villain. + +The sight of my dead knave brought up an angry wave of hatred in my +heart towards D'Entrangues, and I prayed that I might not die until I +was even with him. So great was the uprising of my anger, that at the +time I bitterly regretted not having seized the opportunity to wound +him, by plainly answering Tremouille's last question. With my rage +against D'Entrangues, there came an almost similar feeling towards +Madame, and I began to accuse her in my heart of being the original +cause of my misfortunes, and of conspiring, by her silence, to set the +seal of my ruin. I did not stop to think that I was ruined already, +and that it mattered little whether Madame allowed me to be silent or +not. I only felt that she had made me pay too great a price for her +reputation, and that she had sacrificed me mercilessly. + +When I hastened from the scene of my condemnation, I had no other +idea but of death, of self-destruction rather than life as it would be +now to me; but I put aside all these thoughts for I had to live for +revenge. That would be my first object, and until it was achieved I +would not rest. With this in my mind I gained the St. Clement Gate of +Arezzo, passing through without notice. + +Walking down the Via San Dominico, I turned to the right by the +Borgo di San Vito, and here I was recognised and hooted. Pressing +hurriedly forwards, and aided opportunely by the passage of a body of +men-at-arms, coming through the street in a direction opposite to that +of my followers, I succeeded in shaking off my tormentors, and turning +again to the right up a narrow street, entered a barber's shop to have +my beard removed in order to disguise myself as far as possible. The +barber, a fussy little fellow, placed me before a mirror of polished +steel, and as he set to work stropping a razor on the palm of his +hand, I removed my cap, and for the first time observed that the hair +of my head was thickly streaked with grey. + +"Your excellency has doubtless come to join the army," said the barber +in a tone of inquiry as he drew his razor across my face. + +"Ah, yes, yes; I have just come," I replied, and the little man went +on-- + +"There have been great doings to-day. 'Tis said the duke has ordered +the Count di Savelli to be executed for having in his possession a +favour of Madame. They say the count stole it, but we know better, +don't we, your excellency?" and the little fool chuckled to himself. +He went on without waiting for an answer. "Ah, yes; the ladies can +never resist us soldiers. I may tell you that I served with Don Carlo +Baglioni, and can bear my pike--there now, I think that side is clean +shaven--as I was saying before, it was hard on the Marquis di Savelli, +a gallant noble whom I frequently saw--pardon, your excellency, it is +but a scratch after all--had you not moved so suddenly, still only a +scratch, nothing for a soldier. The Marquis di Savelli, as I said, was +a regular customer of mine, and he had a lovely head of hair, your +excellency. It was not so much before I took him in hand. _Ecco!_ but +in a month you should have seen! He came in here in his free easy way, +and flung me ten crowns. 'Buy a ribbon for Madonna Giulia with that, +Messer Pazzi,' says he; 'and harkee, send me over six more bottles of +your elixir of St. Symmachus. _Maldetto!_' he exclaimed, twisting his +curls between his fingers, 'but she adores me now.' Now who, I say, +could _she_ have been but--_tchick_? _Diavolo_? it is done; never a +cleaner shave in Rome itself. If your excellency's fortune grows as +well as your hair, I could wish you no better luck." + +I rose in silence, and, flinging him a crown, bade him pay himself, +and receiving my change, hurried out, declining all Messer Pazzi's +entreaties to bear with me a bottle of his precious elixir of St. +Symmachus or any other accursed balsam. I saw at a glance that the +removal of my beard caused a considerable alteration in my appearance, +and imagined if I could but change my attire, my most intimate friends +would not know me unless they observed closely; and even then might +perhaps fail to recognise me. This view, as it turned out, was not +quite correct, and I had yet to learn how difficult a thing it is to +arrange a complete disguise. + +A few doors further on I laid out some of my money in the purchase +of a stout leather buff coat, along dark mantle, and a cap to match. +The cap was ornamented with a single black feather; and when I had +donned these garments I felt that, wrapped in the cloak, with the cap +pulled well over my eyes, and the feather standing defiantly out to +the side, that I wanted but a fathom of sword to make myself as +ruffianly-looking a bravo as ever trod the purlieus of Naples or Rome. +But the sword was some difficulty, for my crowns had dwindled to +sixteen. Fortunately I had on my finger a sapphire ring, and this I +pledged for twenty crowns, and made my way to the armourer's. I there +selected a long straight weapon, with a plain cross handle and a +cutting blade, such as would be useful for rough work, and, after some +haggling, got it for ten pieces. The armourer assured me that it was a +sound blade, and I may say it did me good service. It now hangs in my +bed-chamber, a little chipped, it is true, but as bright and as fit +for use as the day I paid for it, with a heavy heart, in Don Piero's +shop, near the gate of St. Lawrence in Arezzo. + +I began now to feel the want of food, for beyond the cup of Chianti +brought to me by the under-officer I had tasted nothing since +yesterday evening, and therefore stepping into an ordinary called for +a flagon of wine and a pasty. Whilst engaged in assaulting these, +half-a-dozen men, whom I recognised as belonging to the garrison, +entered the hostel, but to my joy I saw I was not known to them, and +after a casual glance at me they fell to eating their meal. + +I was however perforce compelled to listen to their conversation, +which was carried on in the loud tone men of their class affect, and +found to my annoyance that they were discussing me, and the events of +the day. In order to escape this I was about to rise, when I heard one +of them mention D'Entrangues' name, and stopped to listen. + +"He has left for Florence, and, it is said, intends to offer his sword +to the Signory," said one. + +"And the other?" + +"Heaven knows! Perhaps Braccio's arm has reached him, poor devil!" + +"Well, he was a good soldier and a stout lance." + +"_Basta!_" said the first speaker. "What does a little lightness of +finger matter? Play it in a small way, you're a thief, and food for +Messer Braccio, curse him! Play it on a big scale and you're a prince. +I for one don't think the less of Di Savelli because perhaps his hand +at cards was always too good, and he made that little error in the +matter of the rubies. A gentleman is sometimes driven to hard straits. +I was a gentleman once and ought to know. I give you a toast--Here's +to a long sword and a light hand!" + +They drank with acclamation, and then set to a-dicing. I had however +heard enough, and settling my account with the host, stepped forth +into the street, intending to depart from the town by the Porta San +Spirito or Roman Gate, leaving the camp over my shoulder, and to make +my way to Florence as soon as possible. There I would meet +D'Entrangues, and kill him like a mad dog. I ground my teeth with rage +when I thought I had no horse, nor even the means to purchase one, and +must trudge it like any _contadino_. But if I had to crawl on my hands +and knees, I was determined to reach Florence and D'Entrangues. + +It was however not yet sundown, and my idea was to leave the city when +it was well dusk to avoid all possible chance of recognition. I meant +to have passed the interval in the inn; but, as I felt this was +impossible, it was necessary to find another spot where I could lay in +quiet. With this end in view I crossed the Piazza di Popolo in an +easterly direction, and went on until I came to the Franciscan church, +into which I entered, not, I am sorry to say, with any desire for +devotion, but merely because I was less likely to be disturbed there +than anywhere else I could imagine. I was right, in so far that on +entering the church I found it, as I thought, empty, but on looking +round I saw beneath the newly-completed wheel-window, the work of +Guillaume de Marseille, a kneeling figure, apparently absorbed in +prayer. I had approached quite close before I became aware that I was +not alone, and was about to turn away, when, perhaps startled by the +sound of my footfalls on the marble pavement, the person rose +hurriedly and looked towards me. It was Madame D'Entrangues. Her +glance met mine for a second as that of a stranger, but as I was +moving away some trick of gesture, or perhaps the hot anger in my +eyes, told her who I was, for, calling my name, she came towards me +with outstretched hands. + +"Di Savelli," she said, for I made no advance, "do you not know me?" + +"Madame," I bowed, "I am unfit to touch you." + +"No, no--a thousand times no! It is I who am unworthy." + +I still remained silent, and she asked with a passionate emphasis-- + +"Man, have you never sinned?" + +The words struck me like a shot. I felt in a moment I had no right to +stand in judgment. + +"God knows," I replied, "I have, and I have been punished." + +With that she took hold of my hand, and then suddenly burst into +tears, weeping over me with words I cannot repeat. It was not for me +to fling reproaches, and I softened and did what I could to appease +her. + +"I could not help it," she said, "I was not strong enough to speak or +to let you speak. Oh, you do not know what such a thing is to a +woman!" + +"Let it pass, madame. What is dead is dead." + +"I cannot. And yet, what can I do?" Her tears began afresh. + +In a little time she grew better, and I seized the opportunity to +point out the danger she ran of being seen speaking to me, and +suggested that she should make her way home. It was impossible to +escort her myself, but I would walk a little way behind, keep her in +sight, and see she came to no harm. I urged this all the more as I saw +it was growing late, and that she was without any attendants and far +from the camp. + +"You mistake," she said; "I have not far to go. In fact I am at +present the guest of the convent here." + +"And----" I did not finish the sentence, but she understood. I had +forced myself to ask, to hear, if possible, confirmation of +D'Entrangues' movements. + +"He," she answered--"he has left the army and gone towards Florence." + +"And you?" + +"I stay here for the present." + +Her tone more than her words convinced me that she had been abandoned +by D'Entrangues, and it added another mark to my score against him. + +"Why should I not tell you?" she continued. "After, when it was all +over, the duke struck his name off the army, and he left in an hour. +Before he went, he came and told me all, laughing at your ruin. I did +not know man could be so vile. God help me--it is my husband I speak +of! He offered to take me with him, but I refused; and he left, +mocking like a devil, with words I cannot repeat. He was not done with +you or with me, he said, as he went. I came here at once, and perhaps +when Madame de la Tremouille returns to France, I shall be enabled to +go with her in her train." + +"Excuse my asking it," I said, "but have you----?" + +"Oh, yes," she smiled sadly, "it is not that in any way." + +At this moment I looked up and saw that it was sunset. Through the +wheel-window the orange beams streamed in a long banner, and lit up +the figure of the saint above us. The rays fell on madame's pale face, +and touched with fire the gold of her hair. We stood before each other +in a dead silence. + +"Good-bye," I said, extending my hand. + +She placed her own in it and our eyes met. + +It was a moment of danger to both. Leper as I was, I had but to lift +my hand, but to say a word, and here was one who would have followed +me like a dog. I felt her weakness in her look, in the touch of her +hand, which shivered as it lay in mine like a captive bird. At once a +fire leapt up within me. I had lost all--everything. Why not throw +revenge after my losses, and with her by my side seek a new fortune +with a new name? The grand Turk needed soldiers, and what mattered it +whether it was cross or crescent that I served?' + +But the woman became strong as I grew weak. + +"Go!" she said faintly. + +I dropped her hand, and, turning without a word, strode down the +aisle. As I reached the church door the bells of the Angelus rang out, +and yielding to a sudden impulse I looked back. + +Madame was on her knees before the saint. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + A FOOL'S CAP AND A SORE HEART. + + +I was not so dense as to fail to grasp the extent of the peril I had +escaped, or to fully realise the evil strength of the temptation, +which came upon me as suddenly as a sneeze. It is rare in matters of +this kind for wicked thoughts to be of slow growth; they spring at +once to life, full-armed. I thanked God in my heart that I was able to +sweep aside the base desire, which covered my soul like a black cloud, +and refrained from taking advantage of madame's momentary weakness. I +could not but see I was to blame myself. + +I, the elder and the stronger, should have foreseen the probable +consequences of a friendship such as ours, and my sorrow for her was +mixed with the deepest regret for my part in the transaction. I +banished all idea of attacking D'Entrangues through his wife, +wondering at the littleness of spirit which had ever conceived such a +thought. If it were possible, I would have kicked myself. Perhaps such +victory as I gained over my heart was due to the secret springs of my +vanity being touched, to the fear of the loss of my self-respect, and +this mingling with my pity and regret, gave me the strength to win at +the moment of temptation. It is difficult to tell; I have lived long +enough in the world to know that the mysteries of the heart will +remain veiled to the end. Occasionally we may lift the curtain a +little, but more no man has done. + +What had happened, however, explained clearly to me the motive for +D'Entrangues' conduct. He, at any rate, must have seen, long before +either of us, how affairs stood with the wife whose life he +embittered; but he made no effort to save her, contenting himself with +striking an assassin's blow, which had taken from him the last shred +of respect madame may have felt for him, and which had in part +recoiled on his own head. Be this as it may, his stroke was +successful, in that to all intents and purposes it had utterly blasted +me. I was worse than dead. It was no ordinary revenge. In those +troublous times, a blow from a dagger could have easily rid him of a +wife of whom he was sick, or a man whom he hated, and no one would +have thrown the matter in his teeth. But with devilish cruelty, he +inflicted wounds which could never heal, and left his victims to live. +It was impossible to hit such a man back, in a way to make him feel to +the utmost extent the agony he had administered; the only thing was to +take from him his worthless life: this he doubtless valued most of all +things, and I meant to deprive him of it, if he stood at the altar of +Christ. Moved by such thoughts, and with my cloak drawn well over the +lower part of my face, I hastened towards the Roman Gate, reaching it +just as it was to be closed for the night. In fact, as I passed out, +the huge doors came together behind me with a groaning, and at the +same time I heard the dull boom of the evening gun from the camp, +followed immediately by the distant peals of the trumpets of the +cavalry brigade. + +The sun had now set, and night came apace; a grey haze enveloped the +town behind me; above, in the deep violet of the sky, a few stars were +shining, soon to be dimmed by the rising moon; from the east a bank of +clouds was rapidly approaching, the advance guard of a storm from the +Adriatic. To the west, there was still light enough to see the Chiana, +lying like a silver thread, flung carelessly to earth in long folds, +and the rugged outlines of the roadless Chianti hills stood up in +fantastic shapes against the horizon. South-east was the peak of Monte +Eavulto; due west, beyond Bucine, Mount Luco was yet visible. I halted +for a moment, hesitating what course to take; whether to cross the +swamps of the Chiana valley, and make my way over the Ambra to +Montevarchi, and on to Florence; or to skirt the camp, cross the Arno +at one of the fords between Laterine and Giove, and go on through the +Prato Magno. + +As the crow flies, Florence was but a few leagues distant; but I +obviously would have to journey by side-paths, over hill and across +valley to avoid observation, and this would occupy at least two days, +unless my travels were permanently stopped by my being cut off by a +privateering party from the camp, or by any other untoward accident. +Neither contingency was unlikely, for the writ of the king ran barely +a league from the army, and the country was full of banditti. In fact, +for a half-pistole one might have had a priest's throat cut. I decided +on the former route. So muffling myself well in my cloak, for the wind +blew chill, with my sword resting in the loop of my arm, I set forward +at a round pace, and avoiding the camp, directed my steps towards +Bucine. As far as Chiani I knew the road. Beyond that there was +nothing but quagmire and swamp; still I had little doubt of finding my +way by the moon, which would soon show, and if, perchance, I fell in +with nighthawks, well then, there was little to be gained from me but +hard knocks; and it would be an opportunity to test the temper of the +blade I had purchased from Don Piero, the armourer. + +In this mind I pressed on, intending to lie at Bucine for the night, +or, if no better accommodation offered, to sleep as a soldier should, +wrapped in my cloak, with the sky for a roof. As I went on, I found I +was relying a little too much on my knowledge of the road, and a blue +mist, which rose from the ground, made it impossible to pick my way by +landmarks. Stumbling along, I took a good two hours to do what should +have been done in one, and, by the time I reached Chiani, began to +think it would be well to reconsider my decision in regard to making +Bucine that night. It was then that I suddenly remembered that Chiani +was held by a piquet of Swiss infantry, and any attempt to enter would +be impossible, as the gates were doubtless shut. I was a little put +out, for had I only recollected the fact before, I might have been +saved the extra mile or so of hard work I had to reach within a few +yards of Chiani, merely for the pleasure of turning back. The moon, +come out by this time, shone fitfully through the bank of clouds, +which was shifting uneasily overhead, and the wind, rising steadily, +marked rain. I stirred myself all the faster, for I was in no mind to +add a wetting to my misfortunes, and a drop or two of rain that caught +me, showed I had but little leisure to lose. I made out a narrow +cattle track, and hurried along this; but before I covered a mile the +moon was obscured, and the wind dropped. It now began to rain, and the +darkness was so thick, that I could only just follow the road. Soon +the track died away into nothing, and I found myself floundering, over +my ankles in mud, and up to the waist in wet rushes. At any moment I +might strike a quicksand, with which these marshes abound, so I used +my sword as a search-pole, stepping only where I found foot-hold, a +dozen inches or so below the surface of the bog. In this perplexity, +imagine my relief to see the blaze of a fire shoot up beyond a small +rising ground before me, and throw an arc of light into the darkness, +against which the falling rain glittered like fine wires of silver. I +shouted aloud and to my joy got an answer. + +"Who is there? What is the matter?" + +"A traveller," I replied, "who has lost his way in this cursed swamp. +Whoever you are, you will make a friend and find a reward if you lead +me out of this." + +"Come straight on, there is no danger beyond getting your feet wet." + +"They are that already," I answered, and pressed on, having absolutely +to force my way through the wet rushes, which wound themselves round +me impeding my progress terribly. Moreover, so sticky was the slime +below, that I thought every moment it would pull the boots off my +feet. Struggling on in this manner for a hundred yards or more, guided +by the fire, and an occasional shout from my unknown friend, I at last +touched hard ground, and with a "Thank heaven!" got out of the swamp, +and found myself at the foot of the hillock, behind which the fire was +blazing. + +"Which way to Bucine?" I called out. + +"Are you out of the swamp?" + +"Yes!" + +"Then come round the shoulder of the hill to your right, and follow +your nose. You will find shelter here. Bucine you could never reach +to-night, and a dog should not be out in this weather." + +"True, friend," I muttered, and with a loud "thanks" to the apparently +hospitable unknown, I followed his directions, and rounding the +hillock, saw before me, spluttering in the rain, a huge fire of +pine-logs, at the entrance to a hut of the rudest description. Inside, +I perceived a sitting figure, over which the light from the fire +alternately cast a glare, and then left it in darkness. I made my way +to the open door, which hung back on hinges of rope, and entered +without further ceremony. + +"Humph!" snorted my host, without moving from his position. "I said it +was no night for a dog to be out, I did not say anything of a wolf." + +This change of tone was not so surprising, for dripping wet, covered +with mud, and white with fatigue, my general appearance was but little +calculated to re-assure any one. Yet, as I hung my cloak on a rough +wooden peg which caught my eye, I could not help laughing in mockery +as I answered: + +"Wolves, friend, come to wolves' lairs." + +He took no notice of my remark; but pointing to a heap of rushes +opposite to him, said, "Sit down there." He then rose, and went +towards the fire with an unlit torch in his hand. This gave me some +opportunity of observing him. I saw he was of spare, but elastic +figure. His head was bare, and his white hair hung in matted locks +over a lean neck to his shoulders. His dress was fantastic, and +entirely out of place with his surroundings. It consisted of a tight +fitting jerkin of parti-coloured velvet, with puffed breeches to +match, pulled over thick black hose. On his feet were the ordinary +sandals of the peasantry, and, as he stooped to light the torch-wood, +I saw his face was seamed with wrinkles, and that his lips moved +rapidly, as if he was speaking, although no sound issued from them. He +did not delay about his business; but hastened in, and sticking the +torch in a hole in the floor between us, resumed his seat, and said +abruptly-- + +"Let me look at you?" + +Apparently his scrutiny was satisfactory, and I did nothing to +interrupt him. + +"Hungry?" + +"No. All that I ask is to be allowed to rest here till to-morrow." + +"That is well, for I have no food to offer you; but here is some wine +in this skin." + +He reached to a corner and pulled out a small wineskin. This he placed +before me with the single word "drink." + +"No, thanks." The whole manner and aspect of the man were so peculiar, +that, although I was much fatigued, I judged it prudent to decline. +His quick eye seemed to read my thoughts, for he laughed a little +bitterly as he said-- + +"Tush, man! There is no fear. You bear too long a sword to have a +purse worth the picking, and you are not supping," a look of hate +passed over his features as he dropped out slowly, "with the Borgia. +See, I will give you a toast--Revenge." He took a pull at the skin and +flung it to me. + +"I drink to that," I said, tasting the wine in my turn. Here then was +another who, like me, sought for consolation in vengeance. We sat in +silence for some minutes, each absorbed in his own thoughts. The heat +from the fire had warmed the hut so, that the blue steam began to rise +from my damp clothes. My companion reclined on his elbow tracing some +diagram on the floor with a poniard, which from its shape was +evidently of Eastern make. The rain, which now increased in violence, +had almost quenched the log-fire, and was invading our shelter, for +the roof began to leak. There being no wind the torch burned steadily, +throwing sufficient light for us to distinguish each other. I began to +wonder what manner of man this was before me, dressed in a motley of +court-fool and peasant, and my curiosity was aroused to such an +extent, that for the time I forgot my own troubles. Nevertheless I +made no sign of inquiry, knowing there is no means so sure of +obtaining information as to seem not to desire it. My new friend +kept his eyes fixed on the point of his dagger, the muscles of his +queer-webbed face twitching nervously. At length he became conscious +of my scrutiny, for lifting his eyes, he looked me in the face, and +then made a motion of his hand towards the wine-skin. + +"No more, thanks." + +"There will be that left for to-morrow before we start." + +"Then you also are a traveller?" + +"If you so put it; but I have been here for a week." + +"An odd retreat to choose." + +"Any hole will do for a rat." + +"True; but we were wolves a moment ago," I smiled. + +"I did not say I was," he replied drily, "but you looked wolf all over +when you came in. Give me your hand." + +I stretched out my hand, and he held my open palm near the torch, bent +over it, and examined the lines keenly. + +"Yes," he muttered half to himself, "strong fingers that can close +over a sword-hilt, a soldier too, and one who has seen wars. Too much +conscience ever to be great. You will never die a prince as Sforza +did. Stay--what do I see? A man changed to a wolf--no--wolf you will +never be. A bitter enemy, a woman who loves you, and a free heart for +yourself. Sorrow and danger, bale and ruth, then calm waters and +peace. There! Are you satisfied? If the devil does not upset this, it +is the map of your life. Can you read mine?" + +"No," I replied, withdrawing my hand, and somewhat surprised at the +general accuracy of this man's knowledge of my past. Yet, I could not +help crossing myself as I thought of his allusion to the foul fiend. + +"Ay!" he sneered, "cross yourself. Peter and Paul are old and blind. +They do not see. Pray if you like. God is too far above the stars to +hear you. Go on your knees and beat at the skies with your +lamentations. You will surely see the light of a seraph's wings. Do I +not know--have I not seen the deep? Some day you will know, too." + +He stopped as suddenly as he burst out, and betook himself to his old +trick of moving his lips rapidly, forming words without any sound. I +began to think I was with a madman, and rapidly cast up the chances of +a struggle. I was physically the stronger, but armed as he was, with +an unsheathed dagger, the odds were against me. Perhaps it would be +prudent to begin the assault myself, and taking him by surprise, +overpower him. When, however, I came to consider that I was in a +manner his guest, that he had shown me kindness, and given no signs of +personal violence, I was ashamed of my fears. + +"You say you are going to Bucine?" He asked the question in his usual +abrupt manner; but his tone was composed. + +"It lies on my road." + +"And on mine, too. Shall we travel together? I could point out the +way." + +"Certainly. It is very good of you." + +"Well, it is time to sleep, and the torch has burnt to an end." + +As he spoke he stretched himself out at full length, and, turning his +back to me, appeared to sink at once into slumber. I watched him for +some time by the embers of the torch, wondering if I was wise in +accepting his companionship, and then, overpowered by fatigue, lost +myself in sleep, heedless of the rain, which dripped in twenty places +through the roof. + +I slept profoundly, until aroused by my shoulder being gently shaken, +and looking up, beheld my host, as I must call him, bending over me. I +thought I had slept for a few minutes only, and saw to my surprise +that it was well in the morning, and the sun shone brightly. All +traces of cloud were gone, though soft billows of mist rolled over the +olive gardens, and vineyards of Chianti grape, that stretched towards +Montevarchi. + +"Heavens, man! How you sleep! I was right when I hinted you had a good +conscience." + +I scrambled up with a hasty Good-morning; and a few minutes +afterwards, having finished the remains of the wine in the skin, we +started off in the direction of Bucine. My companion had politely +never inquired my name, and I had been equally reticent. He placed on +his head a silken fools'-cap, and the bells on it jingled incessantly +as he walked along with a jaunty air, at a pace that was remarkable +for a man of his age. He seemed to have lost the melancholy that +possessed him during the night, and conversed in so cheerful and +entertaining a manner, that in spite of myself, I was interested and +withdrawn from my unhappy thoughts. He kept up his mood to Bucine +where, notwithstanding our strange appearance, we attracted, to my +relief, less attention than I imagined we should draw. + +With appetites sharpened by our walk, we did full justice to the meal +I ordered at the only hostel in the place. Here I played host, as a +return for my entertainment, and in conversation my acquaintance said +that he was bound for Florence. I told him that also was my point, and +invited him to bear me company on the road, to which he willingly +agreed. I made an attempt here to hire a horse; but not even a donkey +was procurable, all available carriage having been seized upon for the +army. So once more descending the hill on which Bucine is situated, we +forded the river and continued our journey. + +At the albergo we heard that a body of troops were foraging along the +banks of the Arno, and resolved to make a detour, and, crossing Monte +Luco, to keep on the sides of the Chianti hills, if necessary avoiding +Montevarchi altogether. My companion maintained his high spirits until +we reached the top of the spur of Monte Luco, known to the peasantry +as the Virgin's Cradle. Here we stopped to breathe and observe the +view. I looked back across the Chiana valley, and let my eye run over +the landscape which stretched as far as the Marches. In the blue +splash, to the south of the rugged and conical hill of Cortona, I +recognised Trasimene, and beyond it lay Perugia. I turned to call my +friend's attention to the scene, and at first did not perceive where +he was. Another glance showed him standing on the edge of the cliff, a +little to my left, shaking his clenched hand in the direction of +Perugia, whilst on his face was marked every sign of sorrow and hate. + +Curious to see what this would result in, I made no attempt to attract +his attention, but in a moment he shook off the influence which +possessed him, and rejoined me with a calm brow. We thereupon +continued our journey with this difference, that my companion was now +as silent as hitherto he had been cheerful. My own dark thoughts too +came back to roost, and in a gloom we descended the Cradle, pushing +our way through the myrtle with which it was covered, and walked on, +holding Montevarchi to our right. + +We kept a sharp look-out for the foragers, and seeing no signs of +them, made up our minds, after some consultation, to risk going to +Montevarchi, which we reached without mishap a little after noon. It +was not my intention to halt there more than an hour or so, which I, +hoping I would have better luck than at Bucine, intended to spend in +trying to hire an animal of some kind to ride. + +We stopped at the Bell Inn, near the gate, and after a deal of +bargaining, which consumed a good hour, the landlord agreed to hire me +his mule for two crowns. The rascal wanted ten at first. Just as the +matter was settled a dozen or so of troopers rode in, and, spying the +mule, in the twinkling of an eye claimed it for carriage purposes. + +It was in vain the landlord protested that it was his last beast, that +it had been hired to the noble cavaliere, meaning me, and many other +things beside. The soldiers were deaf to his entreaties, and although +I had more than a mind to draw on the villains, I had the good sense +to restrain myself, for the odds were too many against me. I therefore +hid my chagrin under a smile, and the mule was led away amidst the +lamentations of mine host, who was further put out of pocket by a +gallon or so of wine, which the troopers consumed, doubtless in honour +of the prize they had taken, neglecting in the true fashion of the +_compagnes grandes_ to pay for it. It was a fit lesson to the +landlord, for had he not, in his cupidity, haggled for an hour over +the hire of the animal, he might have been the richer by two crowns +and still owned his mule. Thus it is that avarice finds its own +punishment. + +On going off, the leader of the troop, a man whom I knew by sight and +by reputation as a swashbuckler, if ever there was one, made me a mock +salute, saying, in allusion to my quietness in surrendering my claim +to the mule, "Adieu, Messer Feather-Cap--may your courage grow as long +as your sword." This taunt I swallowed ruefully, and immediately set +about my departure. My companion, who was not mixed up in the +altercation, joined me silently, and we followed in the direction +taken by the troopers, pursued by the maledictions of the innkeeper, +who vented his spleen on us as the indirect cause of his misfortune. + +The foragers, who owing to the warmth of the weather had all removed +their breast-plates, which were slung to their saddles, were going at +a walking pace; and it was amusing to see how the mere sight of their +presence cleared the streets. Noting, however, that they did not +appear to be bent on personal injury, we did not think it necessary to +go out of our course, or delay our departure until they left the town, +and as we walked fast and they went slowly, by the time they reached +the main square, we were not more than a dozen yards behind them. + +At this moment we noticed the figure of a woman, apparently blind, for +she was guided by a little dog attached to a string. The poor creature +was crossing the pavement almost in front of the leader of the troop, +and as she was right in the path of the troopers, we attempted to warn +her by shouting, and she stooped irresolutely, hardly knowing which +way to turn. The troop leader, without making any effort to avoid her, +rode on in a pitiless manner, and she was flung senseless to the +ground. In this her hood fell back, uncovering her face, and my +companion, suddenly uttering a loud cry, ran forward, and seizing her +in his arms, began to address her with every term of endearment, in +the manner of a father to his child. + +The troopers halted--discipline it will be observed was not great--and +one of them with rough sympathy called to my friend to bear the girl, +for so she looked, to the fountain, at the same time that their +commander gave a loud order to go on, and to leave off looking at a +fool and a beggar. I had, however, made up my mind there was a little +work for me, and, drawing my sword, stepped up to the swashbuckler's +bridle, and asked for a five minutes' interview there and then. + +He burst into a loud laugh, "_Corpo di Bacco!_ Here is Messer +Feather-Cap with his courage grown. Here! two of you bind him to the +mule." + +But the men with him were in no mood to obey, and one of them openly +said-- + +"It is always thus with the ancient Brico." + +"Do you intend to give me the pleasure I seek," I asked, "or has the +ancient Brico taken off his heart with his corselet?" + +For a moment it looked as if he were about to ride at me: but my sword +was ready, and I was standing too close to him for any such treachery +to be carried off. Flinging the reins, therefore, to the neck of his +horse, he dismounted slowly and drew his sword. A number of the +townsfolk, attracted by the scene, so far forgot their fear of the +foragers as to collect around us, and in a few moments a ring was +formed, one portion of which was occupied by the troopers. + +Brico took his stand so as to place the sun in my eyes, a manifest +unfairness, for we should have fought north and south; yet I made no +objection, and unclasping my cloak let it fall to the ground behind +me. + +"_A vous!_" he called out, and the next moment we engaged in the lower +circle, my opponent, for all his French cry, adopting the Italian +method, and using a dagger to parry. For a few seconds we tried to +feel each other, and I was delighted with the balance of my sword. It +did not take me a half minute to see that he was a child in my hands, +and I began to rapidly consider whether it would be worth the candle +to kill him or not. Brico, who had commenced the assault with a stamp +of his foot, and a succession of rapid thrusts in the lower lines, +became aware of his weakness as soon as I did, and began to back +slowly. I twice pricked him over the heart, and his hand began to +shake, so that he could hardly hold his weapon. + +"Make way there," I called out mockingly, "the ancient would like to +run a little." + +Maddened by this taunt, he pulled himself together and lunged +recklessly at me in tierce; it was an easy parry, and with a strong +beat I disarmed him. He did not wait, but with the rapidity of a hare +turned and fled, not so fast, however, but that I was able to +accelerate his departure with a stroke from the flat of my sword. + +"Adieu, ancient Brico!" I called out after him as he ran on, followed +by a howl of derision from the crowd, in which his own men joined. + +It was lucky that I adopted the course of disarming him, for had the +affair ended otherwise, I doubt not but that the men-at-arms would +have felt called upon to avenge their leader, poltroon as he was. As +it happened they enjoyed his discomfiture, and an old trooper called +out to me-- + +"Well fought, signore--you should join us--there is room for your +sword under the banner of Tremouille. What--no--I am sorry; but go in +peace, for you have rid us of a cur." + +Saying this, they rode off, one of their number leading the ancient's +horse by the bridle. + +I turned now to look for my companion. He was nowhere to be seen, and +on inquiry I found that he had lifted the girl up, and supporting her +on his arm, the two, followed by the dog, had turned down by the +church, and were now not in view. It would, no doubt, have been easy +to follow, and as easy to trace them; but I reasoned that the man must +have purposely done this to avoid me; and after all it was no business +of mine. I therefore returned my sword to its sheath and walked on. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + D'ENTRANGUES SCORES A POINT. + + +Before I had gone fifty paces, however, I became aware that there was +some law left in Montevarchi, for a warning cry made me look over my +shoulder, and I saw a party of the city-guards, who had discreetly +kept out of the way when Brico and I crossed swords, hurrying towards +me. The same glance showed me that the ancient was already in their +hands, and was being dragged along with but little regard to his +comfort; and I felt sure that now, as the troop was gone, the citizens +would wreak their vengeance on this hen-roost robber, and he would be +lucky if he escaped with life. As for me, the catchpolls being out, +they no doubt reasoned that they might as well net me. To stop and +resist, would only result in my being ultimately overpowered, and +perhaps imprisoned; to yield without a blow meant very much the same +thing, and, in the shake of a drake's tail, I resolved to run, and to +trust for escape to my turn for speed. So I set off at my roundest +pace, followed by the posse, and the rabble who but a moment before +were cheering me. + +More than once I felt inclined to turn, and end the matter for myself; +but the fact that this might mean laying aside all chance of settling +D'Entrangues, urged me to my best efforts. Some fool made an attempt +to stop me, and I was compelled to slash him across the face with my +sword, as a warning not to interfere with matters with which he had no +concern. I hardly knew where I was going; but dashed down a little +bye-street, and was, after a hundred yards, brought to a halt by a +dead wall. I could barely reach the top of it with my hands, luckily +this was enough to allow me to draw myself up, and drop over to the +other side, just as the police reached within ten feet of me. I did +not stop to take notes of their action, but was off as soon as my feet +touched ground, and found to my joy that I was close to one of the +unrepaired breaches in the city wall, made six months ago by +Tremouille's cannon. Through this I rushed, and scrambling down a +slope of broken stone and mortar, found I would be compelled to climb +down very nearly a hundred feet of what looked like the sheer face of +a rock, before I could reach level ground. There was not even a goat +track. My agility was, however, spurred on by hearing shouts behind +me, and preferring to risk death in attempting the descent, rather +than fall into the hands of messer the podesta, I chanced the venture, +and partly by holding on to the tough broom roots, partly slipping, +and aided by Providence and Our Lady of San Spirito, to whom I +hurriedly cast up a prayer, I managed to reach the bottom, and fell, +exhausted and breathless, into a cistus hedge. + +I was too beaten to go another yard, and had my pursuers only followed +up, must have become an easy prey. As it was I heard them reach the +breach, where they came to a stop, all shouting and babbling at the +same time. One or two, bolder than the others, attempted to descend +the ledge of rock, down which I escaped, but its steepness damped +their courage. They, however, succeeded in loosening some of the +debris so that it fell over the cliff, and a few of the stones dropped +very close to me; but by good hap I escaped, or else this would never +have been written. One great block indeed, just passed over my head, +and I vowed an altar-piece to Our Lady of San Spirito, who alone could +have diverted that which was coming straight to my destruction; and I +may add I duly kept my word. After a time the voices above began to +grow fainter, and to my delight I found that the citizens, thinking it +impossible I should have escaped like a lizard amongst the rocks, were +harking back, and ranging to the right and left. I waited until all +sound died away, and cautiously peeped out. The coast was clear. I had +recovered my wind, and without more waste of time, I rose and pressed +on in the direction of the hills, determined to chance no further +adventures near the towns. Indeed, I had crowded more incident into +the past few hours, than into the previous five-and-thirty years of my +life, and my sole object, at present, was to reach Florence without +further let or hindrance. + +Keeping the vineyards between me and the town, I avoided all +observation, and at a small wayside inn, filled a wallet which I +purchased, with food and a bottle of the rough country wine, so that +there might be no necessity for my visiting a human habitation during +the remainder of my journey. With the wallet swung over my shoulder, +an hour or so later I was ascending the slopes of Mount St. Michele, +cursing the fallen pine-needles, which made my foothold so slippery, +that I slid rather than walked. + +Turning the corner of a bluff, I suddenly came upon half-a-dozen men, +reclining under the pines in various attitudes of ease. They sprang up +at once on seeing me, and one of them, presenting his arquebus, called +on me to halt. + +"You must pay our toll before you pass, Signore," said the man, who +appeared to be the leader of the party. + +"As you please," I replied, "but my only metal is cold steel." + +"_Corpo di Bacco!_" he exclaimed. "I thought I knew you, and your +voice makes me certain. Surely I address the Cavaliere di Savelli?" + +I bowed, a little confused at the thought of my disguise being so +easily penetrated, and the bandit went on, turning to his comrades-- + +"Put down your gun, Spalle, this gentleman is one of us, and--hawks do +not peck out hawks' eyes. Signore," he added, "you pass free. I had +the honour to serve in your _condotta_ during the Siena war, and +doubtless you remember Piero Luigi?" + +"I do," I said, and the memory of a bag of florins which accompanied +this same Luigi on his disappearance one fine day came to my mind. I +had not however seen the man for three years, but he was apparently of +those who do not forget faces. As it turned out, however, he had seen +me very recently without my knowing it. + +"It is a pleasure to think I am not forgotten, and in a way, +Excellency, you have paid your footing." The rascal was alluding to my +stolen florins. "To think," he continued, "that you should have joined +us! But I suppose it was the dice, and, to be sure, the rubies were +worth ten thousand. You should have realised at once and vanished; but +experience will come, and mayhap another chance. I saw the trial, +Excellency, and we do not war with the profession, least of all with a +new recruit. You are free to pass, or, if you prefer it, to accept our +hospitality for a while." + +I declined the proffered invitation with a brief thanks, and went on, +my blood boiling at the impertinence of the scoundrel who so +familiarly claimed me as one of his own kind. Innocent myself, I was +tasting to the dregs all the humiliation of the guilty, and it was +only perhaps a lucky chance that saved me from the rope, or the still +worse fate of the galleys at Pisa. Turn which way I would, my own +country would never be a country for me again. I was cut out from my +order, my infamy would be known wherever my name was heard, and my +associates would henceforth have to be the vilest of mankind. Had I +committed a murder, or even an act of treachery in war, that could +have been wiped out; but to have sunk to the condition of a common +thief, this was ignominy beyond repair. I therefore resolved, as soon +as I pushed matters to a conclusion with D'Entrangues, that I should +leave Italy and seek a new life in the strange countries beyond the +seas which Messer Columbus, the navigator, had discovered, and there, +my past being unknown, perhaps find a future of peace or the rest +which fears no disturbing from this world. + +My original idea had been to seek the dominions of the Turk, but they +were too close to my shame; even the New World was hardly far enough. +So I planned, and so doubtless would I have acted had not +circumstances worked to give me back what I lost, as I thought +hopelessly, and to bring home to my mind the certainty of that tender +mercy of God, of which we on earth take too little account. + +It was late in the evening before I halted and ate my dinner under an +overhanging rock, sheltered from the north wind by a clump of pines. +When I finished I rolled myself up in my cloak, and fatigue, together +with a good conscience, combined to send me to a sleep as sound as it +was refreshing. I was up before the sun and continued my way, +determined to reach Florence by evening. I took no particular notice +of the view, where I could see to my right the Prato Magno, and to my +left all the valley of the Greve; but kept my eyes before me, intent +on my thoughts. + +At length, when passing Impruneta, where the black virgin is, Florence +came in sight. There was a slight haze which prevented me from seeing +as clearly as I could wish; but I plainly made out the houses on the +banks of the Arno, Arnolfo's Tower, the Palace of the Signory, the +Cathedral, the Bargello, and the unfinished Pitti Palace, whilst +beyond rose the convent-topped hill of Senario, where the Servites +have their monastery. + +As I looked, there was little of admiration in my heart, although the +scene was fair enough; but I could give no mind to anything beyond the +fact that I was at last within measurable distance of D'Entrangues, +and that in a few hours my hand was like to be at his throat. + +With these thoughts there somehow mingled up the face of Madame, and +the scene of our last meeting. I put this aside, however, with a +strong hand, and determined to think no more of her, although no such +recollection could be anything but pleasant and sweet. Until I met her +I had managed well enough without womankind, and for the future I +would leave bright eyes alone. Yet I knew I was the better man for +holding the privilege of her friendship. However, she had passed out +of my life, and across the seas I would have other things to think of +than the memory of my platonic friendship with Doris D'Entrangues. + +It was close upon sunset when I entered the San Piero Gate, and found +myself in Florence, and in a difficulty at the same time, in +consequence of my wearing a sword. I luckily, however, remembered that +La Palisse, the French leader, was then in the city, and explaining +that I was from the army at Arezzo with a message to him, inquired +particularly his abode, which I was told was in the palace of the +exiled Medici in the Via Larga. It so happened that La Palisse was in +constant communication with Tremouille, and this and my confident +bearing imposed upon the guards. I supplemented my argument with a +couple of crowns, and they let me pass without further parley. It will +thus be seen that whatever the regulations may have been, they were +easily broken. Indeed I found later on that they were, even at that +time, a dead letter, and that the zeal of the guards was merely +inspired by the prospect of making something out of me, which they did +on this occasion. I knew Florence fairly well, having been there under +circumstances very different to the present; but as I hurried along +the crowded streets, I began to feel I was somewhat uncertain as to +whither the roads led. I judged it prudent, however, not to make +inquiries, but kept my eyes on the sharp look-out for an hostel +suitable to my purse, which was diminishing at a fearful rate. I +stopped for a while at a street stall to satisfy my hunger with a cake +of wheat and a glass of milk, a wholesome but unpalatable beverage, +and entered into conversation with the stall-keeper. It came out that +I was in a difficulty about a lodging, and the man very civilly told +me where one could be procured, and added to his kindness, seeing I +was apparently a stranger to the place, by directing his son, a small +bare-legged urchin, to guide me to the house, which he said was an old +palace of the Albizzi, that had passed into the hands of the banker +Nobili, and was rented out in tenements. + +Heaven only knows through what bye-lanes and alleys the imp led me, +chattering like an ape the whilst; but at last we reached the house +which lay in the street di Pucci. An arrangement was soon entered into +with the person in charge, and I paid in advance for two weeks the +small rent asked for the room I took. I selected the room, because +there was in it some furniture, such as a bed, a table and a couple of +chairs, which, I was informed with some emphasis, had been seized from +the last tenant in default of rent. I sent the boy away rejoicing, and +was surprised to find that the housekeeper did not depart as well; but +this worthy soon made it clear to me that a further payment was +requisite on account of the furniture. I was too tired to haggle, so +paid him the three broad pieces he wanted, and bid him get me some +candles. He returned after a little delay with what I needed, and I +may say at once that under a rough exterior I found this man, with all +his faults, was capable on occasions of displaying true kindliness of +heart. + +I would like to pay him this tribute, for subsequently, as will be +seen, we had a grave difference of opinion which ended in disaster for +him. At the time this happened I could not but condemn him strongly, +for in order to further a plot in which he was engaged, he tried to +induce me to crime, and when, by a happy chance, I was able to +frustrate his design, joined in an attempt to murder me. I fully +believe, however, now that I can look back on affairs coolly, that, in +common with others of his age, he thought it no wrong to adopt any +means to further a political plot, whilst in the every day observances +of life he displayed, in an underhand manner, much virtue. + +When he was gone I sat down to count my money, and found I had but ten +crowns in all the world. With prudence however this would last some +time. Still it was gall and wormwood to me to have to weigh each item +of my disbursement. It would be necessary as well to renew my attire, +which, with the exception of the leather buff coat, was almost ruined +by the hard wear it had been exposed to on my journey. I sat down to +rest, but now that I had reached Florence a reaction set in, and +assailed by a full sense of my position I gave way to despair. In a +little time I became more composed; but it was impossible to keep +still with the fire in my heart, and I sallied into the street, taking +care to note landmarks, so as to find my way back. In this manner I +must have gone for about a quarter of a mile, when I was brought to a +standstill by the coming of a gay party down the street, in the +direction opposite to mine, all marching by the light of many torches, +to the music of a band. The musicians led the procession, which was +flanked on each side by a number of flambeaux bearers, and a retinue +of servants, all bearing swords despite the law. + +The merry-makers walked in pairs, each lady resting her fingers +on her cavalier's arm, and all laughing and talking with the utmost +good-humour. I was compelled to draw myself to the wall to admit of +their passing, and whilst thus giving them the road, the light fell +brightly on me, and I became an object of alarm to some of the fair, +who gave utterance to pretty little exclamations of terror, with the +result that I came in for haughty looks from the gallants. + +In the middle of the promenaders were two ladies, who, apparently not +having partners of the opposite sex, had linked themselves together, +and the attention of the taller of these was bestowed upon me for a +moment, and it was not flattering. As she wore a mask, I could see +little of her face beyond the half contemptuous look in her eyes which +were dark as night, and a short curl of the upper lip, with which she +no doubt intended to express the same sentiment as her glance. I +waited calmly until the whole party passed on, admiring the grace of +the demoiselle who had favoured me with her scornful survey. I watched +them until they turned off into another street, and then went on, idly +wondering who the people were, and more especially the dark-eyed lady. + +The street behind me was in gloom, a few yards in front of me a lamp +hanging from a wall threw a dim radiance; beyond that there was gloom +again. Through the darkness before me I heard the sound of hurrying +feet, coming in my direction, and almost before I was aware of it, the +newcomer and I fell into the circle of the light, and met face to +face. + +It was D'Entrangues! He knew me as if by instinct. + +"You!" he exclaimed, and on the instant his sword was out. I said +nothing. I was blind, mad with anger. My whole soul hungered for his +life as I thrust at him, and in doing so slipped my foot over the edge +of the narrow pavement and fell heavily. He was on me at once; +something flashed in his left hand, and I felt a stinging sensation +all over my side. He did not wait to see the result of his blow. +Perhaps he made too sure, and springing over me, ran into the darkness +beyond. I scrambled up at once, and made an attempt to follow; but my +brain began to reel, and I was compelled to lean against the wall to +support myself. + +The clash of steel had however aroused some of the inhabitants, and +hearing footsteps approaching I pulled myself together with an effort, +and making across the road, turned back to my lodging. Here again I +felt too weak to proceed without help, and sank to the ground, knowing +I was bleeding freely. By this time two or three men came up, and +after surveying the spot under the street-lamp, crossed over in my +direction. The rays of a lantern held by one of them discovered me, +and they hastened up. I begged the favour of their assistance to my +abode, saying I had been stabbed, and this the worthy citizens readily +accorded; and not content with that, when I reached my room, gave me +all help in dressing my injury. The dagger, which I had to extract, +had gone through the folds of my cloak, but was turned by a steel +buckle on the strap of my buff coat, and had cut through the coat and +down my side, inflicting an ugly flesh wound. This in itself was not +dangerous; but I had lost much blood, and when the kind citizens had +gone, in making an attempt to rise from my chair, I had only just time +to reach my bed before I became unconscious. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + BERNABO CECI. + + +I cannot say for what time I lay thus bereft of sense; but on coming +to myself I saw the candle in my room was all but spent, and the wick +flaring in a long flame. I looked to see if my wound had broken out +a-bleeding afresh, and was glad to find this was not the case, and +that the bandages were in their position. The small effort, however, +nearly set me off once more. The room swam round, the bright flame of +the candle dwindled down to a little star, no bigger than a pin point, +and then began slowly to increase in size as the faintness passed off, +and I was able to see clearly again. Any attempt to move gave me +agony, and, closing my eyes, I lay still. I heard the candle expire +with a splutter, and leave me in darkness. Then I began to get +light-headed, and unable to control my thoughts. Somehow my mind +travelled back to the days of my childhood, and the figure of the only +living relative I can remember, my father, came before me, standing +just as he was wont to stand, when about to give me a lesson in the +exercise of the sword, and repeating a warning he never ceased to din +into my ears. "Learning," he said, "is of little use to a gentleman. +You need not know more of books than a Savelli should, but in +horsemanship, and in the use of the sword----" he finished with a +gesture more expressive than words. And truly old Ercole di Savelli +was never a bookworm, although he ended a stormy life in his bed. + +He was the son of that Baptista di Savelli, who was ruined with the +Prefetti di Vico, and other noble houses during the time of Eugene IV. +Such estates as Baptista had, were transferred with the person of his +sister Olympia, who married into the Chigi, to that family, and with +them the custodianship of the Conclaves. Baptista di Savelli left his +son nothing but a few acres. The latter tried to woo Fortune in the +Spanish war, but did not obtain her favours. He returned to Italy, and +poor as Job though he was, hesitated not to marry for love, and engage +in a lawsuit with Amilcar Chigi. What between the one and the other, +Ercole was ruined in a hand turn. His wife died in giving birth to me, +and disgusted with the world, he retired to a small estate near Colza +in the Bergamasque. There he devoted himself to a pastoral life, and +to bringing me up as a soldier, until, one fine day, having contracted +a fever, he received absolution and died like a gentleman and a +Christian. + +I followed the profession for which I was intended, joining the levy +of the Duke of Urbino, and sharing in all the ups and downs of the +times, until Fortune did me a good turn at Fornovo. Subsequently +things went well with me, and although I had to mortgage my narrow +lands, to raise and provide equipment for the men, with whom I joined +Tremouille, I was in expectation of a full reward, when I was so +suddenly stricken down. + +Thinking of these things in the dark, tormented by a devouring thirst, +which I was unable to quench, haunted by the impression that my last +hour was come, and that I should die here like a dog, without even the +last rites of the church, I fell into a frenzy, and began to shout +aloud, and rave as in a delirium. D'Entrangues came before me, wearing +a smile of triumph, and I strove impotently to reach. Then the whole +room seemed to be full of my enemy, from every corner I could see the +white face, the red hair, and the smile of successful malice. The +figures, each one exactly like the other, floated over me, stood by my +side, sometimes brought their faces within an inch of mine, until I +imagined I felt a flame-like breath beating on me. Finally they +flitted backwards and forwards, rapidly and more rapidly, until there +was nothing but a mass of moving shadow around me, which gradually +resolved itself again into a single form. I strove to reach for my +sword to strike at it, but my arms were paralysed. So through the +livelong night the phantom stood at the foot of my bed, until the +white morning came in at my window, and I fell into a sleep. + +When I awoke, I found the old intendant of the building bending over +me. The fever had abated but the thirst still remained. "Water," I +gasped through my parched lips, and he gave me to drink. + +To cut a long story short, I arranged with this man for such +attendance as I should want, and to do him justice Ceci--for that was +his name--performed his part of the contract, getting me my food, +attending to the dressing of my wound, to which he applied a most +soothing salve, and such other offices a helpless person must expect. +He did not trouble me much with his presence during the earlier part +of my illness, but came as occasion required him, and, when he had +performed his work, left me to my reflections. + +I may note here that I never again saw the people who helped me when I +was wounded. Having assisted me to my lodging, and aided me to dress +my hurt, as I have said, they departed, and apparently gave me no +further thought. This I am persuaded was not due to unkindly feeling, +but to prudence, and a wish to avoid being mixed up in an affair such +as mine appeared to be; for the times were such, that it was better +for a man's head to be unknown to the Magnifici Signori of Florence. + +Subsequently, when things changed with me, I caused public cry to be +made, requesting the worthy citizens to come forward; but my attempt +was of no avail, beyond producing a half-dozen or so of rascal +impostors, who swore to helping me, under circumstances that never +occurred, on the off chance of hitting a nail on the head, and +obtaining a reward. But this was long after my illness, and the block +in the Bargello may have, since that time, been a resting place for +the heads of the good Samaritans for all I can say. I took a longer +time in mending than I thought I should, for an inflammation set in, +the fever came back, and when that was passed I recovered strength but +slowly. It was at this time, however, that I discovered the advantage +of reading, having up to now borne only too well in mind my father's +saying on that subject. + +I began with Poliziano's Orfeo, a poor affair, and then procured, to +my delight, a translation of Plutarch's Lives. Both these books were +obtained with the greatest difficulty, so old Ceci, the attendant +said, from the library of a great Florentine noble, in which a nephew +of his was employed in copying manuscripts, and the old man charged me +an entire double florin for the use of the latter alone; an +expenditure I grudged at first; but which I would have willingly paid +twice over before I finished the volume. I inquired the name of the +nobleman; but Ceci was not inclined to tell me, and I gathered that +the owner was probably unaware that his books were taking an airing, +and enabling his library-scribe to turn a dishonest penny. On the +binding of the Plutarch was pricked a coat-of-arms, a cross azure on a +field argent, with four nails azure; but I could not, for the life of +me, remember this device, although I had served in every part of Italy +except Rome. Finally it came to my mind, that the bearings, no doubt, +belonged to some merchant prince of Florence, and would therefore be +unlikely to see anything more of fighting than a street riot, and +therefore I dismissed the subject. + +I did not neglect, whilst lying in enforced idleness, to take such +steps as I could to discover the whereabouts of D'Entrangues, and +specially instructed old Ceci to make inquiries of the followers of La +Palisse. He brought me news in a couple of days, that the Frenchman +had left Florence a fortnight ago, and it was understood he was going +to join the army of Cesare Borgia, that cursed serpent who was lifting +his head so high in the Romagna. This was ill news indeed, for I had +been lying helpless for close upon a month; but I was on the mend at +last, and resolved to follow him as soon as I had strength to travel. + +During my illness I had frequently thought of madame, and with the +thoughts of her, there mingled recollections of the dark eyes of the +lady who had looked at me through her mask, on the night I was +stabbed. I could think of madame in no way but with a kindly feeling; +but strange as it may seem, any recollection of the other made my +heart beat, and I would have given much even to have obtained another +glance at her. In the meantime, however, my first business was to try +and replenish my funds, for my supplies were almost exhausted by the +drain made upon them during my illness. + +Old Ceci, the intendant, had in his way formed a sort of attachment +for me, and now that I was better, generally spent an hour or so with +me daily in converse. One day I let out some hint of my condition, and +Ceci, after a little beating about the bush, approached me with a +proposal. + +"Signore," he said, "there are those in Florence who would like things +changed. We want our Medici back; but we want also a few good swords, +and I could tell you of a way to fill your purse." + +"Say on," I replied, and the old man having first bound me to secrecy, +informed me that certain notables in Florence wanted a good sword or +two, to rid them of a great political opponent, in order to pave the +way for the return of the Medici; and without mentioning names in any +way, which, he said, would be given to me later, proposed that I +should undertake the task. + +I realised at once that his suggestion meant nothing short of +assassination, and saw that my old acquaintance was apparently up to +the ears in a political plot. My first idea was to spurn the +suggestion with indignation; but reflecting that it would be better to +know more, and by this means, if possible, save a man from being +murdered in cold blood; I affected to treat the matter seriously, and +replied that I was as yet unfit for active work; but that as soon as I +was better I would discuss the subject again. He then departed. + +Perhaps the time will come when the minds of men will shrink with +horror from crime, even for the sake of a good object, and however +much I loathed the proposal made to me, I could not but recollect that +the noblest names of Milan were concerned in the Olgiati conspiracy, +and that a Pontiff had supported the Pazzi attempt on the Medici. This +being so, there was excuse for Ceci and his leaders, whoever they +were; but my whole soul was wrath in me at the thought that I had been +deemed capable of doing the business of a common bravo, and if it were +not for the reason stated above, I would have flung the old +conspirator out of the room. This insult also had to go down +indirectly to D'Entrangues, and as I grew better, my desire to settle +with him rose to fever-heat. The question, however, was my resources. +Turn which way I would, there seemed to be no way of replenishing +them. The idea presented itself to me to join the Borgia, who with all +his faults was ever ready to take a long sword into his pay. But the +man was so great a monster of iniquity, that, even to gratify my +vengeance, I could not bring myself to accept the gold of St. +Valentino. + +There were others to whom I could apply, such as Malatesta or De la +Rovere; but amongst them I would be known, and the burden of my shame +too great to bear. After all, it would perhaps be better to seek to +fill my purse in Florence, and let my vengeance sleep for a while. It +would be all the sweeter when it came. + +With these ideas in my head, I was sitting one afternoon at the little +window of my room, putting a finishing touch to the edge of the +dagger, which D'Entrangues had left with, or rather in me, and +congratulating myself that the blade was not a poisoned one, when I +heard, as from a distance a hum of voices, which gradually swelled +into a great roar, and above this the clanging of a bell with a +peculiar discordant note. Almost at the same time old Ceci bustled +into my room, evidently in a state of high excitement, and called +out-- + +"Messer Donati--Messer Donati! It is to be war--war!" + +I should add here that I had judged it prudent to take another name on +entering Florence, and adopted the first one that struck me, although +I afterwards thought that Donati was not quite the name to win favour +with the Florentines, amongst whom the memory of Messer Corso was +still green, although so many years had passed since he was done with. +Whether I let my own name out or not during my illness I am unable to +say; at any rate, Ceci never gave me any such hint. The news the old +man brought was not unexpected by me, yet I caught a touch of his +excitement and answered-- + +"War--where? Tell me." + +"It is this way, signore; Naples has risen, and the Great Captain has +driven D'Aubigny out of Calabria, all the Romagna has gone from Cesare +as that," he waved his hand as if throwing a feather in the air. + +"The Holy Father has cast his interdict on Florence, and Pisa is +burning the Val di Nievole." + +"The devil!" I exclaimed, "this is more than I thought. The interdict +is bad, Messer Ceci." + +He grinned as he answered, "Bad for the Pope. Medici or no Medici we +will not have a priest interfering in Florence." + +"I see," I said, "you are Florentine first, and conspirator +afterwards; but how do the French stand?" + +"With us, for we pay. It is said, however, that things are uncertain +with them, that Monsignore d'Amboise, who is now Cardinal of Rouen, +has gone to Rome, and that Tremouille is awaiting the king." + +"The king! Louis is at Macon." + +"Yes, Louis himself, and the Lord knows how many barons besides, with +pedigrees as long as their swords, who will eat up our corn, and +pillage our vineyards from the Alps to the Adriatic. But I came here +to ask, signore, if you will come with me to see. It is hurry and make +haste for I cannot wait. The Carroccio has left St. John's." + +I had almost recovered my full strength, and was accustomed to walk +out daily at dusk in order to avoid observation, whilst at the same +time I could by doing so exercise my muscles; yet at first I felt +inclined to decline Ceci's invitation, alleging weakness as my excuse, +for my anger was still warm against him on account of his proposals to +me. Reflecting, however, that if I offended him, it would probably +fatally injure any prospect I had of saving the person whom the +conspirators intended to kill, I thought it best to affect a +friendliness I did not feel, and changing my mind in regard to +accompanying him, slipped on my sword, and followed the old man +downstairs. We hastened as fast as we could to the great square. The +people were swarming out of the houses, and the streets were full of a +hurrying throng, all directing their steps to the point, whence we +could hear the bellowing of the mob, echoed with answering cheers by +those making towards the place of assembly. Around us there was a +murmur like that of millions of bees, as men, women, and children, +jostled their way to the Palace of the Signory. My companion, who +stopped every now and again to open his jaws as wide as the mouth of a +saddle-bag, and give forth a yell, hustled along at a great pace, and +I made after him with scarcely less speed. + +By good fortune, and a considerable amount of pushing, we made our way +through the press, which appeared to me to be composed entirely of +elbows, and at last reached the market-place. Here the crowd behind us +slowly drove us forwards, and finally gave us the advantage of a good +position. The square was lined with men-at-arms and stout citizens, +with boar-spears in their hands. + +All at once there went up a shout louder than ever, the crowd swayed +backwards and forwards, then opened out, and admitted the Carroccio or +war-car in Florence. It was painted red, and drawn by oxen housed in +red trappings. The great beasts had dragged the car slowly from the +chapel of St. John's, where it stood in times of peace, and laboured +along under its weight. From the car itself projected two poles on +which hung the banner of the Commonwealth, a red giglio on a white +field. Immediately behind this came another car, bearing the +Martinello or war-bell, which was incessantly clanging out its angry +notes. It was to ring now for a full month, without ceasing. + +Around the cars were the principal nobles of the city, and the oxen +being guided to the "bankrupt stone," were there unharnessed. Pietro +Soderini, the brother of his eminence of Volterra, who was then +Gonfaloniere for life, raised his hand. In a moment there was silence, +and the vast audience listened to the brief oration that fell from the +lips of their chief magistrate. He painted in stirring words the +dangers of the times; he called to the people to forget party hatreds +in the face of the common crisis; he appealed to their past, and then +concluded: "Therefore," said he, "for the safety of the State, have we +to whom that safety is entrusted put our hope in God, and our hands to +the sword. Citizens, we give to our enemies, to Rome, and to Spain, +war, red war--and God defend the right!" With that, he drew off his +glove of mail and flung it on the pavement, where it fell with a +sudden crash. + +The silence of the crowd continued for a little, and then, from forty +thousand throats rang out cheer after cheer, as the sturdy citizens +roared out their approval of the gage thrown down. + +In the midst of all this some partisan of the Medici, hysterically +excited, raised a shout of _Palle_! _Palle!_ + +"Blood of St. John!" exclaimed Ceci, "who is that fool? He will die." + +It was the well-known cry of the exiled Medici, and it drove the crowd +to madness. Instantly there was an answering yell. + +"_Popolo_! _Popolo!_ Death to tyrants!" I cannot tell what happened +exactly; but in the distance, I saw a man being tossed and torn by the +mob. For a moment, his white face rose above the sea of heads, with +all the despair in it that the face of a drowning man has, when it +rises for the last time above the waves; then it sank back, and +something mangled and shapeless was flung out into the piazza, where +it lay very still. I stood awestruck by this vengeance. + +"Yet the Medici _will_ come back, signore!" + +Ceci whispered this in my ear, as he stood with his hand on my +shoulder. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + THE GARDEN OF ST. MICHAEL. + + +On our way back Ceci was somehow separated from me, whether by +accident or design, I cannot say. I did not quite regret this, as I +had made up my mind to see as little as possible of him for the +future, thinking he had repaid himself for his kindness, by the +proposals he had made to me. Indeed, I may say I never sought his +society, although, until he showed his hand, his visits and +conversation gave me some pleasure, for notwithstanding his position, +he was a well-informed man, who, in the earlier part of his life, must +have seen better days, and perhaps hoped to see them again, if his +plot succeeded. The words he had let drop, to the effect that the +Medici would come back, had given me a hint as to what that plot was. +It was evident that my old friend was an active member of the Bigi, or +Grey Party in Florence, that were then working secretly for the +restoration of Lorenzo's sons. It seemed clear too, that the attempt +to be made, was to be directed against some very eminent member of the +State--perhaps the Gonfaloniere himself, and I began to wonder if it +was not my duty to lay the information I had before the Signory. I +could not, however, reconcile this with my promise of silence, and +therefore my tongue was tied. Still I could not sit tamely by, and see +a man murdered in cold blood, and I decided therefore, to remain in +Florence somehow, and if possible avert the crime, although it would +interfere, no doubt, with my own business. But one cannot always be +thinking of one's self. Perhaps also, though not quite conscious of it +then, I had some idea of again meeting the unknown lady of the gala +procession, in whom, in spite of myself, I felt I was taking too great +an interest. + +During the night I had but little sleep, for the affair of the mad +partisan of the Medici, and the declaration of war, had roused the +citizens to fever heat, and all night long, crowds thronged the +streets, their hoarse shouts of _Popolo_! _Popolo!_ mingling with the +incessant clanging of the war-bell, which itself was loud enough to +wake the dead. The next day, however, I resolved to take the bull by +the horns, and with a view to fill my purse, determined to present +myself before La Palisse, and offer him my sword. I sallied out, +therefore, finding the streets fairly empty, the all-night indignation +meeting of the Florentines having wearied them a little. Still, +however, there were knots of people here and there, all in a more or +less excited condition. I was in no particular hurry, and taking a +lesson from the snail, went at a leisurely pace, and eventually +reached the headquarters of La Palisse, which were in the Medicean +palace, in the Via Larga. The courtyard and entrance-hall were full of +soldiers, and evidently active preparations for the campaign were in +progress, for there was a continuous stream of people going in and +out. No one took any notice of me, and holding my cap in one hand, and +straightening the feather on it with the fingers of the other, I +advanced unquestioned through the crowded rooms. In this manner I +proceeded until I came to a gallery, on one flank of which there was a +series of windows overlooking the street; at the end of the gallery +hung a purple curtain, covering, as it happened, an open door. On the +curtain itself was embroidered a crimson shield, bearing the _palle_ +of the Medici. Before this I was stopped by a young officer, who asked +me my business, and I replied it was with La Palisse himself. + +"Impossible!" he replied; "you cannot see the General." + +"Why not, signore?" + +"Tush, man! You look old enough to understand that orders are orders." + +"What is it, De Brienne?" a sharp voice called out from within. The +officer lifted the curtain, and went inside. I was determined to gain +an interview with the great man, and had therefore said my business +was of importance. The leanness of my purse is my excuse for the +subterfuge, which I subsequently regretted, as will be seen further +on. Shortly after De Brienne came out. "Well, messer--messer----" + +"Donati," I said. + +"Well, Donati, the General will see you. You may enter." + +I accordingly did so, and found myself in the presence of a short, +thick-set man, seated at a small table, on which was spread a map, +over which he was looking intently. In a corner of the room lay his +helmet and sword, and he himself was in half-mail, wearing a Milanese +corselet, on which was emblazoned the red dragon of his house. As his +head was bent over the paper, I could not at first make out his +features, and remained standing patiently. Suddenly he lifted his +face, and looked at me with a quick "Well--your business, sir?" + +I was accustomed to strange sights, but for the moment was startled, +so horribly disfigured was the man. The sight of one eye was +completely gone, and half his face looked as if a red-hot gridiron had +been pressed against it. The other eye was intact, and twinkled +ferociously under its bushy grey eyebrow. I recovered myself quickly, +and made my request in as few words as possible. He became enraged as +I finished. "Bah!" he said, "I thought your business was of +importance. I can do nothing for you, my list is full. You have gained +admission to me under a pretence--go!" and he resumed his study of the +map. I would have urged the matter, but all my pride was aroused at +his words, and so, with a short good-day, I turned on my heel and +walked out. Passing through the gallery, I saw De Brienne, leaning +against an open window, talking to another young officer. They both +looked at me, and burst into a loud laugh. At any other time I might +have treated this with contempt, but I was sore all over at my +reception, and approaching the two said, "You seem amused, +gentlemen--it is not well to laugh at distress." + +They stopped their laughter, staring haughtily at me, and De Brienne +said, "Your way, signore, lies before you," and he pointed down the +corridor. + +"Perhaps the Signor de Brienne would care to accompany me--unless," +and I looked him steadily in the face. + +"Unless what?" De Brienne flushed angrily. + +At this moment we heard a hasty footstep on the marble floor, and La +Palisse advanced. "Still here," he said to me, "did I not tell you to +begone?" + +"My business is with the Signor de Brienne," I replied stiffly, for my +blood was hot within me. + +"I am quite prepared," began De Brienne, but the free-captain +interposed. + +"Not in the least. I cannot allow my officers to go fighting with +every _croque-mort_, who comes here with a long sword and a lying +story. Look at him, De Brienne--every inch a bravo! Harkee, Donati! +Begone at once. Not another word, or by God, I will have you hanged +from the nearest window!" + +It did not require me to carry my perception in my right hand, to be +aware that La Palisse was capable of fulfilling his threat, and +although I was inclined to draw on him there and then, I knew what the +ultimate results would be. So swallowing my pride as best I could, and +regretting the ill-humour which had subjected me to this insult, I +stalked into the street. + +I made my way to my ordinary, and sat there to cool, which took some +time. I was able to see, that the rebuff I received was due in great +part to my own mismanagement; also that there was no hope for me from +La Palisse, and that my steps must turn elsewhere if I wished my purse +to show a full-fed appearance. I dined sparingly, drinking but a half +measure of Chianti, which I mixed with water, and it made but a thin +fluid. When I finished my slender repast, there was nothing left but +to kill time. It was useless to go back to my lodging; for want of +funds had compelled me to discontinue, until better times, my newly +acquired habit of reading, and Ceci, despite the kindness he had shown +me, was precise in the exaction of payment for offices performed by +him. No more indeed could be expected from a huckstering mind such as +his, inherited no doubt from a line of bargaining citizens, whose +hearts were in their bales of wool. So I strolled towards the garden +of St. Michael, passing on the way the piazzi, where there were still +numbers assembled, and wondering at the implacable hatred of the +Florentines towards their noblest blood, a hatred they carried so far, +as to build the walls of the Palace of the Signory obliquely, rather +than they should touch the spot where the Uberti once dwelt. And this +set me reflecting on the unreasoning stupidity of the _canaille_, in +their enmity towards gentle blood. Perhaps I was a little influenced +in these thoughts, from the fact that the Uberti were connected by +marriage with the Savelli, a daughter of Maso degli Uberti having +wedded that Baptista di Savelli who upheld by force of arms his right +to attend the Conclave of Cardinals. It was sad to think that of the +Uberti not one was left, and of the Savelli--I alone. I will not +include the Chigi, for they come through the female line, and although +Amilcar Chigi, the son of my father's old enemy, subsequently made +advances of friendship towards me, I felt bound to explain to him that +I was the head of the house, despite the broad lands his father got +with his mother Olympia, by an unjust decree of the Chamber of Lies. +This, however, is a family affair, which does not concern the +narration in hand. Having reached the garden, I sat myself to rest on +a stone seat, set against a wall overhung by a large tree. At the +further end of the walk were two ladies in earnest conversation. Their +backs were to me at first, but on arriving at the end of the walk, +they turned slowly round, and came towards me. As they approached, I +was almost sure they were the two I had seen in the gala procession, +and my doubts were soon at rest, for, on passing, they glanced at me +with idle curiosity, and in a moment I recognised them by their air +and gait. On this occasion they wore no masks, and I saw they were +both young and passing fair. The face of the shorter of the two, whose +figure had a matronly cast, was set in a mass of light hair, and +looked brimful of good-humour. The other, who, in marked contrast to +her companion, had dark hair and dark eyes, possessed a countenance of +exceeding beauty, marred perhaps by its expression of pride. Be that +as it may, my blood began to tingle as I saw her, and an indefinite +thought of what might have been rose into my mind. When they had gone +a few yards, the one, whom I took to be a married woman, said +something to her friend, and glanced over her shoulder; but the other +appeared to reprove the remark, increasing as she did so the pride of +her carriage. I wondered to myself that two ladies, should be out +unattended, in so sequestered a spot, at a time too when the city was +so full of excitement, and watched them as they turned the corner of +the walk, and went out of sight beyond the trees. I began in a useless +manner to speculate who they were, and to weave together a little +romance in my heart, when I was startled by a shriek, and the next +moment the fair-haired lady came running round the corner of the road, +crying for help. It was not fifty yards, and in less time than I take +to write this, I whipped out my sword, and was hurrying to the spot. I +saw, when I reached, the taller lady struggling in the arms of an +ill-looking ruffian. She called out on my coming, and the man, +loosening his hold, was about to make off, when, unwilling to soil my +sword with the blood of a low-born scoundrel, I struck at him with my +fist, and the cross handle of the sword clenched in my hand, inflicted +an ugly gash on his forehead, besides bringing him down. I stood with +the point of my sword over him, and the affrighted women behind me. + +"Hold, signore!" he cried, "enough! I yield--what! Would you draw on a +friend?" + +"A friend?" I said in astonishment, as he slowly rose to his feet. + +"Yes, Signor di Savelli, were you on Monte San Michele now, you would +sing a different tune." + +"Piero Luigi, then it is you," I said; "well, scoundrel, I am not on +Monte San Michele, but you are here, and will shortly be before Messer +the Gonfaloniere, unless you restore at once what you have doubtless +robbed from these ladies and beg their pardon. Stop! if you attempt to +move, I will spit you like a lark." + +"I have taken nothing," he said, "let me go; I am punished enough." + +"That is true, sir," said one of the ladies, "and we pray you let the +man go." + +"Not till he has begged your pardon," I replied. + +Luigi did as he was bid, and humbly apologised; but as he left, he +discharged a Parthian shot: "Ah, ladies! I sought but a kiss. I am but +a poor thief--a crow--but the Signor di Savelli is no better, though +he flies with hawk's wings." + +I took no notice of the remark; and, lifting my cap, begged permission +to see the ladies to a place of safety. + +"We thank you for your kindness, sir," said the shorter and elder of +the two, "but I see our servants approaching, and we will not +therefore trespass on you. Believe me, however, we are grateful--my +cousin and I." + +Even as she spoke her lackeys came up, and one of them, in an alarmed +tone, asked what was the matter, and turned on me fiercely. + +"Be quiet, Gian," said the lady who had just spoken, "it is we who +have to thank Signor di Savelli for rescuing us." + +"Your pardon, signore; but we heard the ladies cry out, and seeing you +here----" + +"Where you should have been," I interrupted, "you lag too far behind +your mistress." + +The dark-haired girl, who had up to now not spoken, but, with her face +very pale, was playing with a bracelet on her wrist, now looked up. + +"I think we had better get back, we will not trouble this--this +gentleman further. He has already done too much for us." + +She dropped me a proud little curtsey, and turned away, but her +friend frankly held out her hand. "Believe me, Signor di Savelli--I +heard you so called--my cousin Angiola and I are both very grateful. +She is a good deal upset by what has happened, and I speak for her. +My husband," she went on hurriedly, "has much influence, and if any +word----" + +She stopped a little helplessly, and seeing she had observed my +appearance, and anxious to end the affair, I cut in-- + +"Madam, I did nothing but drive off a cur--you thank me too much. Good +day!" + +I stood cap in hand until they turned the elbow of the walk, and then +retraced my steps to my lodging. As I went back, I could not help +railing at my luck. I was enabled to do a service, which, for no +reason I could assign, I would rather have done to this particular +woman than any other--a service which should have made her look kindly +at me, and yet by a cruel stroke she was made to think me nothing else +but a thief, for Luigi's charge was definite, and it was clear I knew +him. My name was also known to her, and perhaps the rest of my story, +as it was understood by the public, would be told to her, and then, +adieu to my little romance, if it was not adieu already. Then again +what business had I to have any such thoughts? I had yet to learn that +these things come unbidden, and when they come, take no denial. +Thinking in this way as I walked on, I was surprised to find I had +reached the old Albizzi Palace. This building, like all the other +houses of the nobles of Florence, was fortified with braccia or +towers, joined to each other by bridges. These towers formed refuges +during interurban wars, and stood many a siege from the people. The +Albizzi Palace had four such braccia, but the two towards the Ultrarno +quarter had been half demolished in some forgotten riot, and never +restored. The others were however intact, although the bridge between +them had long since given way. It was in one of these that I had my +abode, and reaching it about sundown, began to slowly ascend the dark +stairs which led to my chamber. Occasionally I stopped and rested, and +it was during one of these rests that I looked up to the landing above +me. It was still in light; for the setting sun shone through a giglio +shaped window in the western wall. As I glanced up, a figure suddenly +appeared at the head of the stairway, and leaning one hand on the +balustrade, peered down into the dim light below it. I recognised the +extraordinary dress at once, and a moment's survey of the face assured +me it was my host of the hovel, he who had so strangely disappeared +with the girl, when I fought with Brico at Perugia. + +"A good day to you, friend!" I called out, "and well met." + +"Who calls? Who is there?" he answered. + +"One moment, let me climb up these stairs," and I made my way to the +landing, and held out my hand. + +He took it in silence, but his grip was warm. + +"Signore," he said after a moment, "I do not know your name; but +whoever you are, Mathew Corte owes you much, and will some day show +himself grateful." + +"My name," I said, "for the present is Donati, and as for gratitude +there is no need to speak of it." + +As he mentioned his name, I remembered that there was a madman so +called, who had come into notoriety years ago, by asserting that he +had discovered the secret of prolonging life to a hundred and twenty +years. He had, I heard, written a book in which this was fully +described, and presented it to the Cibo pope, with the inscription, +_videbis dies Petri et ultra_. Long after, I heard Cardinal Bembo +tell, in his witty way, how this same Corte presented his book to +three successive popes, ending with Innocent of Genoa, adding that he +took care on each occasion to substitute a new title-page and +dedication. "But," the cardinal was wont to add, "it is against the +canon, for our Lord the Pope to go in any matter, even in life, beyond +the Holy Apostle, and therefore, no doubt, the worthy doctor's +prescriptions were not followed. Such are the sacrifices the church +has to make." + +"How long have you been here?" I asked. + +"Some days." + +"And we have never met!" + +"Ah! The place is like a rabbit-warren. There are hundreds here. But +it is odd that I have never seen you." + +"Not so very odd when I come to think of it," and I looked down at my +shabby attire. "It is generally late when I go out." + +He held out one leg, clothed in its fantastic dress. + +"I too am on the rocks," and he laughed bitterly, "and feed with the +goats." + +Wishing to change the subject, I inquired about the girl. He turned +away to the window, and when he looked back the man's eyes were full +of tears. + +"Would you care to see?" he asked, with a shake in his voice. + +I bowed gravely, and he conducted me upstairs, fully two flights +beyond my room, and then stopped on a small landing. Through the +half-open door that faced us, a little dog came out, and looked +wistfully at Corte. He stooped to stroke it, and then rising, passed +into the room. When he had gone beyond the door, he looked back at me, +saying "enter." + +I did so with gentle footsteps, and he pointed to a bed in the corner +of the room, on which was the figure of a woman, lying so still and +motionless, that she might have been an image of wax. Her plentiful +brown hair was spread over the pillow, and out of this frame, the +pinched white face, with all its traces of past beauty, looked out in +a pitiful silence. One thin hand was turned palm downwards on the +coverlet, and, as we stood, the fingers began to work convulsively. + +Corte bent over her forehead and touched it with his lips. "Little +one," he said, "do you sleep?" + +The girl opened her sightless eyes, and a faint smile, that lightened +her face, making it wondrous beautiful, passed over her countenance. + +"Not yet." She spoke so low I could hardly catch the words, "but I +shall sleep soon." + +I knew what she meant, for in her face was already that look which +comes to those who are going away. Corte was however unable to judge. +"She is better," he said, "I will give her some more wine--all that +she needs is strength--my little one." With this he turned to a +cupboard, and opening it, took thenceforth a bottle of wine; with +shaking fingers he tried to fill a glass; but the bottle was empty. + +"I forgot," he said, and looked hopelessly around him. There was that +in the man's face which made me read it as an open book. + +"Stay here," I whispered, "I will be back soon--very soon." + +He looked at me in a dazed sort of manner, but I waited for no reply, +and, slipping out of the room, ran as fast as I could downstairs, and +through the darkening streets to the nearest inn. Calling the landlord +I asked him what was his best wine. + +"My best wine, signore! All my wines are good. There is Chianti from +our own Tuscan grape, Lacryma Christi from Naples, Barolo from +Piedmont, Roman Orvieto and White Vernaccia of the same brand that the +Cardinal Ippolite d'Este----" + +"Fool," I interrupted, "answer my question. What is your best wine? +Have you any of the wines of France?" + +"Wines of France!" he exclaimed, "_Corpo di Bacco!_ Does not your +excellency know that La Palisse and his French cut-throats have been +here for a month? Think you there is a bottle of red Roussilon or +Armagnac left in Florence? There lie, however, in my cellar, two +flagons of Burgundy." + +"Fetch one at once--run, man!" and I flung him a crown. + +After a short delay, which seemed ages to me, messer the padrone +reappeared with the flagon of Burgundy under his arm, and seizing it +from him, I ran back to the Albizzi Palace, and hurried up the stairs +to the room occupied by Corte. Although I had been away barely half an +hour, that was sufficient time to make a change for the worse in the +sick girl, and I became aware that the end had begun. We tried to +force a little of the wine between her lips; but she could not +swallow, and now instead of lying still, kept tossing her head from +side to side. Corte was undone. He could do nothing but stand at the +head of the bed, in mute despair, as he watched the parting soul sob +its way out. + +I went towards him: "Shall I send the intendant for a priest?" + +If ever words changed the countenance of a man, mine did. His eyes +fairly blazed with anger, and he hissed out, "No, signore--this is a +priest's work--pray if you like, but no priest comes here." + +I had, as all other men have, frequently called upon God, sometimes in +idle blasphemy; but never on an occasion so serious as this. Pray if I +liked! I had forgotten what real prayer was. Impelled by a power I +could not resist, I knelt down and tried to form some words to reach +the Most High. But they would not come, I could only feel them, and I +rose again and took my stand by the dying girl. + +She began to talk now in a rambling manner, and with that strength +which comes at the point of death from somewhere; her voice was clear, +but with a metallic ring. It is not for me to repeat the last words of +one who is now with her God; but I gathered from them a story of +trusting love, of infamous wrong and dastardly crime. And Corte shook +like a branch in the wind, as the words came thick and fast from the +lips of his dying child. After a while she became still once again. So +still that we thought she had passed away; but she revived on a +sudden, and called out: + +"Father--I cannot see--I am blind--stoop down and let me whisper." + +"I am here, little one--close--quite close to you." + +"Tell him--I--forgive. You must forgive too--promise." + +Corte pressed his lips to her damp forehead, but spoke no word. + +"It is bright again--they are calling me--mother! Hold me up--I cannot +breathe." + +Corte sank on his knees with his head between his hands, and passing +my arm round the poor creature I lifted her up, and the spirit +passed. In the room there was now a silence which was broken by a +heart-rending sob from Corte. He staggered to his feet with despair on +his face. + +"She said forgive!" he exclaimed. "Man, you have seen an angel die. +This is the work of a priest, of a pontiff, of him who calls himself +Vicar of Christ! Go now, and leave me with my dead." + +I took his hand, and pressing it, turned to the door. As I closed it +behind me, I saw Corte bending over the still face of his child, and +the little dog, throwing up its head, howled piteously. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + TEMPTATION. + + +I had looked upon death before; I had seen the plague strike down its +victims in an hour; I had been in the hell of a sacked town, when men, +women, and children, were given to the sword. On the breach at Arx +Sismundea, dead, dying and wounded, were piled breast high, when we +stormed our way, through the fog of battle, into Malatesta's +stronghold. Stricken down at San Miniato, I saw, in the dim night, the +death hunters at their fearful trade, and heard the dull blows of +their daggers, as they murdered some helpless wretch, sometimes for +the prize of a tag of gold lace, sometimes for the sheer pleasure of +slaughter. Lying unable to move, by good luck concealed in a hollow, +amidst grass which stood a yard high, I saw a man killed not ten feet +from me. He rose to his elbow as the fiends approached, and called for +water. But it was not water he got. How he struggled! He cried for +mercy, and I can still see the wretches as they held him down. A +foul-looking hag placed her knees on his chest, she looked towards the +sky for a moment, as if invoking a spirit to a sacrifice, and the +moonlight shone on a face that was hardly human. Then she stooped +down, and with a relentless hand, plunged the knife she held into her +victim's throat. But all this, which should have hardened my heart, +did not affect me as the scene I had just quitted. After all, what I +had passed through was done when the blood was high with excitement. +Here, however, was another thing. I had watched the end of a being +beautiful and pure, who was born to adorn life, and yet what was her +story? Fallen into the hands of an incarnate devil, outraged, and then +cast forth blinded, to die like a reptile! It was too horrible! Surely +God must have slept whilst this was done. Surely the after life ought +to be to her, in an inverse proportion to her sufferings on earth. But +why any such infliction on one so helpless? Mystery of mysteries, and +I cannot solve it. And yet she was able to forgive. At the last she +could condone. What were my wrongs to those she had endured? After all +I had health, strength, and the world was wide. Why waste my time in +running after the morbid shadow of revenge? If I got it, would it +satisfy? Would it heal my wounds! Thinking in this way, I called to +mind a sermon of the Prior of St. Mark's--I heard when last in +Florence. I came in the suite of Paolo Vitelli ag Citta del Castello, +and at the time Savonarola had left the Duomo, and was preaching at +St. Mark's. His subject was forgiveness, and his text, "Vengeance is +mine, saith the Lord," came back to me with a vivid force. I rose from +my seat and paced the room, my whole soul was on the cross; I had all +but resolved to forego my scheme of revenge, when I heard a knock at +the door. At first I did not answer, but it was repeated. + +"Come in," I cried, and Ceci entered. In the state in which I was in, +I had half a mind to bid him begone there and then, and only +controlled myself with an effort. I could see however that, in his +way, he had formed a friendly feeling towards me, and remembering my +plans, forced myself to greet him with civility, and offering him a +seat began the conversation. + +"That was a strange finish to the Gonfaloniere's speech," I said, in +allusion to the death of the man at the hands of the mob. + +"He was a fool, and deserved to die." + +"Do you know his name?" + +Ceci hesitated for a moment, and I saw he was lying when he said "No." + +"I gather," I added, "that you are of the Bigi, the party that favours +the return of the Medici." + +"Signore, I spoke words in my excitement that may well be buried. An +old tongue like mine should have known to be still; but it is not that +I have come to speak of. Do you know we have a death in the house?" + +"That would be no new thing to you." + +"True," he said, stroking his white beard, "they die here like rats in +their holes." + +"I suppose so; but as a matter of fact I did know there was a death, +and a very sad one. I know Mathew Corte, but how have you found out so +soon?" + +"It is simple. I came back but a few minutes ago, and although it was +late, thought I might call for the rent of the room Corte occupies, as +he has not paid anything as yet. When I came in, Corte simply pointed +to the body of his daughter, that was all the reply I got. She was +very ill when she came; I wonder indeed she lived so long. Of course I +did not press him, and if it is a loss, Messer Nobili is rich enough +to bear this. But it is dreadful the way these people owe." + +I winced a little, thinking of my own diminished purse, and Ceci +continued: "I thought I would come and see you as I went down. It is +on my way. The body must be removed to-morrow." + +"You will find some difficulty in persuading him to give it a +Christian burial." + +"How! Is he a heretic, or a pagan--if so!" + +"I did not say that. I believe the man to be mad." + +"I will see him to-morrow," said Ceci. "I think he will yield to +reason. Poor child! She might have been saved." + +"Saved!" + +"Yes, when they first came, I begged Corte to let me call the Doctor +Maffeo. He would not however listen to the idea. Then I told him what +to do, being a family man, who has had children to look after. All +gone into the world now, and never even a message for Bernabo Ceci." + +"I thought the case hopeless when I saw it." + +"When you saw it, perhaps; but, signore, not at first. See! the sun is +not in the Lion, and medicines should have been freely given. I would +have placed the diaphragm of a sheep on her chest, had her bled, and +administered theriaca of Venice; if that failed, there is bezoar." + +"Messer Ceci, you are as learned as a doctor yourself." + +"I have had experience, signore," he answered, as he rose to go. "Yes, +do I not know? The life of my poor wife was saved twice by this +treatment, and on the third occasion, if it were not for the poison +which originated internally within her, as Messer Maffeo stated in a +learned discourse he read to the Academy, she would have been saved +again. A good night, Signor Donati, and peace to dreams--remember, it +should have been as I said--either theriaca or bezoar--or both +combined--a good night!" + +He went out, and down the stairs, with the step of a young man, and I +marvelled at the contradictory nature, which could show the kindness +it had towards affliction, and at the same time coldly plan to remove +a fellow-creature from the world, as one removes a bud from a tree, +with a touch of the knife. But Ceci's words had also reminded me again +of Corte's need. I stood at the door listening until his footsteps +died away, and knew he was gone for the night. Then I pulled out my +purse, and looked at its contents; there were two gold crowns left, +and a few pauls. I hesitated for a little; but the need of the man +upstairs was greater than mine. Drawing off my boots so that there may +be no sound, I stole up softly, like a thief, and gained the landing +of Corte's room. The door was partly open, and I stood before it for a +short while, half afraid to enter. Plucking up heart, I crept in +gently. The dead girl lay with her hands crossed on her bosom, still +as if cut out of marble, and on her face was fixed a sad little smile. +Corte sat on a stool near the table; his head was buried between his +hands, and he had given way to silent despair. The dog lay asleep in a +corner. I meant to have proffered the gold I had with me, as a loan to +Corte; but I did not dare to address him in his grief. So placing the +coins quietly on the table in such a manner that when he raised his +head he must see them, I withdrew as noiselessly as I came, and +reached my room without attracting any attention. It was not until the +small hours of the morning that I sought my couch, for my mind kept +working on the thoughts which agitated me after witnessing the death +of Corte's daughter. At the same time, I was able to see that this +consideration of the suffering of others was of the greatest benefit +to me. It took me out of myself. It showed me that my own were not the +only sorrows in the world, and that there might yet be others who had +reached a deep of misery as far below that of Corte, as his was below +mine. This led me on to consider my own position, and I began to think +there was some mysterious power that was preventing me carrying out my +plan of reprisal against D'Entrangues. I had come to Florence red-hot +on his track. At our very first meeting he had won the hazard, and the +long illness that followed gave him chance to put a distance between +us; then my resources diminished whilst yet nothing was done; then +came the doubts as to whether I was justified in my action; and +finally, and not least, there was in me a haunting desire to see +Angiola, as I called her to myself, once again. I was pulled by +different strings. There was that I called conscience, urging me to +give up my schemes of revenge; there was the wild animal in me, +telling me to go on; there was a feeling towards a woman, which I had +honestly never experienced before, which, despite my struggles against +its apparently hopeless folly, was entirely overmastering me, until I +did not know which way to turn, and to escape from it all decided to +leave Florence at once; and then altered my mind again, when I thought +of the plot I wished to thwart, and determined to make a last effort +to do this, and, if possible, to see Angiola once more before I left. +At last I went to sleep, waking very late in the morning. So sound was +my slumber, that when I awoke I thought at first that the events of +the night were nothing more than a dream; but they soon forced +themselves on me in their reality, and the fact was emphasised, by the +sight of the odd pauls, which were now my all, lying on the table. I +gathered these up, and proceeded in search of Ceci to ask if he had +made any arrangements for the burial; but he was nowhere to be found; +and, as I could not bring myself to see Corte then, I resolved to +breakfast on fresh air, a diet which however wholesome, was, I found, +certainly not satisfying. I went to the Oricellari Gardens, which were +at that time the property of the Rucellai. Here, within the city +walls, one found a forest, and under the shade of the huge trees, a +more miserable being than myself could have spent pleasant hours, and +perhaps gained contentment of mind by observing the beauties of +nature. It was here that, after the death of Il Magnifico, the +Platonic Academy moved its sittings. But the gentlemen who composed it +discussed their philosophy with a good dinner, and even the +unfortunate who wishes to gain peace of mind in sylvan shades, should +have a full belt. This fact obtruded itself more and more strongly on +me, and I could obtain little relief by the expedient of tightening my +sword-belt by a hole or so. Therefore, in despair, I left the beauties +of nature to be so good as to look after themselves, and disbursed a +half-paul in something to eat; after which I felt able to face the +prospect of future starvation with a more serene mind. On return to my +lodging I found Ceci was not yet come back, and still thinking it +would be an intrusion to make inquiry after Corte, disposed of my time +by repairing my attire as best I might, and watching the pigeons on +the eaves of the roof opposite my window, with a little envy in my +heart at their simple happiness, and a doubt if, after all, man was so +fortunate in possessing a soul, and being cast after the image of his +Maker. If our faith is to be believed there is nothing for man but +heaven or hell, and perhaps the worst form of hell-torment would be to +be born again in the lowest form of a dumb brute, with the faculty of +fully appreciating all that the highest of mankind can. Picture to +oneself a Raphael, who has slipped into the abyss, and is sent back to +earth again, an obscene animal, with all the grasp of the beautiful he +had in life. I do not know any punishment that would be more cruel. +On the other hand, there has never appeared to me any definite +realisation of the joys of heaven. It is no doubt their vagueness that +is their charm. Be these things as they may, all speculation into the +future is useless, and I have found my comfort in a simple faith in +our religion, which has served me through this life, and will, I +trust, do the same office in the next. + +Thus reflecting, I passed the day quietly, and in the afternoon Ceci +came to tell me all was ready for the burial. He gave me to understand +that Corte had listened to reason in the matter of a priest, although +I never knew what arguments he had used to effect this. The funeral +was much as other pauper burials, and when it was over we walked back +together. On our return a man accosted Ceci, who, he said, was his +nephew, and they went off together on some business. Had I only known +what I was to be indebted to this gentleman for, shortly, I should +have observed him with greater attention. As it happened I gave him +but a passing glance, catching a glimpse of a pale face, with strong, +clear-cut features, and keen, bright eyes. Corte and I were now alone, +and, respecting his grief, I said no word, nor did he speak, as we +threaded our way back. Near St. Mark's, Corte suddenly seized my hand, +raised it to his lips, and then turning, fled down a side street and +was lost to view. I attempted to follow, fearing that sorrow had +totally unhinged his mind, already a little off its balance, and that +he would come to injury. My attempt however was without avail, and I +returned home to disprove the proverb which falsely says that he who +sleeps, dines. + +The next day I was again favoured with a visit from Ceci, and after +some allusion to the funeral, he once more broached the subject on +which he had sounded me before, and asked for a definite reply. I gave +it to him without hesitation. + +"Messer Ceci," I said, "whatever my condition may be, you are in error +if you think I am a bravo. In short your proposal is an insult, and +you owe it to my consideration for your years that I do not fling you +out of the room. I have promised you secrecy, and therefore cannot do +as I would, and that is, lay the matter before the Signory; but I tell +you plainly that if I can I will upset your plan, and now you had +better leave me." + +I had by this thrown everything into the fire; but it was not possible +to control myself longer. As for Ceci, he sat for a moment, his eyes +staring out of his head with rage, and his white beard fairly +bristling. He rose from his seat. + +"So, Signor' Donati, this is your answer, is it? Look to yourself, +most noble excellency, for those I serve have a long reach. There is, +however, another thing we have to settle before I go. I shall be +obliged by your paying me the sum of three crowns for rent, and other +services due to the excellent Messer Nobili." + +I was overcome with shame, for I had not the money. + +"You can take this furniture," I said, "it will pay my dues." + +Ceci smiled grimly. + +"I do not wish to be hard on you, and you know the punishment for +debt. I will take the furniture back for two pieces, although it has +deteriorated by wear and tear to the value of a florin, and you will +still owe one piece. See, signore," and he suddenly changed his tone, +"pocket your pride, as many a better man than you has done to fill his +purse. It is but a stroke of your sword we want, and here are ten gold +crowns." + +"Begone!" I cried in a rage, and starting up laid my hand on my sword. +Ceci instantly drew a dagger from his girdle and faced me with the +highest courage. We stood before each other for a second, and then +with a laugh he put back his poniard. + +"I will give you time," he said. "A whole week--and now leave you to +cool. Adieu, most noble excellency!" + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + THE MARZOCCO INN. + + +I tried every possible means I could think of to obtain employment, to +no avail, and, in the intervals of my fruitless search for work, +haunted the streets and gardens, with the hope of obtaining another +glimpse of Angiola, but without any success. Inch by inch my resources +diminished, until they became so small that a blind beggar would have +hardly thanked me for the gift of them. I lived in constant dread of +Ceci reappearing to demand the sum I owed for my rent, but he did not +come. He was evidently giving me time, starving me out to surrender to +his terms. I used to see him as I went in and out, sitting in his +office like a spider, yet he never even lifted his head as I passed. I +hated, almost feared, going by that door. Bitterly did I regret not +having left Florence when I was able. It was now impossible to do so, +unless as a defaulter, and the weight of that paltry debt oppressed +me, as if a cannon-ball were slung around my neck. I could not leave +until I paid it, and of doing this there seemed no prospect. I had +parted with my cloak for money to buy food, but the last copper of +that was gone, and I was now penniless. For two days I had not eaten +anything but a morsel of bread, and on the morning of the third day I +rose desperate with hunger, and prepared to go any lengths to satisfy +it. I ate my self-esteem and made another attempt to see La Palisse, +but was denied admittance, and when I came back I actually hesitated +before the door of Ceci's office, and almost made up my mind to yield, +and say I would do his business for him. It required an effort, so low +had I sunk, to rouse my pride. At last it flared up, and with a cheek +hot at my weakness, I sought my chamber and there passed the day. The +pigeons that lived under the eaves opposite my window, and to whose +soft cooing I so often listened with pleasure before, now aroused +other thoughts within me. If I could only lure one within reach! But +it was impossible, and I glared at them as they fluttered and flirted +with each other, with the hungry eyes of a cat baulked of her prey. At +last I gave it up, and with a curse flung myself on my bed. Fool that +I was! Five-and-thirty years should have brought me wisdom. I had +stayed on in Florence, allowed my chances of revenge to get more +distant, in fact, reached a stage of mind when I was doubtful if I +could rightly exact vengeance, drifted into abject poverty, and worse +than that, was continually thinking of a woman, who, when I had +rendered her a service, treated me with contempt, who had no doubt +forgotten me by this time, amidst her duties, if she had any, and her +pleasures, of which I doubt not she had store. So the evening came +amidst my reflections and self-reproaches, and, it being dusk, I +decided to go forth again, and snatch a purse, if necessary, to obtain +food. As I rose, an impulse I could not control made me unfasten my +money-belt, and search if by chance there was a coin within it. Of +course there was not a brown copper, but my fingers, in running up the +belt, touched something hard, and I pulled forth, attached to its tag +of red ribbon, my cross of St. Lazare, which, it will be remembered, I +had placed therein for safety the night I was imprisoned in the Villa +Accolti. I had clean forgot it in my troubles, and now it lay in my +open palm, with the diamonds in it winking in my face. My whole frame +trembled with excitement. Here was the means of freeing myself from +debt at once, and of obtaining funds to quit Florence, nay Europe. At +the lowest computation its worth could have been no less than forty +crowns, and this at present was wealth to me. What with the effects of +the want of food, and the sudden discovery of the cross, I began to +feel weak all over, and flinging the badge on the table, sank down +into a chair before it to compose myself. The room was almost dark, +and I sat staring at the jewels and at the diamonds on it, which +sparkled through the gloom. That little trinket was linked with the +one great event of my life. All the past came vividly before my +excited brain. I was again in that desperate retreat of Charles of +France up the valley of the Taro, with the army of the League in full +cry behind us. The old boar Trevulzio commanded the rear guard, +disputed every inch of the road, and now and again stood boldly at +bay, and gave a taste of his tusks to the Duke of Bari, and the fine +gentlemen of Venice. It was at this moment that Roderigo Gonsaga made +his dash for the heights above the junction of the Ceno and the Taro. +Trevulzio saw the movement; he was powerless to help, and knew that if +it succeeded all was lost. At the time I was at his bridle hand. + +"Ride for your life," he said, "and tell the king--that." He pointed +to the black line of the infantry of Spain moving towards the heights. +I was off at once, waiting no second bidding. + +I found Charles mounted on Savoy, his one-eyed black charger, one of +the finest horses I have ever seen. The king grasped the situation at +a glance. He gave a sharp order, closed his vizor with a snap, and in +five minutes, a thousand lances followed him down the long slope, up +which the Spaniards were advancing. It was an absolutely silent +charge. Not a cheer went up, and the only sound was the thunder of the +horses' hoofs, and the clink of mail as we sped on after the king. +Then there was a sullen crash, and a sea of struggling men and horses. +The veteran troops of the Great Captain maintained their high +reputation, fighting like dragons to the end. + +Charles, whose horse had carried him far in advance of us all, was in +great danger. His helmet had fallen or been struck off, and he was +recognised. Gonsaga, seeing all was lost, made a despairing rush at +the king with a half-dozen men at his back, and had it not been for +the way Savoy kicked and plunged, would have surely slain him. Urging +my horse to its utmost speed, I reached Charles just in time to ward +off a furious blow aimed by the Spaniard at the king, and fading full +tilt against him, brought down both horse and man. The next moment +others came up, and we were safe. Philip de Comines reproached the +king respectfully for running himself into peril; but Charles, wiping +his sword on the mane of his charger, said with a laugh: + +"All is well that ends well, my Lord of Argenton; but it is thanks to +this good sword here," and he turned to me, "that our cousin of +Orleans must exercise his patience yet a little longer. Come closer, +sir." + +I dismounted and approached helmet in hand. The king detached the +Cross of St. Lazare he wore, and bending from the saddle, slipped the +loop of the ribbon round my neck. + +"Wear this for the sake of France," he said with a gracious smile. + +And now the patience of Orleans had come to its end, and Louis XII. +was king, and of my hopes and dreams, all that remained was the cross +of the order blinking at me. + +It had to go, and there was no help for it. With an effort I rose and, +thrusting the cross into my pocket, hurried into the street. My way +led to the ward of San Spirito, and it took me some little time to +reach the place where I meant to dispose of the jewel. When I reached +it, I was so overcome with weakness that I had to halt for a moment to +rest. It was during that halt, that hesitation of a minute, that my +courage came back to me, and I pulled forth the cross and held it in +my cold fingers with a heart tossed by conflicting emotions. I could +not do it. Death would be preferable. Well, I had faced death before, +and there was no reason why I should not do so again with an equal +mind. The Arno was deep enough to hold me, and God would perhaps be +kinder in the next world than in this. I placed the cross back slowly, +my honour was still white, and death that was coming would give me a +full quittance for all my troubles. I turned my back on the +pawnbroker's, and went towards the Arno; but I had miscalculated my +strength, and near Santa Felicita I felt a sudden giddiness and sank +downwards on the pavement. I struggled to rise, but the faintness +increased, and dragging myself close to the wall I leaned against it +in a sitting posture, and a kind of stupor fell upon me, through which +I still felt the intolerable pangs of hunger. In a little time I felt +better, and as I saw the flash of torches, and heard voices in +laughing conversation, I made an effort to rise, gaining my feet just +as two ladies, with their attendants, came opposite to me, and then I +staggered back again. + +"Poor man! He is hurt." + +"I am starving," I said in the bitterness of my agony, and the next +moment could have killed myself, for I recognised the ladies whom I +had rescued from Luigi in the Garden of St. Michael. I had my desire +and had seen her again; but how? + +Madonna Angiola made a hurried search for her purse, and not finding +it, with a hasty movement tore something off a bracelet, and thrust it +into my hand. Before I could recover from my astonishment they had +gone on, and although I called after them, they did not stop. The +shame of having received charity, and from her, was all but +unbearable; but with it I felt the hand of hunger knocking at me in a +manner that would take no denial. My courage was gone, and urged by +the fierce pangs of my hunger, I resolved to utilise the gift, and +obtain some food to give me strength to die. I smile as I think of +this now. Then it was no laughing matter. I plucked myself up +sufficiently to go back to the pawnshop. Entering it, I placed the +article, which I judged to be a jewel, but which I had not even +examined, before the man in attendance, and asked for an advance +thereon. + +"It is one of the gold tari of Amain," he said, poising it on his +finger, "and of full weight. Do you wish to sell it?" + +"No," I replied, "I merely wish to pledge it." + +"I will give you two crowns," he pushed the money to me, and with it a +receipt. I gathered these up, and staggered rather than walked to the +Marzocco Inn, which lay hard by. There were half-a-dozen people +supping there; but I had no eyes for them, all I could think of was +the pasty, the roll of white bread, and the ruby Chianti, which I +ordered. It is a common belief, that those who have not eaten food for +any length of time, are unable to do so when it is placed before them +at first. Whether I am constitutionally stronger than the generality +of men, I do not know, all I can say is, that I formed an exception to +the rule, if a true one, and demolished my supper, gaining strength +with every mouthful, and feeling my chilled blood warmer with every +drop I drank of my goblet of wine, My courage came back to me, and I +banished all thoughts of the Arno. At last I was done, and leaning +back in my seat, viewed with complacency the huge orifice I had made +in a most excellent pasty, and the whiles slowly sipped my wine. That +feeling of sleepy comfort, which attends like a good angel on a full +meal, possessed me, my sorrows had for the moment taken themselves +off, and I grieve to say I did not even bestow a thought on her, to +whose charity I was indebted practically for my life. I sat for the +moment, lapped in a dreamy comfort, forgetful of all things. I dozed +for about half an hour, and opened my eyes with my head clear again, +and my pulse beating firmly. I had, somewhat recklessly, it is true, +enjoyed a crown's worth of happiness, there was another fat crown +still in my pouch; with care it would last some days, and during that +time luck might turn. With these thoughts running in my head, I let my +eyes wander over the room. It was now somewhat late, and only the +night-birds were left. Of these, a party of five was seated at a table +a little removed from me, and were conversing in low tones. It needed +but a glance to see they were not honest men, and from the suspicious +manner in which they looked around them, I gathered they were here for +no good purpose. One of the party rested his eyes on me, and then +whispered to a companion, who was seated with his face from me. I +caught the answer, which was given in somewhat loud tones. "Even if he +does, what does it matter? Cannot a few gentlemen enjoy a glass in +peace at their ordinary? If he gives trouble we can quiet him." + +Could it be? Yes, it was no other than the ancient Brico, who had, I +perceived, got out of the clutches of his friends, the catchpolls of +Montevarchi. I made certain, therefore, I would have business shortly, +and leaning back again, pretended to doze, keeping my ears very wide +open, and holding a watch on the scoundrels from the tail of my eye. + +"He tarries late," said one, "perhaps your information is wrong." + +"I have it from a sure hand, from the younger Ceci. Buonoccorsi and he +will both be here. The former, however, as you know, we do not want." + +I almost started at these words. Was it possible that I had stumbled +on the bravos who were engaged in Ceci's plot? If so, stranger thing +never happened to me, and chance was probably throwing in my way what +otherwise I would never have been able to discover. Even as the last +speaker finished his sentence, two persons, evidently of consequence, +and a woman entered the inn, and set themselves down at a table close +to mine. The men both wore masks, but the lady did not, and let her +glance run with a free look on us all. One of her two companions, a +very stout man, put down his mask, disclosing a jolly rubicund face, +and roared out for a flagon of wine. The other, still keeping his +features covered, engaged in lively badinage with his fair friend, and +as he moved his hand slightly, I caught the flash of a valuable ring. + +The five at the table all had their heads together now, and I saw the +one nearest to me stealthily draw his sword. With an apparently +careless movement I so placed my own weapon as to be at hand on the +moment. Presently Brico arose, and swaggering across the room with a +glass in his hand, deliberately stopped before the lady, and drained +it to her health. She laughed back her appreciation, and Brico called +out, "Blood of a King! Madonna, but you waste yourself with His +Corpulence there," and he jerked his hand towards the stout man, who +sat speechless, his cheeks purple with rage. "Come and join us good +fellows here," he added, and attempted to pass his arm around her +waist; but the masked stranger flashed out his rapier, and Brico +only escaped being skewered by an agile retreat. This was, however, +the signal for an instant assault, and with a shout of "A +Medici--_palle_--_palle_," those at the table rushed on the smaller +party. As they rose, I jumped up, and pushed my table with great +violence in their direction. Two of the men fell over it, and this +gave me time to draw my sword and join the weaker party. The lady +rushed out with a scream, and the stout gentleman bellowing lustily +for help followed suit, and made his exit, no attempt being made to +hinder him, the attack being solely directed against the masked man, +who with his back to the wall, and the table between himself and his +assailants, defended himself with great spirit and skill. + +Slashing one of the ruffians across the face, which put him out of the +fight, I ranged alongside of the stranger, and a very pretty set-to +ensued. At this juncture the innkeeper entered with half-a-dozen +others, and kept dancing about, adjuring us to stop, but offering no +help. I made for Brico, but could not reach him, having to engage with +a better swordsman than I had met for many a day; but I saw we were +now three to two, for the ancient was more bent on executing +flourishes with his sword, and in cheering on the attack, than on real +business. My opponent was a left-handed man, so anything like a +time-thrust was out of the question. He played the usual game of +left-handed men, namely, a cut over, and disengagement in tierce, but +remising, I forced him to a straight riposte, and pinked him through +the ribs. He fell with a howl, just as my companion ran his man +through. We were now two to two, if Brico was included, but the others +waited for no more and fled, no attempt being made to stay them by the +host. The innkeeper, however, began to make a great to-do; but the +stranger thrust his purse in his hand, and lifting his mask spoke a +few words in mine host's ear. The effect was magical, and the padrone +was now all civility. We had a look at the two men who were down, the +one who was slashed across the face being nowhere to be seen. They +were both quite dead, and an ill-looking pair of corpses did they +make. + +"Have these carrion removed, padrone--and beware how you say a word of +what has happened, signore," and the masked man held his hand out to +me, "I thank you heartily, and you will find I have a long memory. Do +me the favour to accompany me to my house." + +I had no reason to refuse, and bowing my acknowledgments, we left the +inn. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI. + + +As we reached the street, I expressed the hope that the lady and her +stout companion were in safety. The stranger laughed: "Oh, +Buonoccorsi, he and La Sirani are no doubt shivering in security by +this time; but let us hasten, for although we have barely more than a +couple of cross-bow shots to go, our bravos may return and have better +luck. St. John! but it was a narrow affair." + +Our way led back by Santa Felicita, past the Ponte Vecchio, and at +length we came to a halt before a small side door, let into, what +seemed to me, nothing but a vast blank wall. My new friend opened this +door noiselessly, with a key he drew from his pocket, and invited me +to enter. Pleading ignorance of the way, however, I gave him the pass, +and followed him up a narrow and very dark stairway, which opened into +a long gallery, likewise in semidarkness. Up this gallery we went, +then there was another small passage, and lifting a curtain at the end +of this, we stepped past an open door into a large room, evidently a +study, for it was filled with books all but the side near the passage, +which was covered by a heavy tapestry. In the middle of the room was a +large table, littered with papers in much confusion, and eight tall +candles burning in a pair of grotesque candelabra, threw a bright but +soft light over the chamber. + +"Sit you down there," said my host, pointing to a chair, "and we will +have something to drink. _Diavolo!_ You are wounded! Why did you not +say?" + +I looked at my left arm, and sure enough the coat-sleeve was red, with +an enlargening patch. It was only a trifle, however, as we found on +examination; but my companion, who still kept his mask on, insisted on +bandaging it, which he did with deft fingers, and then turning to a +curiously inlaid cabinet let into the wall, brought thenceforth a +flagon of green crystal and two long-stemmed Venetian glasses. + +Whilst he was thus engaged my eyes rested on a book on the table, and +I saw at a glance that it was the copy of Plutarch's Lives which Ceci +had lent me on payment, so that it was most probable that I was in the +presence of the noble, against whom the Medici plot was directed, and +in whose library the intendant's nephew was employed, partly I guessed +as a spy. My hand was on the book as my host placed the glasses on the +table, and observing the movement, he said with a smile: + +"I see, Signore, you not only carry a sharp sword; but know a book as +well." + +"As for books, Signore," I answered, "I know but little of them. This +one, however, I thought I had seen before." + +"Indeed," he said, "that is odd, for I believe this is the only +rendering of Plutarch into Italian which is in existence. Strange, +too, as for over a week I could not find it anywhere." + +"Very," I answered shortly, and my host, pouring out a glass for me, +helped himself, and settling comfortably in a chair opposite to me, +slowly removed his mask and laid it aside. I saw before me, a man in +the prime of life, of middle height and slender figure, with however a +great dignity of carriage. His head, covered with short dark hair, was +small, but well-shaped, his dark eyes sparkled with intelligence, and +a slightly aquiline nose curved over a pair of thin, sarcastic lips, +which were however now smiling at me with as much good-humour as they +could express. + +"Books," he said, "are the delight of my life, without them all would +be stale. Here," and he held up a volume, "is a priceless treasure. It +is a manuscript copy of Cicero's De Gloria. I obtained it from my +friend, poor Angelo Poliziano." + +"I am afraid," I said, "I could only look at it, for I have not +studied the ancients." + +He laid down the book: "Of a truth, men were giants in those days--but +hark! That is too loud for a rat." At this moment we heard a distinct +rustling behind the tapestry, which hung on one side of the wall. My +host sprang up, and with his drawn rapier in his hand, lifted the +arras. I followed him; but we observed nothing but a door, which was +concealed behind the curtain. "This is a private door leading to the +corridor, and confound it--it is open. How the devil did this happen? +However, this will make things sure." He turned the key which was in +the lock, and removing it, placed it carefully aside in a drawer, and +his face was shaded a little with anxiety. This however he brushed off +like a fly, and resuming our seats, he poured out some more wine for +both of us, and said: + +"Signore, now that I observe you closely, it appears to me that your +sword, good as it is, has not helped you to fill your purse." + +"It was able to save your life, Messer--I know not your name," I +answered with a little heat, and rose as if to take my leave. He +laughed cheerfully, and putting his hand on my shoulder, pressed me +back into my chair. + +"Sit down, signore, I meant no offence, and my name is Niccolo +Machiavelli. Will you give me yours in return?" + +I was then before the Secretary of the Council of Ten, the crafty +politician who at that time held Florence in his hand, and with whose +name all Italy was full. I now understood Ceci's plot at once, but the +question was, should I give my right name? Sooner or later the +Secretary would find out, and I accordingly answered him as honestly +as possible. + +"I pass under the name of Donati, your excellency, will that do?" + +He leaned back reflectively. "I like confidence when I give it," he +said, "and yet perhaps it does not matter. You had no idea who I was +when you helped me?" he added with a quick look. + +"Not in the slightest." I did not feel justified in adding more. + +"Well, Signore Donati, I have work for which I want a brave man, and +if you care to accept it, I offer it to you." + +"Your excellency, I will plainly say that I hardly know where to turn +for employment, in fact, I am in such straits that I cannot afford to +look for a hair in any egg that may fall my way; at the same time your +business must be such as I can take with honour." + +"With honour of course," he smiled sarcastically, and then added, "I +suppose I can trust you?" + +"You need not give me the employment, signore, if you do not think you +can trust me--and pardon me--it is getting late." + +"Sit down, man, I did but try you, and you are the man I want. Where +do you lodge?" + +"In the Albizzi Palace, in the street di Pucci." + +"Could you leave Florence at a moment's notice?" + +"It is a matter of funds." + +"They will be provided." + +"Then, yes." + +"Enough! To-morrow a man will call on you, precisely at noontide, with +a letter. I want that letter delivered into the hands of the Cardinal +of Rouen at Rome. It is a secret matter, and if you fail in it you may +forfeit your life. If you succeed, his eminence will give you further +occupation. Do you accept?" + +"Yes." + +As I said this we again heard the creaking noise, and Machiavelli +jumped up as agilely as a panther, and sprung to the door behind the +arras. It was open; but no one was there. + +"_Maldetto!_" he exclaimed. "Signore, there are spies in my own +house--help me to tear down this tapestry." + +I did so, and in a few minutes we laid bare the side of the room, and +piled the tapestry in a heap against a bookshelf. + +"That is better," Machiavelli said, "you see--the spy, whoever he is, +must have a master key. There is no use going into the passage after +him; but for the present I fancy we are safe. I must have a bolt put +on and keep a watch. To resume business however. You say you accept, +and only need funds." + +"Exactly so." + +He pulled from a drawer a bag, which chinked with a pleasant sound to +my ears. + +"Here," he said, "are a hundred crowns. It is your fee for the task I +set you." + +"It is ample." + +"And now, Messer--Donati--farewell! You will always find a friend in +me. You know your way--I have left the side door open--and bear a +loose sword." + +"A word, your excellency." + +"Say on." + +"Prom what has happened to-night, I see plainly that the plotters +against your life have friends very near you. If they failed this time +they may not fail again. One of the men who made the attack to-night I +recognised. He is called Brico, formerly an ancient, perhaps still so, +in the army of Tremouille." + +"I will attend to the Signor Brico." + +"Yet a little more. If your excellency's movements are known it is +probably from within your own house. I would keep an eye on your +library scribe." + +"_Per Bacco!_ Signor Donati, but you know too much. I am more and more +your debtor." + +"The hundred crowns have repaid me," I replied as I took my departure, +having said all I dared say of the plot without breaking my pledge of +secrecy to Ceci. + +Now it happened that as I gained the corridor, I saw in the dim light +a figure retreating hastily before me; but with noiseless footsteps, +and having in mind the strange attempt to play the spy on us, I made +no doubt but that here was the culprit, and followed up. I saw the +figure turn at the end of the corridor and enter another gallery, then +another, and yet another, finally vanishing as it were against the +wall. Owing to my not knowing the way properly, and to the semi-gloom, +I was unable to follow fast enough to overtake the spy, who flitted +before me like a ghost, but in a very human hurry. When at length I +came up to the wall, I looked to see if there was a door of any kind; +but could discern nothing, and was so astonished that for a moment I +felt a little chilled, thinking that it may have been a spirit after +all. Fortifying myself, however, with the thought that if it was a +spirit, it seemed in no way anxious to meet me, I went to a closer +examination, and saw by the moonlight that I was before a door, +painted in exact imitation of the marble wall. This settled my doubts, +and putting my shoulder to it, I made a trial, with all my strength, +to force the passage, but in vain. I therefore gave up the matter, and +turned to find my way back. This was, however, easier said than done. +I could not find the gallery I wanted, and after groping about +hopelessly for a little time, thought that I had best give a shout, +which would no doubt summon some one to my aid. I was just about to +carry this into execution, when, on further reflection, it struck me +that I might be landed in other difficulties thereby, and that I might +make another try to free myself, without bringing the house about my +ears, and perhaps compromising the secretary, who had, I saw, an +active and enterprising enemy under his own roof. So I stilled my +tongue and made further exploration, with the result that I found +myself before a stairway, that led to the floor below me, and +determined to see where this would take me. Accordingly I descended as +softly as possible, and arrived in a few steps at a small landing, +covered by a carpet so thick, that I felt as if I was treading on the +softest of moss. At the end of the landing, and opposite to me, was a +half-opened door, the room inside being in light. Stepping noiselessly +up to the door I peered in, and saw a chamber furnished with the +utmost luxury, and apparently just vacated by its occupants. In a +corner of the room stood a harp, lying on a table close to a low +luxurious seat were some articles of dainty feminine embroidery; soft +silken curtains shrouded the walls, and the ceiling was painted, +apparently with some representation of the history of the house. A +white marble figure of Cupid held out at arm's length a lamp, whose +opal shade softened its bright light; and on a gilded triangle, set in +an alcove, swung a blue and scarlet macaw--a rare Eastern bird--who, +with his head tucked under his wing, slept in a position which would +be intolerable torture to any other created thing except a bird. It +was clear that I had invaded the private sitting-room of the ladies, +or lady of the household; and I was about to beat a hasty retreat, +when the screen of an inner room was swung aside, and I saw before me +my two unknowns of the Garden of St. Michael, and the giver of the +tari which had saved me from death. It was too late to go back now, as +the sound of my feet on the marble stairs would certainly reach, and +perhaps alarm them, tread I ever so softly; so I resolved to stay +where I was until they retired again, and then go back. This I judged +would be very shortly as it was late. I had not however sufficient +experience then, of the lengths to which those nocturnal confidences, +in which the fair sex indulge with each other, extend. In the meantime +I could not but admire the graceful figures before me, and especially +of her, who had given me the tari. Clad in a soft clinging robe, +clasped by a jewel at her throat, and a silver girdle round her waist, +with her pale proud features set in a mass of dark hair, she seemed to +me an embodiment of pure womanhood, and I thought how lucky the man +would be who could have such a companion to help him through life. I +guessed also that the other was the wife of Machiavelli, being aided +thereto by her statement, when I drove Luigi off, that her husband was +one who could help me much. At the same time I could not but feel some +pity in my heart for her, when I thought she was wedded to a man of a +character so contradictory as that of the Secretary, who could leave a +fair wife for the sake of indulging in low dissipation, and come back +after a narrow escape with his life, to bury himself in matters of +state, or in the perusal of the ancients. However there was no sign of +sorrow on her fair and mirthful face, as with all the teasing nature +of a kitten, she walked up to the macaw and stirred him up with her +white fingers, an attention he did not appear to relish, for he +ruffled his plume, and let forth an ear-piercing shriek. + +"Heavens!" she laughed, "how that bird screams! He is almost as cross +as you, Angiola." + +"Thanks," replied the other; "I do sympathise with the bird though, +for you never leave off teasing. It is enough to make a saint cross, +Marietta." + +"Well, I won't tease any more," and Marietta put her hand on her +friend's shoulder. "I am sure though it was he, and I will have that +last word." + +I wondered to whom the reference was made, as Angiola replied: "I +really do not care if it was; but there is a draught, and I must shut +this door." + +She came up so quickly that there was no time to retreat, and in a +moment I was discovered. + +She gave a little cry, and stepped back. + +"Who are you, sir? How dare you----!" + +I saw that the other was going to scream out, and burst forth: "Madam, +I implore you to be still. There is absolutely no danger. I have had +business with his excellency, and missed my way. Pardon the +intrusion," and I stood with my cap in my hand. + +"Well, sir," said the Lady Angiola, "as you have found out that you +have missed your way, had you not better turn back?" + +"Why, Angiola, it is the gentleman who rescued us in the gardens!" +called out Madonna Marietta, with a sudden recognition. + +"Who looks as if he were here now, to make up for it by cutting our +throats. According to you he should have been dying of starvation at +Santa Felicita." + +"Madam," I cut in, "I wish I had died of starvation rather than heard +this. I will however restore what I have received. If you can only +show me the way out of this house I shall be grateful, and I again +seek pardon for disturbing you." + +"I suppose you are speaking the truth. Come, give me that candle, +Marietta." + +The other handed her a candlestick, and refusing my proffer to bear +it, and with a curt request to walk in front, she directed and led me +along the interminable galleries until I recognised the corridor from +which I entered. I was again about to thank her, but she simply +pointed to the door. + +"Your way lies there, sir." + +I opened the door and stepped on to the stairway without another word. +In shutting the door behind me I glanced once more in her direction. +She was already on her way back, the single candle throwing its soft +light on her loose robes and graceful figure. + +I made my way down the stairs, at the end realising the sensation of +suddenly finding my foot meet the ground after the last step. I +thought there was yet another and was brought up with a nasty jerk. +Stepping out softly into the street, and holding my drawn sword in my +hand, I hurried towards my abode. When I had gone about fifty paces, I +heard the sound of a door opening and shutting behind me, but thinking +it was the wind playing with the door I had left unlocked, having no +key, I took no notice, and went on; but soon became aware I was being +followed. I stopped therefore, and deliberately faced round. The +footsteps behind me instantly ceased, and I could make out through the +moonlight, the shadowy figure of a man, stooping as if to search for +something. This was of course nothing but a pretence, and I had half a +mind to go back and question him. Reflecting, however, that it would +be wiser to avoid any further adventures for the night, and that after +all it was but one man, I went on, and my pursuer did likewise, but at +a greater distance than before, until finally apparently gave the +matter up seeing I was on my guard. Crossing the square of Santa +Felicita, however, I saw some one running swiftly a little ahead of +me, and then disappear behind the shelter of the small casino of the +Medici which stood there. I felt sure it was my shadower. He had +passed me by some short cut, and was now probably intending to bring +matters to a head. Keeping well in the middle of the road I went on, +and to my surprise saw nothing, but in a short time again became +conscious that I was dogged, and dropping into an artifice quickened +my pace to a run. The sound of rapid footsteps behind me, showed that +my curious friend was doing likewise, and not to deprive him of the +exercise, I kept up the pace, until we reached the street di Pucci and +were close to my lodging. Here I faced about and ran back full speed +at my pursuer, feeling sure that the burst I had given him would try +all his speed to get away. He so little calculated on my change of +front, that he ran on about twenty yards, before realising what was +the matter. Then he turned round and was about to make off, when I +reached him, and driving him against the wall held him there, with the +point of my sword at his breast. Imagine my surprise on seeing before +me the young man with whom Ceci had gone away on our return from the +funeral of Corte's daughter. He was doubtless also the spy of the +evening, and now, with a face white with either terror or anger +crouched against the wall, holding a dagger in his hand; but any +attempt to use it would have been useless. + +"Well," I said, "have you had enough of this?" and I emphasised the +question with a sharp prick. + +"Mercy!" he called out, thinking his last hour come, and scrabbled on +to the pavement. + +"Be off with you then!" I said, and assisted his departure with a +hearty kick as he rose. He needed no second bidding, but made off at a +good pace. + +When his figure mingled up with the haze, and was lost to view, I +proceeded on my way wondering a little at the incident. I could not +help connecting it with the affair in the Secretary's room--the man I +had chased up the endless galleries of his house, and the attempt at +murder in the Marzocco Inn. Why was I followed? I could not make this +out; but thankful that I had escaped with a whole skin, climbed up the +winding stairway of the tower which led to my chamber. Carefully +shutting the door, I lit my candle, and emptied out the contents of +the bag I had received from Machiavelli on to my bed so that the coins +might make no sound. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + THE LETTER TO D'AMBOISE. + + +I could have thrown my cap over the housetops, I could have shouted +for joy, as I saw the coins spread out before me. I stooped over them, +holding the candle aloft in one hand, whilst I ran the fingers of the +other through the clinking metal. There they lay! broad, shining +pieces of silver, flecked, here and again, with the mellower light of +gold. At one stroke, when my luck was apparently at its lowest ebb, it +had turned again, and was coming up in high tide. Not only this, I was +to go to Rome, the very place of all others where I was likely to meet +D'Entrangues; and I breathed an impious prayer, that good angels might +see he came to no hurt until we met, and even as I prayed the vision +of that dying woman who forgave with her last breath, came before me. +My hand shook so that I could barely hold the candle, and turning +away, I placed it on the table and went up to my window. Midnight was +long past and we were touching the morning. The only sound that broke +the stillness was the distant clang of the martinello, keeping up its +insistent beat; but the wind was from me, and the chime came softened +to my ears. Already the east was whitening, and the moon was sinking +to rest. All the old half-formed resolutions I had made, to let my +enemy's crime pass, to leave vengeance in the hands of God, came up +and fought with the fierce desire that the apparent opportunity of +meeting D'Entrangues again, had fanned into life. What had not that +man done to me? How could I forgive? We are all not framed in the same +way. A tender woman might condone what man would never pass over. Why +should I not be the instrument of God's punishment on that man? +Without Him nothing was possible, and if I succeeded in killing +D'Entrangues would it not mean that the deed had his sanction? On the +other hand, there were the words of Savonarola's text, and the +forgiveness I had seen with mine own eyes. Tossed by doubt, now +resolved, now wavering--at one time certain I was right to be my own +law, at another encompassed by a terrible fear of sin--I did what all +men have to do at some time or other: I sank down on my knees, and +wrestled with the temptation. I do not know what words of prayer I +used, or how long I was there; but I can say this, that when I rose, +my mind was at rest, and I had won a fight with myself. I would leave +D'Entrangues to the justice of God. And for my honour? I would win it +back again, not in distant lands, but here--here, where it was taken +from me, and then--what a fool I was! When my shield was white once +more, I would sheathe my sword, rebuild our old castle in the Sabine +Hills, and there, perhaps--oh! I dreamed mad things when that peace +fell upon me. But there was such a prosaic matter as sleep, and I had +work for the morrow, so I pulled myself together, and with a mind more +comfortable than for many a day, swept the coins into the bag, saw +again to the fastening of the door, and, seeking my bed, slept a +dreamful sleep until aroused by the cooing of my friends the pigeons. +It was with a very different air that I went down the stairs that +morning, and I realised, from contrast, how brave a heart a full purse +can make. I meant to have paid Ceci at once, but he was not in his +office, so I breakfasted in a leisurely manner, at the sign of the +Double Florin and then returned. + +As soon as I reached the Albizzi Palace, I went straight to Ceci's +office, and found him engaged in conversation with a man. The latter +started when he saw me, and hurriedly took his departure; but not +before I recognised in him Ceci's nephew, and my shadow of last night. +He gave me no friendly look as he went out; perhaps he was sore with +the memory of the end of my boot, and I had a mind to give him the +day, but prudently held my tongue between my teeth. Ceci was looking +much disturbed and annoyed, and I laughed secretly to myself as I +thought that, after all, I had been the instrument of upsetting the +political plot to murder, in which the old conspirator had a share. + +"A good day to you, Messer Ceci," I said. "I have come to settle my +account." + +"It is of long standing," he replied, somewhat brusquely; but I was +not going to lose my temper, as I had things to find out. + +"All the more pleasure in receiving it," and placing a couple of gold +pieces on the table, I received my quittance and change. + +"Messer Ceci," I went on, "I leave Florence to-day and there has been +ill blood between us--your making entirely. I cannot forget, however, +that when I was ill you helped me much, and that in other ways you +were kind. Let us part friends--and, Messer Ceci, you are old. I would +advise you to let matters of state alone." + +He looked at me, and the corners of his mouth hardened, as he said, +"Leave me and my age alone, Messer Donati. If it was not for you, +there would have been a deed done last night at which all Florence +would have rung again." + +"So your precious nephew brought the news to you this morning?" I +answered with a question, hazarding a shot. + +Ceci remained silent, and drawing my conclusions, I went on, "Had what +you plotted succeeded, you would have been in a fair way to taste the +arms of the rack. Even now you are not safe. You see, Ceci, I know too +much, and it would be wise to be civil." + +"Not safe," and he laughed scornfully--"who says I am not safe?" + +"I do--remember the Secretary has long arms." + +"There are others who have longer, Messer Donati, and a dead tongue +can tell no tales." + +"I take your warning," I replied, and, turning on my heel, sought my +chamber to await Machiavelli's messenger. I could not help thinking I +had been wise to force the conversation with the intendant as I had +done, and was sure, now that Ceci and the other conspirators were +aware who had spoiled their soup, they would devote a little attention +to me. It behooved me therefore to wear a loose sword for the future, +and look well into corners before I passed them. I was not sure +moreover whether I should still consider myself bound by my promise of +secrecy, now that I had been as much as told that the conspirators +were likely to include me in their plans, and turn their knives on me. +I could well see that the Secretary would not be able to retaliate by +the open process of the law, against the attack made on him, +considering the circumstances under which it took place. That he would +do so, however, under the mask, I felt sure, and he had received +sufficient warning. Whilst thus reflecting I heard the gong in the +yard below me strike twelve, and shortly after heavy steps ascended +the stairs, with the sound of much puffing and blowing. The new +arrival stopped at my landing, and knocked firmly at my door. Thinking +it best to be careful, I unsheathed my sword, and letting down the +bolt, stepped back a pace before I called out, "Come in." The door +opened, and in walked my stout friend, who had retreated so rapidly +from the bravos at the Marzocco. + +"Messer Donati?" he said with an inquiring look. + +"The same," I bowed, and offered him a chair. + +"The devil!" he exclaimed, sinking into it, "but it is like an ascent +to heaven for a sinner to reach you," and he mopped his face with a +large handkerchief, "that curmudgeon downstairs, the intendant, flatly +refused to inform me where you were, until I mentioned I came from the +Secretary." + +"You mentioned that!" + +"Yes--or _diavolo!_--how was I to find you? Let me tell you, sir, your +consequence was much increased thereby," he puffed rather than spoke. + +"I do not doubt it," and I marvelled at Machiavelli having selected +this garrulous fool to be the bearer of his letter. + +Subsequently I discovered that the Secretary did this deliberately, in +order, if complications arose, to be able to deny that he had any hand +in a transaction, in which an obscure soldier like myself, and a +notorious old scamp like Buonoccorsi had borne part. In fact he very +often adopted an artifice such as this, namely first sending public +despatches solemnly by a known official of state, and following them +up at once by a secret letter, which either confirmed them, or put +quite a different complexion on their meaning; taking care to choose +his messengers in such a manner that he would have nothing to fear +from failure of theirs. + +"I have come with a letter for you," Buonoccorsi continued, and +pulling from a breast pocket a sealed but unaddressed packet, he +handed it to me. "His excellency," he said, "tells me you know what to +do with this." + +"I do," I gave answer, and examining the seals carefully, put the +letter in the pocket of a vest, which I wore under my buff-coat. + +"Then that is done," he replied, "and now, signore, have you anything +to drink--my throat is like a limekiln?" + +"I am sorry I have not, but if you will accompany me to the Marzocco." + +"The Marzocco! Blood of St. John! No more Marzoccos for me," he burst +in, as the red went out of his cheek at the very thought of last +night's affair. "Man alive! if Florence only knew what happened last +night, the whole place would be in an uproar. It was lucky for +the Secretary that you came to his aid, as I had to protect La +Sirani--ladies first, you know--and could not help his excellency in +any way." + +"I see," I replied. + +"Oh!" he went on, "there were three others in the street, but +_presto!_ I disarmed one, pinked another, and the third would have met +a like fate, had not La Sirani hung on my arm in her fright, so he +made off. I would have pursued, but, hampered with the lady, what +could I do?" + +"And is not Florence to know what happened last night?" I asked. + +He winked his eye, and replied-- + +"Between you and me, Messer Donati, I think not. You see the Secretary +has a fair wife, and they say Madonna Marietta possesses a tongue as +well as beauty. Apart from this, you must be aware, as a man of the +world----" + +"Quite so," and I rose with a smile, "but you must allow me to see +that you cool that lime-kiln of yours. I am only sorry I must ask you +to come a little way with me." + +"Oh! I would go a long way for a can, Signor Donati, and will drink +one gladly to your health." + +So saying he got up, and we went down and out into the street. I took +him to my ordinary, "The Double Florin," and he took a long time in +quenching his thirst. When at last he had done, he wished me good day, +and we parted, not deeming it desirable to be seen too much together +in the streets, and besides I had much to do to get off by the +evening. I made up my mind to recover the gold tari I had pledged, and +after that to buy a horse and quit Florence at once. The tari itself I +should have liked to have returned, as I had promised, or rather said +in my anger last night that I would; but I could see no way of doing +this without attracting too much attention. On my way to the +pawnbroker's I kept my eyes well open, and caught a glimpse of the +library scribe, walking on the other side of the road, engaged in +conversation with a man, who, despite his common dress, had an air of +rank. The latter parted from Ceci's nephew almost as soon as I saw +them, and the scribe kept on in my direction. I saw he was again +following me, and regretted the mercy I had shown last night, +resolving, if opportunity afforded again, to quiet his curiosity for +some time to come. I duly redeemed the tari, somewhat to the surprise +of the pawnbroker, whose pledges did not as a rule pass so swiftly +back into the hands of their rightful owners. On coming out of the +shop, my follower was nowhere to be seen at first; but he soon +appeared, always keeping on the opposite side of the road. I resolved +not to go back to my lodging, but to quit Florence the moment I had +secured my horse. It was necessary however to provide some change of +attire. I did not intend to substitute a steel corslet for my +buff-coat, having a mind to fight my way back to fortune with no +defence but that over my heart, and contented myself with purchasing a +light steel helmet, a pair of stout riding-boots, a cloak, and some +other articles which could go into a small valise, capable of being +fastened on to the back of a saddle. These I left at the vendor's, +promising to call for them in an hour or so, and hurried towards the +horse market, my shadow still keeping behind me, in his accustomed +place. Opposite the Baptistry I heard, to my surprise, some one +shouting my name, and looking in that direction, saw a man running +across the pavement towards me. I recognised at once one of my lances, +Jacopo Jacopi, a Lucchese, whom I had every reason to believe devoted +to me. He had served with me at Fornovo and after; and although he +subsequently left me for a little time, on my joining the Venetian +fleet against the Turks, he returned to my banner once more, when it +was spread on firm ground, and had always proved a devoted follower. +He came now to me with joy on his face, shouting out, "Ah, excellency! +It is I, who am a glad man to see you." + +"Jacopi," I exclaimed, "but my name is no longer Savelli. It is Donati +now--and what do you here?" + +He looked a trifle embarrassed, as he replied, "I am seeking +service--I left the army when your excellency left." + +Knowing the man to be a stout soldier, I decided on the instant what +to do. + +"See here," I said, "I have no time to lose. Will you follow me once +more? I am bound to Rome on an urgent affair, and leave to-day." + +"Will a dog sniff at a bone? Will a cat pass by cream? Will an ass +turn up his nose at a carrot? I will follow to the devil, let alone +Rome, excellency, and at once if you will." + +"Have you a horse?" + +"Nothing, signore, but an arquebus and my sword, which I have at my +lodging." + +"Then come with me, we must buy two horses, and leave at once." + +"I am ready, your worship," and taking his place a little behind me we +hurried on. + +"We will have a hard task to get at Rome, now that the whole country +is up, signore," said Jacopo as we walked along. + +"I have thought of that," I answered, "I propose to go by Leghorn, and +taking ship there, proceed to Rome by sea." + +Jacopo gave such a groan at this, that I turned round in surprise, and +became at once aware that my shadower had crossed the road, and come +so close up to us that he must have overheard every word of our +conversation. This was most annoying, and a disaster of which the +future consequences might be most serious. I determined however to be +rid of him for the rest of my stay in Florence at any rate, and +addressed him sharply-- + +"Signore, I seem to have excited much curiosity in you. May I ask what +it is you want?" + +He stood for a moment, at a loss for reply, and then said, "The road +is as free to me as to you." + +"I admit that," I said; "but I object to your stopping to listen to my +conversation, and therefore will be obliged by your passing on, unless +you want a more severe punishment than you received last night." + +He turned pale with anger, and slipped his hand into his vest; but as +suddenly pulled it out again, and without another word hurried past +us. + +"Mark that man, Jacopo;" I said, "wherever he is, there is danger for +us." + +"Your excellency has only to say the word," and Jacopo put his hand to +his belt. + +"Not so, my friend. Florence is not a safe place for a man to use his +dagger in broad daylight, unless covered by the cloak of a great man. +Besides it is not to my taste. Merely keep your eyes open, and if you +see him anywhere, tell me at once." + +"It shall be so," he answered; "but who would inquire about a mere +citizen like that?" + +"Never mind, Jacopo; rest assured I know what I am about, and now tell +me some news of the army." + +"The duke is in full march on Perugia, and means to drive Cesare +thence. The whole country is awake, as you know. The general, Ives +d'Alegres, is come on a mission to Florence." + +"Ives d'Alegres here!" + +"Yes, excellency, and the Lord of Bayard has hurried to Rome." + +"Then this means something that I cannot follow." + +"Nor can I explain, excellency." + +"And tell me, has the Duchesse de la Tremouille gone back to France?" + +"Yes, by sea from Leghorn, with a great train of ladies, just before +war was declared again. It is said she has gone to the court of the +king at Macon, and the escort was commanded by the Count Carlo +Visconti." + +"Do you know any who went with her?" + +"Nearly all the ladies who were at Arezzo, for the duke, it is said, +would have none of them, now that war was begun again." + +I had to come to the question direct, "Was Madame d'Entrangues in the +train of the duchess?" + +"I am sure of that, excellency. I was with them as far as Siena, when +I took my leave." + +So she had gone, and I felt a relief at the news. Once in France, she +would be safe with her family, and I was honestly glad she was out of +the dangers of the time. + +We now reached the horse market, and with some search discovered two +likely-looking animals, whose price was within the measure of my +purse. I could not afford to pick and choose to any great extent, but +for forty crowns became the owner--after a little trial, which showed +they were as sound as I could see--of two nags, one a bay, and the +other a russet, with an off foot white above the pastern, an unlucky +colour, and the white marking denoted devilty. But he was a +shrewd-looking beast, and I kept him for myself, giving the bay to +Jacopo. Having paid on the spot for these, together with the necessary +saddlery, we rode to the shop where I had left my purchases, and +collected them. It was here that the idea struck me that there was an +opportunity to keep my word, and return her gift to Madonna Angiola; +therefore asking messer the shopkeeper for sealing-wax and some +parchment, which he willingly supplied on a small payment, I carefully +folded up the tari, and sealed up the packet. Taking it in my hand, I +went out to Jacopo, who was holding the horses, and said-- + +"See here, Jacopo. Take this packet to the house of the secretary +Machiavelli. It lies in the ward San Spirito, near Santa Felicita, and +cannot be missed. Deliver it into the hands of the Lady Angiola, say +nothing, and come away. There is no reply needed, you follow?" + +"Excellency." + +"Right. Then after doing this you may dine, collect your arms, and +meet me in an hour and a-half at the San Frediano Gate. And you might +as well bring a feed for the horses with you. Stay, here are two +crowns." + +"It shall be done, your worship. I know the Secretary's house, and the +rest is simple." + +He mounted his horse, and trotted off; and reflecting that a chaffinch +in a cage is better than a mavis in a bush, and that I might as well +dine now whilst I had the chance, I swung myself into the saddle, and +proceeded at a smart pace towards the Double Florin. + +I had to cross the piazza of the Signory on my way there, and whilst +doing so came face to face with a riding party. It was composed of +several ladies and gentlemen, and amongst them was Machiavelli, who +glanced at me with a friendly twinkle in his eye, and gave me an +imperceptible nod of approval. Almost immediately behind him was old +Ives d'Alegres, riding with a bolt upright seat, and making himself +agreeable, in his bear-like manner, to the Lady Angiola, who rode +beside him. There was no avoiding them, and yielding to a sudden +impulse I saluted as they came up. A look of contempt spread over the +features of the general, who made no response, and Madonna Angiola +kept her eyes fixed before her, as if she had seen nothing. They +passed by in a moment, leaving me speechless with anger, for owing to +my failure to preserve a disguise, I had allowed my beard to grow +again, and D'Alegres without doubt recognised me. There was some +excuse perhaps for him; but none, I could think of, for her, and to +add to my chagrin, I thought that Jacopo would probably waste hours in +awaiting her return. I let my horse out to a hand gallop, +notwithstanding the pavement, and luckily doing no injury to any of +the passers-by or to him, pulled up in a few minutes at the door of my +ordinary. Here, although I tried to eat, I was so angry that I could +only trifle with my food, and raging within myself, I drank a full +measure of wine, swallowed such morsels as I could, and went to see +after my horse. By my directions he had a light feed, and was being +rubbed down. As provision against accidents, I purchased a bottle of +Chianti, together with a roast fowl and a loaf of white bread, and +these I placed in my saddle-bags. Then, seeing to the saddling of the +horse myself, I exchanged my velvet cap for the steel helmet, and +drawing my sword-belt in by a hole, sprang into the saddle, and went +on at a leisurely pace towards the San Frediano Gate. There was still +plenty of time, so I made no hurry, and indeed, when I reached the +gate, the gong there boomed out five o'clock, leaving a half-hour +still to spare before Jacopo was due. I pulled up therefore at the +side of the road, and dismounting, led my horse up and down. It was +whilst thus engaged, that I noticed a priest, mounted on a smart cob, +trotting in the direction of the gate, and knowing that a misfortune +and a friar are seldom apart, I observed him narrowly as he passed. He +drew his cowl, however, over his face, so that I could make nothing of +him; but on reaching the gate he stopped to ask some questions of the +sentry there, and the man, in raising his hand to salute, slightly +startled the horse, which threw back its head. This sudden movement +made the hood the rider wore fall back a little, but it was enough to +enable me to see it was the library scribe, old Ceci's nephew; and I +augured no good from this, resolving nevertheless to be on my guard +more than ever. The pretended priest received an answer to his +inquiry, and giving his benediction, in true sacerdotal manner, rode +off at a pace that showed his seat on the library stool had not +interfered with his seat in the saddle. It was now fully the half +hour, and yet Jacopo did not come. I waited until the gong struck six, +and was just about to ride off, leaving a message with the guard, when +I saw him approaching. + +"Make haste," I cried as I mounted, "you are late." + +"Pardon, excellency! But the lady was not there. I had to wait a full +hour before she came back from riding, and the General d'Alegres was +with her." + +"Did you give the packet?" + +"I did, excellency. I rode up, asked who the Lady Angiola was, and +presented the packet, saying it was from the Cavaliere di Savelli, my +master." + +"Oh, glorious fool! Did I not tell you my name was Donati? Did I not +tell you to say nothing, but merely give the packet into the lady's +hands?" + +"Body o' me, excellency! But there were so many about, my wits almost +went a wool-gathering. I gave madame the packet, however, and she took +it." + +"Said anything?" + +"Nothing, excellency--never a word." + +There was no use crying over spilt milk, and cursing Jacopo in my +heart for a muddle-headed fool, we started off. On reaching the +sentry, I thought I might as well try and find out what the sham friar +was looking after. The man raised his hand in salute as I came up, and +flinging him a crown I bade him drink to the health of the Signory +therewith. + +"Marry! I will with pleasure, and yours, too, excellency," he said, as +he pocketed the money, evidently stirred by the amount. + +"Instead of mine, drink to the health of my good friend the monk, who +has just gone on. Can you tell me if he inquired for any one here?" + +I relied on the simplicity of the man, and on taking him by surprise +with the question, and as it happened I hit my mark. + +"In truth, excellency, the reverend father did inquire about a party +of five horsemen, who took the road to Leghorn about four o'clock this +afternoon. He doubted much if he could overtake them ere nightfall he +said, and would have to ride hard." + +I poised another crown on my finger absently. "Do you know any of the +party who went ahead?" + +"No, excellency; but their leader was an old man with a long white +beard, and I think I heard him addressed as Ceci. Excellency, the wine +will flow to-night--a hundred thanks." + +I dropped the crown into his palm, moving him to his closing words. + +"Come on, Jacopo. It grows late," and setting spurs to our horses, we +rode out at a gallop. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + THE AMBUSCADE. + + +It is good to go through the air, with the strength of a brave horse +under one, to know that his strong muscles are stretching with an +enjoyment as keen as his rider's pleasure, to hear the air whistle as +one cuts through it, and to feel the blood fairly dance in the veins. +After those weary weeks of illness, of inaction, and of mental despair +I had passed through, it was as if new life was poured into me, to +know that I was once more in the saddle, with a prospect, however +faint, of regaining all I had lost. As the landscape on each side of +me melted into a green grey streak, it seemed to carry away with it my +suffering; as the true horse answered willingly to the touch of my +spur, I forgot the past, and was once again Ugo di Savelli, with a +spirit as high as the days before the black sorrow fell upon me. To +the left of the road was a broad stretch of springy turf, crossed by a +fairly wide water channel. I could not resist giving the beast a burst +over this, and followed by Jacopo, galloped over it with a free rein. +Both the horses took the jump like bucks, and carried away by the +moment, we held on, until we reached the stony and boulder-covered +incline which led to the valley of the Greve. Here the turf came to a +sudden end, in a line such as the edge of a calm sea makes in a bay, +and then began a steep descent of gravel, and loose stones, whose many +colours of grey, ochre, and brown, were splashed here and there, by +masses of short thick shrubs, which gradually increased in denseness, +until they spread before us, a sea of sombre green, that stretched to +the clear blue line of the Greve. Here on the crest of the slope I +drew bridle, thinking the horses had enough of it for the present, and +that it would be well to husband their strength. Jacopo pulled up +alongside of me, and stooping to pat the neck of his mount said-- + +"Excellency, the horses are in good condition; they will carry us well +to Leghorn!" He spoke the truth, for although they might have been in +better training, as the few clots of yellowy white foam, on the part +of the reins which had touched their necks showed, still we should +have been content with less, from new and practically untried +purchases, such as we had made, and I congratulated myself mentally on +our luck, for Barabbas himself would have had much to learn from the +horse-dealers of Tuscany. Thinking in this way, I replied: + +"Yes, Jacopo, they seem to be a cheap forty crowns' worth, and we have +been cheated as little as possible. As you say, they should carry us +well on our journey, and we can either dispose of them at Leghorn, or +take them on to Rome if necessary." + +"If I may speak, excellency, I would advise taking them with us. But +oh, signore, is that not superb?" + +With an Italian's inborn love for the beautiful, he pointed to the +view around us, and although not a Florentine, I could feel why it was +that her citizens so loved the City of the Lily. The sun was setting +in opal and rose, and as we turned to give a last look behind, we saw +that this light was reflected from the west, on the great fleecy +masses of clouds that were slumbering in the pure blue of the sky, and +was again thrown back, or rather downwards, on to Florence itself, +bathing in its glow the campaniles of the churches, the grim palace of +the Signory, and the towers of the houses of the nobles. Where the +light did not fall, the shadows were in soft greys, that deepened to a +purple black, and a yellow band marked where the walls clasped the +city like a girdle. To the east, as we looked, the hills of the Prato +Magno rose in a heavy solid outline, with the jagged peaks, trying as +it were to stab at the sky; to the north, covered with a heavy pine +forest, lay Senario, shutting from sight the upper Voldarno, and the +Mugello; whilst, as we faced slowly round by our left, we saw the +silver ribbon of the Arno, and the heights of Monte Orlando, the +landscape being closed in on the west by San Miniato, over whose +cypress crowned heights the sun now hung like a soft ball of fire. As +I gazed upon this, a sadness came upon me, and my mind filled again +with the image of the woman, whom I began to realise that I loved in +spite of all; and I almost laughed in the bitterness of my heart, when +I thought that this burden of a hopeless passion was added to the +weight I already had to bear. I began to fairly despise myself for my +weakness, in that for the moment I felt inclined to turn my horse's +head and ride back to Florence. It was gall to know, that if she but +lifted her finger, I would go back like a beaten dog, and it required +me to summon all my pride to rescue myself at the time. It was such +hopeless folly, such madness, that I began to think I must be little +short of an idiot, and cursed myself with such hearty good will, that +Jacopo, who was always a trifle free with his tongue, began to let it +wag. + +"If your excellency is so liberal with curses on yourself, methinks +you will have none to spare for your enemies," he said. + +"True, Jacopo," I answered, "but the word enemies reminds me, that you +should keep your arquebus ready for instant use, and now I think we +had better jog on." + +Jacopo's answer was to unsling his arquebus, which he rested crosswise +on his thigh, and we began to slowly descend the slope towards the +river, the loose gravel crunching under our horses' feet. + +"It is loaded," said Jacopo, somewhat irrelevantly, as we came to the +banks of the stream; but I understood he was speaking of his piece. +"It is loaded, excellency," he repeated, "with three balls, which I +have had dipped in holy water, and on each of which I have cut a cross +for luck. I lay my life on it, that if discharged, it will bring down +whatever it is aimed at--saint or sinner." + +"Heaven grant that it may be the sinner, Jacopo; but only take care +you are ready to discharge it when the time comes." + +"Never fear, signore. Jacopo Jacopi is too old a soldier to be caught +napping," with these words we plunged into the Greve, and after much +careful stepping on the part of the horses, for the animals found +their foothold an uncertain one in the smooth round stones under the +water, we reached the opposite bank, and trotted on with the horses' +noses in a line towards San Miniato. The sun had now sunk behind the +hill, which was so full of memories for me, and although there would +be a moon later on, we had for the present to face a rapidly +increasing darkness. + +"By keeping at this pace, excellency," said Jacopo as we trotted on, +"we shall reach the Resa shortly before it gets quite dark, and I +submit that we stop there to feed the horses. As your honour +commanded, I have brought a meal for them, and there was space enough +in the sack for a snack for me, which would do at a pinch for two, if +your excellency would but condescend to taste of it." + +"You say well, Jacopo; but I also am an old soldier, and my +saddle-bags are full. A fasting body makes but a faint heart, whether +for man or beast--on the other bank of the Resa then, we shall call a +halt. There is a little light still, enough to increase the pace--so +onwards!" + +We broke into a hand gallop, keeping one behind the other, and +following the windings of a cattle track, for I had purposely avoided +the road after receiving the information I had extracted from the +sentry at the San Frediano Gate. It was evident, that the party of +men, followed by Ceci's nephew, had left Florence to carry out some +desperate design. I had been dogged all day by this man, and now he +had galloped off in disguise to join the men who had left Florence +before he had, and amongst whom was his uncle. Ceci's words at our +last interview, and the persistent manner in which I was followed, +left me no room to doubt that I was the object of their attention, and +that it would be necessary to keep well on the alert. I did not +apprehend danger at once, but thought that if an attack were made, it +would be in the narrow valley between the low hills to the north of +Montespertoli, or at Ponte a Elsa, each of which places was +particularly suited for an ambuscade, although of course, considering +their numbers, the attempt might be made anywhere, and openly, without +very much danger. So with another hurried word of warning to Jacopo, +and holding my sword ready, I galloped along, increasing the pace as +much as possible, whenever we went past a clump of trees, and both of +us keeping as sharp a look-out as the light, or rather darkness, +permitted. We avoided the regular ford of the Resa on the +Montespertoli road, crossing higher up in the direction of Montelupo, +and here got a good wetting, for the water was deeper than we +anticipated. Had Ceci and his friends only lain in wait for us at this +point, we should have had no chance. As it happened, however, we had +taken a zig-zag route, which had either thrown them off the track +entirely, or we would meet them further on, either at one of the two +spots mentioned by me, or in some other equally convenient locality. +At any rate, we were safe for the present, and that was something to +be thankful for, even if we were in darkness. So my thoughts ran on, +as we scrambled somehow to the opposite bank of the Resa, and groped +our way up until we felt soft grass under our feet, for we had +dismounted on fording the stream, and led our horses by their bridles +up the steep left bank. Here we called a halt, determined to await the +moon, and Jacopo managed somehow to tether the horses; fastening the +halters to the stump of a tree he discovered by stumbling against, and +on which he wasted some of those curses he was so anxious for me to +reserve for my enemies. After giving the horses their feed, which they +nosed out readily enough, despite the darkness, he joined me where I +sat on the grass trying to dry, and wrapping up the lock of his +arquebus in a woollen cap, which he produced, to keep it from damp, he +took his seat beside me at my invitation. + +"It is too dark to eat now, excellency," he said. "I for one, like a +light of some kind, even if it be my Lady Moon, with my meals, and we +have some little time to wait--ill-luck to it! Do you call to mind, +signore, it was just such a night as this when we lay outside the +breach at Arx Sismundea, waiting for the signal rockets?" + +"I do, Jacopo." + +"Ah, that was a fight! We have had nothing like it since then--not +even Fornovo--but good times are coming, excellency, and maybe we will +see them again." + +"How comes it, Jacopo, that with this prospect before you, you left +the army?" + +"There was trouble, excellency, big trouble at Siena, and I left to +avoid the attentions of Messer Braccio Fortebraccio, whom your worship +doubtless remembers." + +I could get no further explanation from Jacopo, but afterwards found +out that he had fought with and grievously wounded a man who had +spoken disparagingly of me; and fearing lest the swift discipline +which D'Alegres maintained might overtake him, had immediately +deserted, making his way to Florence, where a lucky chance threw him +in my way. I thought it well, at this time, to explain to Jacopo, the +danger I feared of an ambuscade, and he, knowing the road as well as I +did, agreed with me in regard to the spots most likely to be chosen +for the attack. + +"Would it not be prudent, excellency, to await daylight, and, keeping +out of the beaten track, avoid these gentlemen?" + +"You see, Jacopo," I answered, "we have not time for all this, and +must take some risk. I mean, therefore, to go as far as we can +to-night." + +"As your worship desires. It is not that I fear the danger, but I do +not like putting my head in a bag. _Buono!_ There is the moon, and I +already begin to taste my supper, after which, excellency, I have no +care which way we travel, either by broad daylight, or through the +teeth of these brigands." + +As he spoke the stars began to pale, and the moon rose slowly above +the horizon. In a few minutes, so bright and clear was the light, that +one may have easily read by it, and I was glad to see, moreover, that +the shifting clouds were gone, and there was every prospect of a fine +night. It was fall-to, now, to our supper, and adding my store to my +faithful follower's supply, I sunk distinctions of rank, and we +enjoyed a meal, with a hearty contentment that had been a stranger to +me for many a day. When the last drop of wine in the bottle was +finished, and we had picked our last bone, Jacopo arose with a sigh. + +"Before supper, excellency, I was ready to eat and then fight my way +through an army; now beshrew me, if a sound nap of an hour or so is +not much to my taste!" + +I could not forbear smiling, but did not rise to the hint, and when +our horses were saddled again, and every buckle and strap examined +with the minutest care, we mounted and set off. As although we both +well knew the direct road to Leghorn, but were not acquainted with the +district so as to correctly pursue our way by moonlight, I decided to +run the gauntlet of the ambuscade, if there was any, and take the risk +of coming off with a whole skin, to the certainty of losing our track +by chancing short cuts, which might lead to, Heaven alone knew where! +Now that we were once more on the road, we trotted along at a fairish +pace through the silent night. The way led for some distance over an +uneven plain, covered with a multitude of white stones, that shone in +the moonlight like water. The plain gradually narrowed to where it was +intersected by a chain of low hills, and it was in crossing these that +we should have to ride through a narrow gut, and possibly meet our +danger. As we approached the hills, the short, stunted foliage that +tufted the plain, changed to a half-grown forest, in the midst of +which the road wound, and here we halted for a second, whilst Jacopo +examined his piece to see that all was aright, and gingerly blew at +the match thereon, to give the fire a little strength. This being +done, we proceeded with the greatest caution, riding one behind the +other, and going slowly, as we feared a pitfall of some kind among the +trees. Luckily there was none, and at last we got out of the immediate +presence of the forest, and into the gut, where the precipice rose +high on each side of us. All was rock and stone, but the road was +fairly even, a trap could have been seen, and going slow a mistake +here, so we clapped spurs to the horses, and sent them along, and +although momentarily expecting to see the flash of an arquebus, we +were agreeably disappointed, and got out of the passage without mishap +of any kind. + +"_Animo!_ Signore, we are out of this, and to-night will not be bread +for the teeth of these brigands;" and Jacopo, whose horse had carried +him a little in advance,' drew rein to let me come up, as we rode out +of the tail of the pass. + +"I hope so, but we are not out of the wood yet," and I pointed to +where a dip in the ground showed there was a small stream, and on the +opposite bank the road again led into forest land. + +"And I was just going to beg your worship's leave to troll a catch," +said Jacopo; and as he uttered these words we plashed into the shallow +stream before us. Almost at this moment my horse neighed shrilly, and +an answering neigh from the wood before us rang out into the night. + +_Crack_! _Crack!_ Two red tongues of fire licked out from the darkness +of the trees, we heard the loud report of firearms, and a brace of +balls sang past, unpleasantly close to my head. + +"Quick, Jacopo--follow me," and driving my spurs home, the good horse +plunged forwards, topping the bank almost on the instant that the +ambuscaders, who rushed out with a shout, reached it. The man to my +left, who was riding a white horse, pulled up in an unaccountable +manner, and making a point at the one on my sword side, I ran him +through the throat, my blade twisting him clean round in the saddle as +I dashed on. The attacking party, coming at a great pace, were carried +by their horses down the slope into the stream, and before they could +turn I had gained a fair start, and to my joy heard Jacopo swearing as +he galloped behind me. + +"_Maldetto!_ I could not fire, signore--you were right in front of +me--but here goes." He turned back in his saddle, and would have let +off his piece had I not shouted out:-- + +"Hold! hold! till I tell you," and fortunately he heard my words, or +the chances were there would have been a miss with no opportunity of +reloading. + +We gained a full hundred yards before the others recovered themselves, +coming after us with yells of anger, and I distinctly heard Ceci's +voice-- + +"Two hundred crowns for them, dead or alive!" + +Now commenced a race for life. We had the start and meant to keep it; +but their horses were the fresher, and it became a mere question of +who could last longest. We made the pace as hot as we could, in the +hope that if we came to close quarters again some of our pursuers +would have tailed behind. For a little time things went well, and I +was beginning to think we should be able to show our friends a clean +pair of heels, when I suddenly felt my horse puffing, stretching his +neck forward and holding on to the bit, in a manner which left no +doubt to my mind that he was done. Jacopo, too, called out-- + +"We had better fight it out, excellency; my horse is blown." + +Before giving a final answer, I slung round in the saddle to see how +the enemy were getting on. The only two who were at our heels was the +man mounted on the white horse, who had pulled aside in so strange a +manner when charging me, and another, whom I could not make out. The +rest were well behind, but riding hard. We could probably account for +these two, and turning back I shouted to Jacopo-- + +"All right; fight it out." + +As I said this my horse stumbled and rolled clean over, killing +himself on the spot, but fortunately throwing me clear of him and +without doing any damage to me. I had just time to scramble to my +feet, when the two foremost of our pursuers were upon us. + +Jacopo had been carried some yards on by the speed of his mount, but +as the men came up he turned sharp round in his saddle and fired. The +report was followed by a yell of pain, and the leading horseman fell; +the other, who bestrode the white horse, again sheering off from me. +Here he met with Jacopo, who was coming back at a gallop, and, it +seemed to me, fairly flung himself from his horse, doing this in so +clumsy a manner as to be immediately ridden over by my knave. + +"Mount--mount, excellency--mount behind me!" and Jacopo steadied his +horse. But there was no time, and three of the remaining horsemen +dashed up. Two of the horses shied past the body of my animal, but the +third came boldly up, and the rider immediately engaged Jacopo. I +could not give my brave fellow any aid, for my time was fully occupied +in dealing with my own adversaries. Their horses were too fresh, or +not well in hand, by great good luck, and so they could not manage to +come at me together. Seeing this, I made a dash across the road into +the wood--it was but a few feet--and both my adversaries followed, +with the result that the horse of one of them put his foot in a rut, +and stumbling forwards unseated his rider, and the other, in aiming a +cut at me, got his sword entangled for a second in an overhanging +bough. This second was, however, enough for me to give him six inches +of cold steel, and he pulled round and rode off, dropping his sword, +and swinging from side to side in his saddle like a drunken man. The +man who had fallen from his horse was nowhere to be seen. Indeed I did +not look for him, but rushed back to the assistance of Jacopo, and +this time, having opportunity for observing, if only for a twinkling, +saw his opponent was my friend, the sham monk. He, however, had as +quick an eye, and taking in the situation, made a sudden charge at +Jacopo, and as suddenly wheeling his horse to the left, shot past him +and fled on ahead, leaving us masters of the situation. + +"Are you hurt, excellency?" called out Jacopo. + +"Not in the least. How are you?" + +"Nothing but a scratch, excellency, which I received from his +reverence, who, for all his monkish cowl, wields a good weapon." + +"Well, jump down and let us see who our friends are, but first let me +look to your wound." + +"It is really nothing as I said, signore," and Jacopo sprang lightly +to earth. I did not, however, listen to him, and taking from him his +flint and steel, lighted a piece of dry wood, which I converted into a +torch. With the aid of this and the moonlight, I examined Jacopo's +wound, which after all was but slight, and had just bandaged it up +with my kerchief, when I became aware that the man whom Jacopo had +ridden over, had arisen on his hands and knees, and was crawling off +into the brushwood. + +"Steady, friend," I said, and running up to him, gave him a prick with +my sword as a hint to stop. He made a little outcry, but had the good +sense to take the hint, and casting the light of the torch on his +face, I recognised my old acquaintance the ancient Brico. + +"So, signore," I said, "I have again to be thankful to you." + +Jacopo too came up and recognised the man at a glance. + +"_Cappita!_" he burst out, "but it is the ancient Brico! Shall I beat +his brains out, excellency?" + +"Mercy, most noble cavalier," exclaimed Brico, "I yield me to ransom." + +"Ransom forsooth!" called out Jacopo, "such ransom as a noose will +give you. Prepare to die." + +"Be quiet, Jacopo," I said, "the ancient has yielded to ransom, we +will leave him to discuss the terms with the moon. Fetch me the bridle +from my poor horse yonder, and bind this knave firmly." + +Jacopo needed no second bidding, and in five minutes the ancient, +securely bound, was sitting like a trussed fowl in the middle of the +road, alternately cursing and weeping. + +"Perhaps, excellency, we had better look at the other," and Jacopo +pointed to the man whom he had shot, who lay on his face. "Perchance," +he added, "he too might turn out an old acquaintance." + +We did so, and as we bent over him I saw it was Bernabo Ceci gone to +his last account. He was shot through the heart, and lay quite dead, +with a frown on his forehead, and his teeth clenched in the death +agony. I looked at him in a sad silence which Jacopo broke. + +"I never knew a cross-marked bullet to fail, excellency. He is stone +dead." + +"May he rest in peace," I answered; "he was a brave man, although my +enemy." + +"He is still enough now, your worship--and see! There is his horse +grazing quietly. It will do excellently to replace the lost one." + +He ran forward and secured the animal, whilst I had a final look at my +dead beast. His neck was broken, and there was an end of him. Whilst +Jacopo at my request was changing the saddles, I stirred up the +ancient, who had lapsed into silence, and begged the favour of his +informing me to whom I was indebted for the excitement of the night. +Brico at first would not answer, but an inch of steel removed his +sulkiness, and he told me all that I believe he knew, which was to the +effect that he and some others had been hired by a great Florentine +called Strozzi, to stop me at all hazards on my journey to Rome, and +that the party was commanded by Ceci, who was to pay them two hundred +crowns for their trouble. More he evidently did not know, and +disregarding all his entreaties to loosen him, we rode off, wishing +him a good night. Nevertheless I am afraid he suffered considerable +discomfort. + +"That rascal monk," said Jacopo as we jogged along, "has gone on ahead +of us, and to-morrow, perhaps, will rouse the country in advance of +us." + +"Never fear, Jacopo," I answered, "he is no monk, as I well know, and +his only chance was to escape as he did. He will hark back soon enough +to Florence. Such hawks as he do not fly far from their eyries." + +And in this I proved to be right, and the library scribe was never +seen by me again. + +So we kept to our way, deciding to rest by day on the banks of the +Evola, to which we came in the early morning. Here we concealed our +horses in the forest which fringed the banks, and the tireless Jacopo, +leaving me to watch the cattle, proceeded on foot to a small hamlet he +knew of, returning in about an hour with the materials for a +substantial meal, and a small skin of wine. In order not to be taken +by surprise by the neighing of our horses, which would assuredly +discover us if other riders passed, we hobbled them in a secure place, +and sought a safe retreat for ourselves, almost half way up the low +hill which bounded the river at the point where we halted. Here we +spent a restful day, the only incident being the passing of a fine +body of men-at-arms across the Evola. From the double-headed lion on +their standard I perceived they were part of the _condotta_ of +Colleoni, a devoted adherent of the Borgia, and it was fortunate that +we did not meet them or it would have gone hard with us, for I was +known personally to Colleoni and most of his officers, the free-lance +having changed sides after Fornovo, ostensibly because he said it was +against his conscience to war with the Pope; but in reality being +bribed by an immediate present of a fief in the Campagna, and the +promise of the lordship of Bergamo, which, although his son obtained +it, he himself never enjoyed. So much for the two-headed lion which +crossed our path as we lay hidden in the shade of the trees. Our +horses also being actively employed in cropping the rich turf in the +hollow where they were tethered, behaved themselves excellently, with +the result that the long line of men-at-arms passed on and out of +sight, without doing us any harm. + +In this manner we continued our journey, halting by day and travelling +by night, and finally reached Leghorn in safety. Here we took passage +in a ship bound for Rome; but were compelled to wait two days in +Leghorn, as the master was not ready to sail at once. At last, all +things being arranged, we got our horses and ourselves aboard, and put +out to sea with a fair wind. The master of the ship had sailed with +Messer Columbus to the New World, and lost no time in giving us the +history of his adventures, which were in truth marvellous beyond +imagination. I listened with a smooth face, and the good man no doubt +thought that I believed his stories. In this, however, he was +mistaken, nevertheless they were diverting in the extreme. Jacopo was +overcome by the sickness of the sea, and flung himself down in a +corner on the deck of the ship from which spot nothing would induce +him to move. At every lurch he threw out a prayer which ended in a +groan, and so great was his distress, that as he afterwards stated, he +would have sold his soul to Satan for a paul, if only to obtain an +hour's relief. As for me, I was well, having had some experience of +the ocean before, when employed by the Most Serene Republic for +service against the Turk, and found contentment in the master's +stories, and in pacing up and down watching such things as came under +my view. I had plenty of opportunity for reflection on the voyage, and +came to the conclusion that on delivering my letter to the Cardinal at +Rome, I would seek out Bayard if he were there, lay my story before +him, and beseech his help to enable me to recover myself. + +At last, one fine day, we reached Ostia, and there disembarked after +bidding farewell to the master, and set out on our way to Rome. Jacopo +recovered his spirits as his foot touched land, and though the +ruddiness of his cheek had paled a little, he was quite himself again +by the time we crossed the Stagno di Ostia. Finally we came in full +view of the Eternal City, and towards the afternoon, having pressed +along at a good pace, our jaded horses brought us before the Gate of +St. Paul. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + ROME. + + +As we rode up to the ruinous stretch of the battered wall, and saw +before us the gate, lying open against the mottled green and grey +high-ground of the Aventine, that old hill, covered with straggling +and unkempt vineyards, and studded with the walls of monasteries, I +was moved more than I can tell, for I was about to realise a dream of +my life, and put foot once again in the place of my birth, a spot not +only bound to me by that tie, but sacred with the hundred legends of +my forefathers' history, men who had for centuries played so great a +part in its fate, until our house was cast forth by the mother-city, +to wander as exiles over the land. It is true that since the days of +my childhood I had not seen Rome, it is true that such memories of it +as I had were dim and misty, and that to recall them was like trying +to bring back before one's eyes, when awake, the vague but pleasant +visions of a delightful dream; nevertheless my heart filled with a +strange joy, and my pulse began to beat more rapidly, as each stride +of my horse brought me nearer home. In short, I was a Roman come back +to Rome, and in these words sum up my feelings. + +Filled with such thoughts, I tightened the reins half unconsciously, +and my horse, doubtless upset by his voyage, and the hard going from +Ostia, very willingly slackened his pace to a walk. Jacopo, as in duty +bound, followed my example, and immediately began to buzz into speech. + +"It is nearly six years since I last saw that gate, excellency, when +with Count Carlo Orsini we rode up, just as it was closed behind +Cesare Borgia." + +"That was when you left me for a time, on my taking service with +Venice." + +"True, your worship; I had no mind for the galleys," and Jacopo +shuddered at the recollection of his recent voyage. "My courage," he +continued, "is firm enough on firm ground, but when the sea plays cup +and ball with me, I have no soul to think of my own salvation, let +alone fighting. _Ohime!_ But on that villainous craft we have left, +there were times when I was only too anxious not to live." + +I smiled as I inquired, "And after your service with the Orsini where +did you go?" + +"Well, your worship, no sooner did Count Carlo drive those scorpions +of the Colonna and Borgia back to Rome, than the Most Serene Republic +must needs step in and cause peace to be made. This threw me and +sundry other honest fellows out of employment, and on to the edge of +starvation, so we boldly rode into Rome, and changing from the bear to +the bull, tendered our services to the Borgia, and they were snapped +up I can tell you. I was lucky enough to find a master in the Duke of +Gandia." + +"Lucky, you call it." + +"Ay, your worship! for Giovanni Borgia had an open purse and a free +hand. I was with him until he was murdered, and then, affairs being +warm in Rome, and hearing you had come back from the sea, why, I came +back to the old banner." + +"It is said that Gandia was murdered by the Cardinal Ascanio Sforza." + +"Indeed no, your excellency! I saw the deed done. It was in this way: +the Duke and his brother Cesare, then Cardinal of Valencia, supped at +the house of their mother, the Lady Vannozza. After supper they must +needs walk home together; I was the Duke's sole attendant, but Cesare +was accompanied by his cut-throat Michelotto and half-a-dozen others. +On the way some mention was made of Donna Sancia, Don Giuffre's wife, +and the brothers came to blows. The Cardinal stabbed the Duke with his +own hand, and he gave a great cry and fell down dead. Seeing it was no +use trying to help a dead man, and being in no hurry to trouble St. +Peter myself, I knocked down the strangler Michelotto, and making a +run for it, escaped with a whole skin. The body of the Duke was flung +into the Tiber, and was discovered by a charcoal monger of the +Ripetta, whom Cesare hanged at Tor di Nona, as a reward for his +intelligence. They buried the Duke, as you know, signore, in Santa +Maria del Popolo--poor man!" + +"And you mean to say that this was never known to the Pope?" + +"I never said anything about that, your worship; a secret cannot be +kept by half-a-dozen, and I dare swear our Lord knows all about it or +else the Cardinal Ascanio would hardly be in the Cesarini as he is. +These things, however, must not be spoken of in Rome. Men's tongues +should be weighted with lead when the Borgia's name crops up." + +We had by this time come opposite the Monte Testaccio, that curious +mound made of old pottery, which lies towards the river, south-west of +the Ostian Gate, and so engrossed were we in our talk, that we did +not observe a large party of riders of both sexes, with an escort of +men-at-arms, coming at a hand gallop from our right, straight in our +direction. Our attention was however sharply drawn to the fact by the +cry of an equerry who was riding well in advance of the others, and +this man shouted: + +"The road! The road! Way for His Holiness! Way! Way!" + +We drew off at once to the side, Jacopo dismounting and sinking to his +knees. I however contented myself with uncovering, and watching with +no little astonishment the party as they came up. They were evidently +returning from hawking, and at the head of the clump of riders were +two men in full Turkish costume. + +"Who are those Turks?" I asked Jacopo, and the knave still kneeling, +and holding his hands up in supplication, answered hurriedly-- + +"One is the Soldan Djem, excellency--O Lord, I trust we may not be +hanged as an afternoon's amusement--the other, the fair one, old +Alexander VI. himself--O Lord! What cursed luck! Kneel, excellency; it +is our only chance." + +"Tush!" I replied, and remembered at once that the brother of Bajazet, +the Grand Turk, was a hostage in Rome, practically a prisoner in the +hands of Alexander, a legacy he had inherited from the Cibo, and which +brought him forty thousand ducats annually. I could understand Djem in +Eastern costume, but the Pope masquerading in broad delight as a Moor! +It was as wonderful as it was disgusting to me. And then the +remembrance of Corte's daughter came to my mind, and as they +approached, I could hardly refrain from making a dash to rid the world +of the monster who sat in St. Peter's chair. I barely saluted as they +passed, but Jacopo roared out for a blessing, and the papal hand +airily cast a benediction at us. Alexander was apparently in a high +good-humour, for, turning in his saddle, he made some joking remark to +a lady who rode a trifle behind him, whereat she laughed loudly, a +harsh unmusical laugh, and glanced at me with a half-amused air, from +under her heavy lashes as she went by. The rest of the party, +spurring, laughing and chattering were a few yards behind; and as they +clattered on to the road, Djem, giving a wild shout of _Allah_! +_Allah!_ threw the reins on the neck of his barb, and galloped through +the gate at full speed, followed by Alexander and the rest of the +riders, who urging their mounts to a racing pace, and, both men and +women, yelling in imitation of the Moor, vanished through the gate +after him in a whirlwind of dust. So quickly did all this happen, that +I had hardly time to observe the faces of those who passed me, and +indeed, so astonished was I, that I had scarce room in my mind for any +other feeling. I had of course heard wild tales of the Vatican, and +strange and horrible stories of the Borgia himself, indeed there was +one crime that should have brought down God's lightning on the man, +for all that he was the Vicar of Christ; but I never for one moment +conceived it possible that Alexander could so far forget his place as +to appear in public robed as a heathen, and gallop through the streets +of Rome like a drunken madman. + +When they had gone, Jacopo arose from his knees, and dusting them with +his hands whilst he looked up at me, said: "_Corpo di Bacco!_ But I +gave up all for lost. I vow a candle to St. Mary of--I forget +where--but to the shrine nearest to the place we dine, for this lucky +escape." + +"Come, sirrah!" I said, a little annoyed, "mount. There never was any +danger." + +"Your excellency is pleased to say so," he replied, swinging himself +into the saddle, "but if you saw two old men and a half-dozen old +women strung up for merely blocking the way, as I did at Tor di Nona, +perhaps your worship would think as I do." + +I made no reply, allowing Jacopo the run of his tongue to relieve his +feelings, and we went on slowly until we reached the gate. Here I +spoke, "As you know Rome better than I do, Jacopo, you had best lead +the way; but I want to pass by the two houses of my family before we +make for the Strangers' Quarters, where we must find a lodging for the +night." + +"Very well, your worship!" and Jacopo drew a little to the front. +"There they go," he said, shading his eyes with his hands, and turning +to the left, where a dun cloud of dust on the Via della Marmorata +marked the progress of the Borgia. "The best way, signore," he +continued, "is over the hill; we will get a view from there, and then +passing by the places you want to see, make for a quiet hostel I know +of in the Strangers' Quarters." + +Following him, we rode up the Aventine, until we reached the old wall +of Servius Tullius, here we stopped to observe the view. To the west +and south-west we could see the green of the Campagna merging into the +distant grey of the Roman Maremma, whilst beyond that a clear blue +line, below the flush of the coming sunset, marked the sea. Beneath us +lay the Tiber and the Island, the yellow water of the river stirred +into ripples by the breeze, and looking from the distance like +hammered brass. Beyond the Tiber rose Monte Gianicolo, behind which +the top of the Vatican Hill was just visible. To the north the view +was a little shut in by the Palatine and the church of St. Prisca +above us, and far off rose the cone of Soratte. North-east and east +lay the Palatine, the Esquiline, with the campaniles of Santa Maria +Maggiore and San Pietro in Vincoli. Over Monte Coelio we could see the +heights of the Sabine Hills, and running our eyes along the Appian +Way, we could almost descry the Alban Lake, the mountains being +distinctly visible. We stayed for a few moments drinking in the view, +and then going onwards, turned north-west, past St. Prisca, and began +the descent, by a winding way, held in by vineyards. Coming down we +caught a glimpse of the three churches of the Aventine, namely S. +Sabina, S. Maria Aventina, and St. Alessio, which was held by the +monastery of St. Jerome, whose walls rose hard at hand. A look to the +right showed us the Circus Maximus, above which towered a huge obelisk +surrounded by four lions. At length we came to the Vicola di San +Sabina, and at the corner of the street rose the grey walls and square +tower of the castle of the Savelli. I drew rein, and looked at it with +a bitter heart, and a sigh I could not control escaped me, as I saw +the breeze catch and spread to the wind the silken folds of the +standard of the Chigi, who bore quartered on their shield the star of +the Savelli and the tree of De la Rovere. It flaunted there, in all +the insolent pomp of a new house, whose moneybags were full, and the +sight of it was enough for me. Jacopo must have caught the look on my +face, for he said kindly-- + +"Who knows, excellency--luck may turn." + +Well meant as the words were, they jarred on me, and without replying +I moved on, silently raising my sword to the salute, as I passed the +grim gates from which my ancestors held the road as far as the river, +and almost held Rome itself. + +As we went past the Island, I did not even raise my head to see the +Theatre of Marcellus, within which lay another and the oldest of our +family houses, having come to us through Pierleone towards the close +of the eleventh century. + +Jacopo was for going straight on past the monastery of the Aracoeli, +on the Capitol; but unluckily I discovered that my horse had cast a +shoe, and this was a matter not to be neglected. So we turned to the +right, and entered the Campo Vaccino, formerly the Forum of Rome. It +being now sunset, here were collected hundreds of oxen and buffaloes, +and from the height of Monte Caprino we could hear the bleating of the +herds of goats which were pastured thereon, and the tinkling of their +bells as they moved slowly down towards their shelter for the night. A +hundred fires were blazing cheerfully, and served to dissipate the +blue vapour which began to hang over the place. Round these fires were +groups of people, mostly countrymen, who seemed in the best of +spirits, as they listened to songs, or watched numbers of their party, +who danced merrily to the tune of a pipe. Hard by were a number of +sheds, used by mechanics, and the blaze, which showed a forge in work, +soon attracting our attention, we made there at once, and had the +horse attended to. + +Whilst the smith was beating out a shoe, I sat down on a rough bench, +my horse being fastened to a wooden post, and Jacopo holding his nag +by the bridle paced up and down, occasionally stamping his feet on the +ground to free them, as he said, from the ants. In other words he was +suffering slightly from cramp. To my right was a large crowd, +evidently enjoying a show of jugglery, and from their cries of +wonderment and pleasure, they seemed to be having their money's worth. +So I rose and elbowed my way to a good place, unfortunately only in +time to see the end of the affair. The juggler was robed in a doctor's +gown, and after performing a trick, he distributed nostrums for +various ailments, free of payment. Imagine my surprise, in recognising +in him no other than Mathew Corte; and as I came up, he placed a +tambourine in his little dog's mouth, and bade him carry it round for +subscriptions. Coppers were freely flung in, and as the little animal +stopped before me, I dropped in a florin, and stooped to pat its head. +As I rose I caught Corte's eye, and saw he knew me, but as he made no +sign I stayed quiet. Collecting his money, the doctor bowed his +thanks, and began packing up the instruments of his trade. I went back +to my seat, and watched the smith at work on my horse, thinking that +Corte must have somehow come into funds, and wondering how he had +managed it. After a little time I felt a touch on my shoulder, and +turning round saw him beside me. I invited him to a seat, inquiring +after his health. + +"It grows better day by day," he answered, "now that my work is begun. +And you, signore?" + +"I can say the same," I answered; "I grow better day by day, now that +my work is begun." + +"There is a favour I ask, Messer Donati," he went on. + +"What is it?" + +"It is this, and do not think me ungrateful. I am here playing a part. +We will meet again, perhaps, under different surroundings. All I ask +is that if we do, you will make no sign of recognition, nor mention to +anyone that you know me." + +"As you wish, Messer Corte." + +"A hundred thanks, and yet another thing--short reckonings make long +friends," and he pressed into my palm two gold pieces, the amount of +the sum I had left with him the night his daughter died. I had no +desire to take them back, not knowing how Corte stood; but he assured +me he would be deeply offended if I did not, and that he was well +provided with the sinews of war. Where he had got them I know not, and +of course I had no option but to receive back the money I had given +him, though I did this most unwillingly. When this was over, he +pressed my hand once more, and, wishing me good night, hurried off. + +By this time the blacksmith had completed his task, and we delayed no +longer, but went off at once. It was fortunate that Jacopo knew Rome +as he did, or we might have been hopelessly lost in the labyrinth of +streets, some of them in total ruin, some of them entirely +uninhabited, for at the time so hideous was the misgovernment of the +city, that all who could do so had fled from Rome, and those who +remained could not have exceeded thirty thousand in number, of whom at +least ten thousand, men and women, were beings who had lost all claim +to the respect of mankind, and were capable of almost any crime. These +are hard words, but true, nor indeed have I ever seen a place where +all that was bad was so shamelessly exposed, as in Rome when Roderigo +Borgia was Pope. At length we reached the Strangers' Quarters, but +Jacopo's hostel was not to be found, and after searching for it in +vain, we were content to pull up before the door of a small inn built +on the lower slope of Monte Pincio, barely a bow-shot from S. Trinita +de' Monte, the church erected by Charles of France in 1495, and a +little beyond the convent of the Dames du Sacre Coeur. I cannot say +that the hostel was an inviting-looking place; in fact it was little +better than one of the common _osterie_ or wineshops with which Rome +abounded; but it was too late to pick and choose, and for the night at +least, I determined to stay here. Our first duty was to attend to the +horses, which we had stabled in stalls, immediately below the room to +be occupied by me, Jacopo having to put up with lodgings in the +stables for the night. After the beasts had been fed and groomed, I +set myself to a plain dinner, washed down with the contents of a +straw-covered _mezzo fiasco_ of Frascati. Jacopo waited on me, and +when I was done, contentedly devoured the remainder of the _manzo_ or +boiled beef, and cooled his throat with a bottle of Marino, which I +presented to him. Whilst he was thus engaged, I went down and had +another look at the horses, and as I patted their necks, and they +whinnied at me, I thought regretfully of the good beast who lay dead +on the Leghorn road, and wondered what had become of Brico, of whom, +notwithstanding his villainy, I could hardly think of without smiling. +It was in truth strange that a man, so arrant a poltroon at heart, +should desert his natural occupation of a lackey, to play the bravo, +and pose as a soldier. How he had ever even obtained the rank of +ancient was a matter of surprise and wonder to me. At length I +dismissed him from my mind, and coming back, found Jacopo at the end +of his meal and his bottle. It was late enough now, and giving him +warning to sleep lightly, and to arouse me at once if necessity arose, +for I liked not the look of the place, I climbed up the ladder leading +to the loft above the stables, which was to serve me as a chamber for +the night. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + GEORGE OF AMBOISE. + + +I should mention that before retiring I had obtained from the landlord +a good-sized lanthorn, which I had carefully filled with oil, and +trimmed under my own eyes. Holding this in my hand I ascended the +ladder leading to the chamber, or rather loft I was to occupy, and on +gaining my point I placed it on the floor, near the opening by which +the ladder led into the room, and so directed the light that its glare +passed downwards, and up to the entrance of the stables, leaving the +sides of the stables in darkness, although my own room was bright +enough. This was a precautionary measure, as it would discover any one +attempting to come in by the stable entrance, which had no door, and +would enable me at any time to see to rush down quickly to the aid of +Jacopo, should he need it. I debated a short while as to whether I +should undress for the night; but so little did I like the looks of +the place, which was more like a house of call for bravos than +anything I had seen, that I did nothing beyond removing my boots, and +flinging myself as I was on the vile truckle-bed in the room, I placed +my drawn sword by my side, and sought to sleep, struggling resolutely +to get this, despite the legions of inhabitants the bed contained, who +with one accord sallied forth to feast upon me. But sleep I was +determined to have, as I had work for to-morrow, and knowing Jacopo to +own sharp eyes and quick ears felt no scruple about getting my rest, +determining however, to make it up the next day to my knave for his +vigil, which I was sure would be faithfully kept. Finally, despite the +attacks of my enemies, I dropped off into a light slumber, which +lasted for two or three hours, when I was startled by hearing a shrill +whistle, the clash of swords, the kicking and plunging of the horses, +and Jacopo's voice shouting out my name. I woke up at once, with all +my wits about me, and on the instant ran down the ladder, sword in +hand, parrying more by accident than design, a cut that was made at me +by some one as I descended. + +As I touched ground, two men darted out of the door, and ran across +the half-ruined yard in front of the stables. A third, whom I +recognised as Jacopo, was about to follow, but I held him back by the +shoulder, having no mind to run risks around dark corners whilst I had +my letter to deliver. Jacopo yielded to me very unwillingly, and in +answer to my hurried inquiry, gave me an account of the affair which +had been as brief as it was noisy. + +"When your worship retired," said he, "leaving the lanthorn to so to +conveniently light up the stable entrance, I had another look at the +horses, and then settled myself down on that heap of straw yonder, my +back to the wall, and my sword in my right hand. So an hour, or may be +two, passed, and then I heard voices outside, and some one swearing at +the light. Oh ho! says I to myself, there's a night-hawk about, and I +remained on the alert, not thinking it worth while to give tongue +then. After a while the voices dropped away--and, excellency, I am +sorry, but I must have slipped off into a doze, and beshrew me! if I +did not dream I was aboard that cursed ship again, and being made to +play pea-in-the-drum once more. I therefore made haste to awaken, and +as I opened my eyes heard a crackling noise outside. I rose slowly and +crept towards the entrance, and just as I reached within three feet of +it a handful of pebbles was thrown in, and one of the horses started a +bit. The stones were clearly flung from outside to see if any one was +awake; but of course I made no sign, and the next minute two men +appeared at the open entrance. I gave a whistle to rouse your honour, +and went at them at once--and your excellency knows the rest. I think +however I touched one--see there!" + +He held the point of his blade to the light, and placed the end of his +finger on a stain on the sword. + +"Three inches at least," he exclaimed, and with a satisfied air, +stooped down to clean his finger on the straw at his feet. I thanked +the good fellow for his zeal and the fidelity he had shown. + +"As for that, excellency," he said, "there is no need to praise me, +for I expect to be made a cavaliere when your worship wins back the +lordships of the Savelli!" + +"You are brave enough for a cavaliere," I laughed, "the point however +for you at present is sleep. Go up to my room and get what you can. I +have done for to-night, and will watch the horses. It was after them +that our visitors came." + +But to this he would not consent on any account, nor was I so anxious +to go back to that bed, so bringing down the light from above, we +passed the rest of the night close to the horses. In the intervals of +dozing Jacopo related to me, twice over, in the minutest detail, the +story of the hanging of the two old men and six old women which he had +seen at Tor di Nona, and finally sank off into sleep. I did not make +any attempt to arouse him, and kept on the watch myself until the +lanthorn burned with a sickly glare, and the crowing of a cock told us +the morning was begun. In a few minutes it was light enough to see, +and Jacopo rising, shook himself like a dog, and stepping up to the +lanthorn extinguished it; after which, with much whistling, he set +himself to water the animals, give them their morning feed, and groom +them. + +Leaving him thus engaged, I strolled out into the courtyard, where +there was already a figure or two moving, and stepping through a gap +in the ruined wall, climbed up a portion of the slope of Monte Pincio, +following a narrow lane, on each side of which was a half-deserted +garden, and bending my steps to where, from amidst a clump of trees, I +could hear the song of a _caponera d'edera_ or blackcap, who was in +full tune. Attracted by the music of the bird, I went on until I heard +the plashing of water, and found myself at the basin of a deserted +fountain, which was hemmed in with vines and creepers, and from which +a thin stream of water was pouring, and bubbling down the hillside in +the direction of S. Trinita di Monte. The basin was made of grey +stone, cracked with age in many places, and from these fissures +sprouted masses of white serpyllum, the flowers in full bloom. In the +centre of the basin was a much damaged figure of Ceres, and from her +horn a stream of water fell with a melodious splashing, which, mingled +with the song of the bird, had a pleasing effect upon my ear. I took +advantage of the solitude of the spot to enjoy the luxury of a bath, +and when I had dressed again, climbed a few feet higher, and facing +round ran my eye idly over the view. Through the grey mist rising over +the houses and vineyards, the Tiber lay, like a yellow snake at rest; +one could see no motion of the waters. Near the Ripetta, long spirals +of dark smoke curling up to the sky marked the quarters of the +charcoal-burners, and the sunrise, which was behind me, cast a glory +on the colossal statue of the archangel Michael, where it stood on the +gloomy keep of St. Angelo, like a triumphant god alighting upon earth. +A dark rolling mist, bright at the top with the sunlight, blue-grey +beneath, covered the city below me; but I could make out the octagonal +dome of the hospital of San Spirito, the vast walls of the Vatican, +then in course of construction, and the dark stretch of cork trees +that filled the Valle dell' Inferno, beyond the Vatican hill. Monte +Mario was all alight, and I could distinctly make out the Villa +Mellini on its summit. There were landmarks that even a stranger, such +as myself, who had the barest knowledge of the place, could not miss; +and as I watched the heaving mist below me, I saw a sudden flash from +the bastion of St. Angelo, and a moment after the boom of the morning +gun reached my ears. I did not wait to observe more of the scene, but +retraced my steps to the albergo, where I found that Jacopo had +ordered a little table to be put out into the portico, and on this my +breakfast was set. As I attacked this, Jacopo asked the order of the +day, and I informed him that when he had breakfasted we should settle +with the host and seek other lodgings, after I had attended to the +business I had with Monsignore d'Amboise. + +My henchman was also anxious to know if I meant to take any steps with +regard to the attempt at robbery last night. I was well enough +inclined, but determined to let the matter rest until my business was +done, and for the present said I would remain content with the +satisfaction that we had saved our steeds and throats. By the time I +finished breakfast, Jacopo, who had already taken a meal, had saddled +the horses, and was holding them ready for our departure. I summoned +mine host, but at first could obtain no view of him. Finally on my +threat to depart without settling my score, he appeared with his arm +bound up in a sling. As he was unwounded the evening before, I made no +doubt but that he was one of the two who had visited us last night, +but said nothing, merely remarking, as I paid my account, that the +love of horseflesh frequently brought people into trouble. He did not +seem to appreciate the remark, and scowled at me, at which I bade him +begone, and to thank his stars that his house was not pulled about his +ears. He did not attempt any reply, but slunk off, and inwardly +resolving to clear out this nest of scorpions from Rome at the first +chance, I rode out of the gate, followed by Jacopo, and we directed +our way towards the Ponte S. Angelo. I had not the least idea where +his eminence of Rouen was staying; but made certain it would be +somewhere in the Borgo, and that once I had reached the papal quarter, +I should find no difficulty in my search for D'Amboise, and in +delivering to him Machiavelli's letter. + +As I went on, I began to feel nervous in spite of myself, as to what +the results of my interview with the cardinal would be, and whether it +would end in the further employment, which the Secretary had +distinctly said it would. I had no reason to doubt, however, and it +was with a hopeful mind that I trotted up the Lungo Tavere, and was +brought to a halt by a gruesome spectacle at Tor di Nona. There was a +crowd assembled, watching an execution, and Jacopo, sidling up to me, +remarked as he pointed to a body swinging in the air-- + +"What room there would be for Messer Braccio Fortebraccio here, +signore--see that pear, of the kind he loves, growing there? _Barta!_ +But there is another one----" and, even as he spoke, another wretch +was hoisted into the air, and then another and another. I did not stop +to look; but Jacopo stayed behind, overtaking me at a gallop as I +reached the Piazza di S. Angelo. + +"It is the doctor of St. John's on the Lateran, and three of his +bravos, signore. It is said he was accustomed to spend his evenings in +cutting purses and throats; but, as ill luck would have it, meddled +with one of Giulia Bella's friends, and no money could buy an +indulgence for that." + +"If true he is well served, and there are others of his kidney whom we +could spare with equal pleasure." + +"Mine host of our inn, excellency, for instance. But the gibbet at Tor +di Nona does not always bear fruit like this. I mind early one----" + +At this moment, however, I set spurs to my horse and lost the rest, +being afraid that Jacopo intended to retail to me the story of the old +men and women who had been hanged as a morning's diversion by Cesare +Borgia, and as he had twice delivered himself of this to me as we sat +up last night, I was in no mood to hear it again for the third time. +Near the statues of Peter and Paul, on the bridge, was a guard-house, +occupied at the time by a detachment of Spanish infantry, and to these +men I addressed myself, inquiring where the cardinal of Rouen was +staying. I was told, at once, that his eminence was lodging in the new +palace of Cardinal Corneto, opposite the Scorsa Cavalli, and that my +best way was to turn to the left on crossing the bridge, and then to +the right at the junction of the Borgo San Spirito and the Borgo San +Michele. + +Bestowing my thanks and a largesse on the men for their kindness, I +went on at a gallop, congratulating myself on the ease with which the +difficulty was solved, and in a few minutes had crossed the Piazza +Scorsa Cavalli, and was before the residence of the cardinal. At the +time I speak of, it was not quite finished, but still habitable, and +had been rented by Monsignore d'Amboise, as being conveniently near +the Vatican. + +On entering the courtyard, I dismounted, and giving my horse to Jacopo +to hold, ascended the steps, and boldly announced myself as an urgent +messenger who had business with his eminence. I was ushered by a page +into a reception room, and early as the hour was, there were a +considerable number of people already in attendance, awaiting the +morning levee. Here I was left to cool my heels for a little time, the +spruce page informing me that the cardinal was engaged at breakfast, +but that he would tell him of my coming, and asked my name. I +hesitated for a moment, but decided to keep the name of Donati which I +had assumed, and gave that, adding that I was the bearer of an urgent +despatch to the cardinal, which I must deliver with my own hands. The +young man then left me, as I have said, and taking a good position +near the entrance door to the adjoining room, I leaned back against +the wall, and awaited my summons. The reception room was of noble +proportions, oblong in shape, the ceiling being supported by two +pillars of veined marble, which, although they diminished the size of +the chamber, had a good effect. The marble flooring, arranged in a +patchwork of black and white, was bare of all furniture, and as the +room gradually filled, the constant moving of feet, the sound of which +rang sharply on the stone, made it appear as if a lot of masons' +hammers were at work. I let my eyes wander over the groups as they +stood or moved about, wondering, if by chance I should see anyone I +knew; but they were all strangers to me, mostly Frenchmen, with a fair +sprinkling of priests amongst them. They were one and all trying to +jostle past each other, so as to gain as close a position as possible +to the entrance door, near to which I stood; and as I watched this +with some little amusement, I heard a whisper in my ear, and glancing +round beheld a man standing near me in a doctor's robe, holding a +heavily bound missal in his hand. I saw in a moment it was Corte, and +he whispered in a low voice: + +"Well met again, signore, remember your promise." + +"I do, and the promise I made to the juggler will not be forgotten to +the doctor. Is it wise, however, if you wish to remain unknown, for us +to be seen speaking here?" + +"Not very, but I wanted a word with you. Do not look round at present, +but near the pillar to your right are two men, one dressed half in +cloth of gold, and they are more interested in you than you think. I +overheard a snatch of conversation--they are moving this way. By your +leave, signore," raising his voice, he attempted to push by me, and +catching the hint his last words had thrown out, I answered loudly, +"First come, first served, learned doctor, and you must bide your +turn." + +"I am a man of peace, and therefore yield." Corte moved off, and I was +free to look around me. I saw that Corte's little piece of acting, to +which I had risen, was due to the fact that the man in the cloth of +gold and his companion were edging nearer to us, and at the time were +barely six feet off. Besting my hand lightly on the hilt of my sword I +looked the two full in the face, but could make nothing of them. The +one who wore a jerkin of gold cloth met my look for an instant, and +then dropped his eyes, a faint flush rising to his cheek. I saw that +he was a young man of a singularly handsome countenance. A short +neatly curled moustache fell over his upper lip and mouth, but there +was no sign of a beard on the small and rounded chin, which was +cleanly shaven. On his right cheek he wore a black patch, placed as if +to hide the scar of a wound, although his complexion was as delicate +as if the sun had never touched it. In his ears he wore earrings, an +affectation of female adornment hateful to me, and the fingers of his +small right hand, which he held ungloved, were covered with rings. The +hilt of his rapier too, peeping from under the folds of his gay cloak, +was crested with jewels, and altogether it seemed as if I could have +nothing to fear from this painted lily, who looked more fitted to +thrum a lute in a lady's bower than have aught to do with the stir of +the times. I therefore loosed my glance from him with some contempt, +and turned to his companion, who was robed as an abbe, and evidently +in a sour middle age. His features were bolder than those of his +companion, but distinctly those of the canaille, and there was nothing +in them in any way remarkable. + +Nevertheless I thought it well to be on the watch, knowing that a +dagger thrust is easily sent home, and there was the certainty, too, +that the fact of my coming to Rome with a letter was known to the +Medici plotters in Florence, and evidently it was their object to +frustrate its delivery. What puzzled me, however, was that the look +the young man directed to me was not unfriendly, and it struck me that +if I could only hear his voice it might give me some clue to a +recognition. The two had come a little between me and the door, and I +was just about to contest the place with a view of forcing their hands +if possible, when the door was flung open and the same page who had +taken my name appeared and called out-- + +"Signor Donati, his eminence awaits you." + +As the door opened there was a general movement towards it. But the +cry of the page in a moment arrested the crowd, turning the look of +anticipation on the faces of all to one of disappointment, and a loud +murmuring arose against my being so favored. I lost not a second in +stepping forward, and in doing so purposely brushed against the young +man near to me, turning round as I did so with a somewhat brusque "By +your leave, sir." I fully expected that he would resent my rudeness +and make some speech, but he merely bowed his head with a courteous +inclination, showing a set of small and even teeth as he smiled under +his blonde moustache. I was a little put out by the failure of my +plan, but the next instant the door closed behind me, and at any rate +the letter to the cardinal was safe, and my task was as good as +accomplished. + +I followed the page therefore with an equal mind, and lifting a +curtain, which fell in heavy folds at the end of the passage, where a +couple of gorgeous lackeys stood, he called out "Messer Donati," and +then stepped aside to let me pass. I entered the room with a firm +step, and saw before me a large, but plainly-furnished apartment. In a +lounge chair near a small table, on which was set out a light repast, +was a man whom I at once guessed to be the cardinal. He wore a purple +robe, and the barettina or small skull cap, which covered the tonsure +on his head, allowed his short grey hair, which curled naturally, to +be seen around it. Under the cap I saw a square resolute face with +keen black eyes, and a full but kindly mouth. He was just putting down +a glass of vernaccia as I came in, and I caught the purple glitter of +the sapphire ring he wore in token of his rank, as he set down the +glass. He was not alone, for, leaning against the window and caressing +the head of an enormous wolf-hound, was a splendidly-dressed cavalier, +who looked up as I came in, and I saw at once it was Bayard. I kept my +eyes away from him, however, and advancing straight towards the +cardinal, placed the letter before him without a word. + +D'Amboise looked at the seals carefully, and then taking a small +jade-hilted knife from the table, ripped open the envelope, and ran +his eye quickly over the letter. As he did so not a muscle of his face +moved to show how the contents stirred him, and when he had finished +he held it out at arm's length, saying-- + +"My dear Bayard, what do you think of this?" + +Bayard made a step forward to take the letter, and in doing this our +eyes met, and he frankly held out his hand. I could hardly believe it +when I saw it extended towards me. My breath came thick and fast, and +the whole room swam around. The man was the soul of honour, the +noblest knight in Christendom; he had seen my trial, nay, he had been +one of my judges, and he offered me his hand! He must hold me +guiltless, I felt. "My lord!" I rather gasped than spoke as I took his +grasp, but seeing my emotion, he put in-- + +"Sit down, cavaliere. His eminence will forgive me for disposing of a +seat in his house--we are more than old friends." He placed his hand +on my shoulder and forced me to a seat, whilst D'Amboise, still +holding the letter in his hand, looked at us with a puzzled air. + +"St. Dennis!" he exclaimed. "What does this mean, Bayard?" + +"It means, your eminence, that this is a gallant gentleman who has +been most basely used; but pardon me--the letter." + +He took the letter from the cardinal's hands and read it quickly, +whilst I sat still, with emotions in my heart I cannot describe, and +D'Amboise glanced from one to another with a half-amused, half-curious +look on his keen face. Bayard finished his perusal in a few seconds, +and laying the letter on the table said, "Nothing could be better. We +should be prepared for action, although there is yet plenty of time. I +wonder how in the world the Florentine got wind of this?" + +"Oh, he has long ears. We shall, however, want a good sword, and if +all that the secretary writes is true, we have got it in your friend +the Cavaliere Donati. In fact Machiavelli suggests him for the task." + +"My name, your eminence, is not Donati," I here put in, "but Savelli. +When misfortune overtook me, I changed my name; but I see no reason +for hiding the truth from you." + +"Quite right," said D'Amboise, "but Savelli! Is this the Savelli of +the Arezzo affair, Bayard?" + +Bayard nodded assent, and the cardinal continued, turning to me. +"Then, sir, I have heard your story, and you have more friends than +you think. But of this, later on. Were you not at Fornovo?" + +"Yes," I replied, wondering what the cardinal's speech meant. + +"_Ciel!_ I made out your patent of St. Lazare myself. What could have +made Tremouille act as he did I do not know, and he is as obstinate as +a mule. Bayard, I know all about this gentleman, and your testimony to +his worth convinces me that what I have heard is correct. I could +never believe the story myself." + +"My lords, you may doubt; but the world----" + +"Will yet come round to you, cavaliere," said Bayard, and added, "Your +eminence could not have a better sword for your purpose than that of +M. di Savelli here, provided he will accept the task." + +"I will accept anything from you, my lords," I said. + +"Good," said D'Amboise, "now let me tell you how you stand. Acting +doubtless in the advice of friends, Madame d'Entrangues wrote to me a +full account of the affair, which ended so badly for you, and +explained fully her husband's treachery. This she begged me to forward +to Tremouille with a view of getting your sentence altered. As you +have just been made aware, I have some knowledge of you, and it was a +thousand pities to see a sword, which had served France well, turned +away. I laid the matter before the duke, but he replied to say he +could take no action. The duchess, who is my cousin, has also used her +influence but to no purpose, for Tremouille stirs his porridge with +his own hand, and does not care if it burn or not, as long as he stirs +it himself. We could get the king's pardon for you, and as a last +resource that might be done, for I like as little to be thwarted as +His Grace of Tremouille; but that will raise you up a strong enemy in +the duke, and it will not kill the story--you see." + +"I do, your eminence. How can I thank you?" + +"I do not want your thanks, cavaliere; but France wants your sword. +Your only way is to do a signal service for France, and after this the +matter is easy. Tremouille is generous, and it would want but a little +pressure to make him rescind his sentence apparently of his own +accord, provided you could do what I have said. Strange how fate +works!" + +I remained silent, and D'Amboise went on: "Such a service it is +possible for you to do, and I will put it in your way. I cannot at +present give you details as they have to be discussed with the +secretary, who will shortly be in Rome. This much, however, I can tell +you; get together a few good men, you doubtless can lay your hands on +them, and be ready. You will no doubt want funds, but they will be +arranged for. In the meantime you may consider yourself as attached to +my suite--a moment," he continued as I was about to pour out my +thanks, "you had better for the present call yourself Donati. I know +something of the history of Roman families, and your name would not +smell well to the Chigi and Colonna, and remember the Tiber is very +deep." + +He touched a small handbell as he concluded, and the page appeared. +"Defaure," he said, "send the Abbe Le Clere and my gentlemen to me; +after that you will please inform the steward that apartments are to +be prepared at once for M. Donati, who is here." The page bowed and +vanished, and as I rose to await the coming of the suite, the cardinal +went on with a smile, "Messieurs in the ante-room are doubtless +getting impatient; we must make haste to receive them." As he said +these words a grey-haired priest entered, bearing on a cushion the +scarlet hat of a prince of the church, and following him, half-a-dozen +gentlemen, and grooms of the chamber. The cardinal rose, and leaning +on the arm of Bayard, walked slowly towards the door. Le Clerc bore +the hat immediately before him, and the rest of us formed a queue +behind. As we came to the door it was flung open by two lackeys in a +blue and silver livery, who shouted out-- + +"My Lord Cardinal--way--way." + +We passed into the room where the people were arranged in two rows, +and D'Amboise walked down the line, bowing to one, exchanging a word +or two with another, until he came opposite Corte. The doctor dropped +to his knee, and presenting his book, solicited the cardinal's +influence to obtain for him an audience with the Pope, to whom he +desired to dedicate his work. + +"_Perte!_" said the cardinal. "Why not go to his eminence of +Strigonia--books are more in his line than--well, we shall see--we +shall see." + +He passed on, and the next group that caught his eye was that of the +young stranger in the cloth of gold and his companion. + +As the cardinal approached, the young man drew a letter from his vest, +and presented it with a low bow. + +D'Amboise tore it open and glanced over the contents. "_Diable!_" he +exclaimed, "from Madame de la Tremouille herself. See here, Bayard, +the Duchess writes, introducing her friend the Chevalier St. +Armande--I know not the house." + +"We are of Picardy, your eminence." + +The voice was singularly sweet and soft, and a strange and undefinable +resemblance in its tones to some other voice I had heard struck me, +but I could not fix upon anything. + +"The Duchess says you are anxious to serve; would it not have been +easier to send you to the Duke?" + +St. Armande looked round with a heightened colour, and then replied, +speaking in the same low, soft tones: + +"If your eminence will kindly read the letter, you will perceive that +my desire was to see something of the court of Rome before joining the +duke." + +D'Amboise glanced at the letter again, and an odd smile passed over +his face. + +"I see," he added, "the postscript--My dear Chevalier, Madame de la +Tremouille's requests are commands to me. If you will do me the honour +of joining my suite, I shall be delighted. Permit me to introduce you +to the Cavaliere Donati, who is also a new friend." + +I bowed and extended my hand, and St. Armande placed his within mine. +It was small and delicate as a woman's, and as I clasped it for a +moment, it felt as chill and cold as death. + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + THE GIFT OF BAYARD. + + +The levee lasted some little time, as D'Amboise, who was studious of +the arts of gaining popularity, listened with apparent interest to any +one who chose to address him, and seemed to possess a wonderful memory +for even the most trifling details. This was, in fact, an informal +reception, which the cardinal, both as a prince of the Church, and the +representative of France at the Papal Court, held daily, and hither +came all the lesser members of the French party in Rome, and all those +who hoped to gain something from the prelate by the simple process of +asking; for D'Amboise was known to be generous and free, despite an +occasional testiness of manner, such as he had exhibited to Corte, and +shown in the first instance to St. Armande. + +Corte I spoke to no more that day; but I saw him, where he had +retreated to the extreme end of the room, his book under his arm, +evidently waiting to make his exit. St. Armande took his place beside +me, his companion, the abbe, dropping into the rear. Once he, St. +Armande, hazarded a remark, which I did not catch, and therefore did +not answer. In truth, I was in no mood for speaking, my mind being +full of my eventful interview with the cardinal and Bayard, and I was +more than grateful for the happy chance that had enabled me to draw my +sword in aid of the secretary Machiavelli. I thought too of Madame +D'Entrangues, and of what she had done in my behalf, and would have +given much to have thanked her for her efforts, fruitless although +they apparently were. But what struck me most of all was the fact, +that whilst in my misery at Florence I was upbraiding fate, and all +but cursing God, friends were at work, trying to help and aid me, and +this taught me a lesson. + +At last the levee came to an end. The last petition monger had made +his request, D'Amboise had made his last pleasant speech, and, turning +slowly round, we made our way back, when the cardinal retired with +Bayard to an inner apartment, leaving us to our own devices. St. +Armande, whose appearance attracted general attention, was surrounded +by the gentlemen of the suite, who asked the last news of the court, +and the last scandal of Macon, where Louis was, holding high revelry, +instead of marching, as he should have done, at once into Italy, after +the defeat of Cesare at Fossombrone. The result of his action being a +further truce that much delayed his success, and indeed very nearly +ruined his chances, which were great at the time. As for me, I was +left to myself; no one coming near me except the huge hound, which +rose slowly, and approaching, surveyed me with a grave interest. Then, +apparently satisfied, he wagged his tail in approval, and touched my +hand with his grim muzzle. I ran my fingers over his shaggy coat with +a caressing motion, and, observing Defaure, the page whom I had first +addressed on arrival, begged him to show me my apartments, enquiring +at the same time of Jacopo and the horses. + +"The house is full, signore," he replied, "but we have done what we +could for your accommodation. The horses have been attended to, and +the Sergeant Jacopo awaits you in your rooms." + +"Thanks, friend," and I followed him, smiling a little to myself at +the French rank which Jacopo had assumed, no doubt out of compliment +to our host, my new employer. We passed out by the same entrance by +which I had come in, and, crossing a courtyard, the page ushered me to +a set of apartments in an outbuilding, and left me with the +information that dinner would be served at noon for the cardinal as +well as the gentlemen of the suite. + +I found Jacopo in high glee. He had set out all my apparel, and was +engaged in burnishing his sword. This he put down as I came in, and +burst into speech. + +"Blood of St. John! Excellency, but did I not say luck would turn? +Yesterday we were anywhere," and he held up both hands with the +fingers outstretched, "to-day, behold!" and he waved his arms around +the room, which was certainly fitted with luxury, and struck me as all +the more luxurious after my past privations. + +"The horses, Jacopo?" + +"Are well as might be, signore, and munching their corn as if they +were never to have another feed. Does your excellency mean to stay +long in this land of plenty?" + +"Not for long, Jacopo. And harkee! Remember not to address me by any +other name than that of Donati. Do not let a hint of my real name +escape you, and avoid babbling over the wine cup." + +"I will be dumb, excellency." + +"A good deal depends on your prudence in this, and you must take care +not to fail. Now to business, and keep your ears open and your head +clear. How do we stand as regards funds?" + +Jacopo, to whom I had entrusted my money, pulled out a leather purse +and counted the contents. + +"There are five-and-thirty crowns with me, signore, and five I gave +your worship this morning, making forty in all," and he restored the +purse to its hiding-place under his belt. + +"Enough for our needs at present, and more will be forthcoming soon, +for there is business in hand." + +"I said that luck would turn," repeated Jacopo, his face showing joy +at the news. + +"Never mind the luck, but attend to me. I want to enlist half-a-dozen +good men, men who will go anywhere and do anything. They must bring +their own arms and horses, and I will engage them for a month, and pay +each man five crowns." + +"That is at the rate of sixty crowns a year for each man. We could +enlist half Rome for that." + +"Probably, but it isn't half Rome, only half-a-dozen men I want." + +"Very true, your worship, and I will doubtless be able to find them; +but, excellency----" + +"What is it?" + +"Six men at five crowns each makes thirty crowns, and--" + +"Did I not say more will be forthcoming? You need not pay them in +advance. Two crowns each on enlisting, and the remainder on completion +of the task. Will that do?" + +"It is enough surely." + +"Very well, then you may set about this at once, and remember that +they should be lodged close at hand, and be ready to go anywhere at a +moment's notice." + +"Excellency." + +Whilst this conversation was going on I had effected such change in my +attire as was possible, resolving to take the first opportunity the +following day to summon a tailor and give him orders for things for +which I stood in need. Jacopo was just about to depart when Defaure, +the page, appeared, bearing with him a note and a ruleau, which he +said was from his eminence. These he left with me and retired, saying +there was no answer. The note was brief, merely hoping I was in +comfort, and sending me in the ruleau a hundred crowns, with the +intimation that if I needed them another hundred was ready for me. The +sum, however, was more than ample, and giving Jacopo further +directions to engage a couple of lackeys I sent him away, rejoicing at +my good fortune, with a present of ten crowns for himself, which the +honest fellow at first refused to take, and only accepted on my +pressing the sum on him. + +This being done there was nothing left for me but to await the dinner +hour, and I strolled down to the stables to look at the horses, which +were in truth in such luxury as perhaps the poor beasts had never +enjoyed. A groom of the cardinal's establishment had attended to them, +and I slipped a piece of silver into his hand for his trouble. He bit +this to test whether it was genuine or not, and then settled himself +on a heap of hay to mend some saddlery. + +I left him to his occupation, and, with a parting caress to my beasts, +moved further on to look at the other animals. And here, meeting the +head groom, I had some conversation with him, admiring the cardinal's +stud. + +"Yes, excellency," he said, "they are good horses, notably the two +barbs which the Soldan Djem presented to his eminence, but there are +other two now in our stables, belonging to the Sieur de Bayard, the +like of which I have never seen. They are this way, excellency, if you +will but accompany me." + +I readily assented, and passing by the barbs, whose slight delicate +frames belied their powers of speed and endurance, we came to a couple +of stalls, in which there were a pair of war-horses that fully +justified the head groom's praise. They were both English, and I +recognised the breed, as Hawkwood had brought three or four with him +from Britain, saying, and with truth, that they were the only animals +that could ever carry him when in full mail. But the two before me in +the stables were as superior to Hawkwood's as a barb is to a mule. One +was the great bay Bayard was riding on the day of my trial, when he +accompanied the duke and his staff back to Arezzo. The other was a +blue roan, whose colour did not show off his size to advantage, but +whose broad chest, sloping shoulders, and lean flanks marked his +power. His eyes were mild and soft, yet full of fire, and his small +head was set like that of a stag upon his strong neck. Two grooms, +bearing on their liveries the arms of the house of Terrail, of which +the Seigneur de Bayard was chief, were in attendance, and set to work +with a somewhat unnecessary zeal on our appearance to polish the coats +of their charges which already shone like satin. Whilst engaged in +admiring these splendid animals, I heard the deep bay of the hound +behind me, and turning, saw Bayard himself who had come to visit his +favourites. I complimented him on the possession of two such steeds, +as who would not have done, and Bayard said-- + +"Yes, they are fine animals, truly the finest I have ever seen, except +perhaps the one-eyed Savoy, who was also of the same breed; and yet I +am not sure," and he ran his eyes over the horses. "They were given to +me, along with Bran here"--he touched the head of the hound--"by His +Majesty, Henry of England, when I was taken prisoner in the English +War." + +"A noble gift." + +"Yes--from a noble prince. And you really admire them, cavaliere?" + +"Yes--and I knew Savoy too, and doubt if he was better." + +"What can knight want more? A good horse, a good hound,"--and his face +saddened a little--"a true love. _Pardieu!_ but I must see to that +last. My castle on the Garonne needs a chatelaine." + +I said nothing, knowing of the one great sorrow of his life, which he +bore so bravely, and which I knew had bitten to his heart for all his +gay words. + +"Castor and Pollux I call them," he said, indicating the horses with a +slight gesture. "Not that they are alike, except in speed and courage; +but that they are both supposed to have been born the same day, and +have never been separated. The best of friends must, however, part, +and a knight wants no more than one horse; so, cavaliere, if you will +accept Castor, the blue roan there, you will find that he will never +fail you." + +I could hardly speak for the moment, and at first stoutly refused to +take so valuable a gift; but Bayard would have no denial, and the +short of it was that Castor was led into one of the stalls reserved +for me. + +To say that I was grateful would be to say very little; but I will +merely add here that the gift itself was only equalled by the manner +of the giver. I accompanied Bayard into the garden, which lay to the +west of the palace, and in course of conversation told him that I had +received the sum sent by D'Amboise, and of the steps I had taken to +get together a few men, and assured him that whatever the task was +that I was to be set to perform, nothing but death itself would cut +short my endeavour. Our talk then drifted to other matters, and he +gave me some information of interest concerning Madame D'Entrangues. +It appeared that D'Entrangues, who had a friend at court in his +kinsman, Etienne de Vesci, the seneschal of Beaucaire, had forwarded a +strong petition against Tremouille's decision regarding himself, and a +prayer that the king would restore him to his position, and compel +Madame D'Entrangues to return to him. As if he himself had not +abandoned her! Owing to his influence with Cesare he had moreover +obtained an order from Alexander denying madame the refuge of a +convent. Louis had, however, declined to interfere with Tremouille's +decision, but had ordered madame to leave the court and return to her +husband. Fearing that force would be resorted to in order to compel +her to return to D'Entrangues she had fled from the protection of the +Duchesse de la Tremouille, who denied all knowledge of her movements, +and the matter stood there. By this time it was almost approaching the +dinner hour, and we separated, Bayard, followed close at his heels by +Bran, going to seek the cardinal, and I returning to my chamber, where +I found Jacopo who had just come back. He had been to the stables on +his way up, and was loud in his praise of Castor. + +"They say he is fleet as the wind, excellency, and he is as gentle as +a lambkin. It is a glorious steed, and a princely gift." + +"It is so; but what success have you had?" + +"None as yet about the swords, signore; there has not been time; but I +have engaged a couple of grooms and a lackey, and ordered plain +liveries for them. The grooms are even now with the horses, and the +lackey will be here to-morrow." + +"Very well, there is time enough. Basta! There go the trumpets. His +eminence must be served." + +We made our way to the dining-hall, entering it almost at the same +time as the cardinal, his guests, and the rest of the suite. At the +high table on the _dais_ sat the cardinal, with Bayard, another prince +of the church whom I afterwards found out was the Cardinal of +Strigonia, a scion of the house of Este, and a tall, sombre-looking +man, with high aquiline features, and a complexion almost as dark as a +Moor's. He was plainly and simply dressed, wearing a light steel +corselet over his jerkin, and round his neck the ribbon of St. James +of Compostella, whilst the order itself, a red enamel sword with a +_fleur-de-lis hilt_, set in an oval white enamel medallion with a red +border, studded with brilliants, flashed at his throat. His short, +closely-cropped hair was white as snow, but the long moustache which +dropped over his mouth and short, pointed beard, was untouched by a +streak of grey. Altogether a remarkable man, one whom no one could +pass by without looking at twice; and in me he excited the greatest +interest, for he was none other than Ganalvo de Cordova, the "Great +Captain," and the most skilful general of the age. He had only a few +weeks before driven Marshal d'Aubigny out of Calabria, and was +marching straight on against Tremouille, when the cessation of +hostilities stopped his plans, and suddenly resigning his command he +had come to Rome, for what purpose no one knew, although it was said +that his resignation and difference with the Spanish Court was but a +blind. + +Be that as it may, I had now an opportunity of seeing together, seated +side by side, the dark and stern grandee of Spain, as able as he was +cruel, as vindictive as he was brave; and the brilliant and polished +Bayard, who seemed to have gathered in his person all the noblest +qualities of knighthood, and on the white shield of whose honour there +was never a stain. And how different was the fate of these two men! De +Cordova, after holding the highest offices, after being practically a +king, after shedding an imperishable glory on his country by his +victories, and staining her memory indelibly by his perfidy, died at +last, with all his fine spun webs broken. And Bayard--old as I am, my +eyes grow moist when I think of that glorious day at the passage of +the Sesia, when, covered with wounds, overborne by numbers, and +fighting to the last against hopeless odds, Pierre du Terrail gave +back his soul to God. But long years were to pass before this +happened, and Bayard was at present in the hey-dey of his career. + +The table for the gentlemen of the suite was placed just below the +_dais_, and extending further down the room were other tables, for all +who could obtain seats thereat, whilst at the extreme end of the room +was a high stand, whence any one was at liberty to bear away as much +of a meal as he could carry off on the point of his dagger. + +Estimating roughly, I should say that fully three hundred persons +dined daily, in this manner, with D'Amboise, and this hospitality, +which he exercised in the manner of a French feudal noble, was the +subject of much amusement at the Papal Court, where they prided +themselves on a more refined and delicate style of living. At any +rate, all that was here was safe to touch, and no one had need to fear +that a dinner at the Palazzo Corneto with the Cardinal of Rouen was a +prelude to a supper with St. Peter in heaven. His eminence, who was a +notable trencherman, beamed down from his high seat on us all, and +tried valiantly to assay conclusions with the Cardinal of Strigonia; +but was compelled at last to own himself beaten, for Ippolyte d'Este +was one in a thousand at table; in fact, this jovial prelate ended his +days suddenly, after a prodigious dinner, which began at eleven in the +morning and ended at four in the afternoon, concluding with so light a +dainty as a dish of roasted cray-fish, washed down with a bottle of +vernaccia, a wine of which he was inordinately fond. At our own table, +there were about a dozen or more, and I found myself seated next to +St. Armande, whilst opposite to me was Le Clerc, the cardinal's +chaplain, and next to him an officer of the Papal Guards, a Spaniard, +who spoke little and ate much. St. Armande passed by the wine, +drinking only water, and in reply to a question of mine answered that +he was under a vow. + +"We can absolve you here easily, chevalier," said Le Clerc, who +overheard the remark, "here is some Orvieto which I can recommend," +and he pushed the flask towards St. Armande. + +The latter, however, would not be tempted, and Le Clerc shook his +head. + +"A wilful man must have his way, chevalier; but that Orvieto was a +present from Pierrot, Our Lord's most favoured servant." + +"Indeed," said the Spaniard; "then I can safely say it is the last +present you will receive from Don Pierrot." + +"How so?" + +"Cesare arrived last night, very suddenly, with two men only, they +say. He has not, however, yet seen His Holiness--although he is in the +Vatican." + +Le Clerc remained silent, but St. Armande asked in his low voice-- + +"I do not follow, sir. Could you not explain? Unless I ask too much. +You see I am a stranger to Rome." + +The Spaniard smiled grimly. + +"It means, chevalier, that Pierrot was found this morning with a +dagger sticking up to the hilt in his heart." + +St. Armande turned pale, and Le Clerc asked in a low tone-- + +"Are you sure of this? When did it happen?" + +"As sure as I sit here. It happened an hour or so after Cesare's +coming. The Pope is said to be overcome with grief," and the lips of +Don Diego de Leyva took a sarcastic curve. + +"Great heavens!" said Le Clerc. "Poor Pierrot!" + +The chaplain rose from his seat with a slight apology, and approaching +D'Amboise, leaned over him and whispered a few words in his ear. The +cardinal nodded with apparent unconcern, and Le Clerc came back; but +watching D'Amboise narrowly, I saw that although he still appeared to +laugh and jest, his eyes were grave and his brow troubled. In fact, +shortly afterwards, the high table broke up, and we followed suit very +soon. Despite his effeminate appearance, I had begun to take a liking +to St. Armande, and as the next few hours were at our disposal, I +invited him to ride out with me, as I had a mind to try Castor's +paces. This, however, he declined, with the somewhat shy air that +marked his manner, and leaving him to his devices, I ordered Castor to +be saddled and took him out. When I returned, about five in the +afternoon, I felt that all that had been said of the generous beast I +rode, underrated his value, and that I possessed a matchless steed, +who was fit to run for a kingdom. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + FRIEND OR FOE. + + +For the next few days the routine of my life was exactly the same, the +morning attendance at the cardinal's levee, the daily dinner in +public, and long rides with Castor in the afternoons, in which I was +sometimes accompanied by St. Armande; but this was not always +possible, as he was closely attached to D'Amboise's person. D'Amboise +frequently asked me to accompany him to the Vatican; but up to now I +had begged permission to decline his invitation, on the plea that, +with the business before me, it would perhaps be well for me to +live as much in retreat as possible. The cardinal said, with that +good-tempered laugh of his, which entirely belied his astute scheming +nature, that as I was as yet ignorant of my task, I need not be so +careful. I replied to his eminence, that it was just because I was in +the dark, that I was so circumspect, and he was then good enough to +agree with me. I was, however, naturally anxious to see something of +the Vatican, and one of my reasons for refusing, besides that of +prudence, was that I was not sufficiently well equipped. This, +however, with the funds at my disposal, was soon mended, but from some +cause or other, I had up to now not gone. Jacopo was not so successful +as he anticipated he would be, in raising his men. It was, above all, +necessary to have them trustworthy, and it was difficult to get men of +this class for a merely temporary employment such as I offered. At +last the matter was arranged, and by the end of the week I mustered a +body of six stout fellows, all of them fairly well mounted, and what +was better, all of them trained soldiers. I had them lodged near the +Ripetta, and the cardinal's table afforded them a free dinner, of +which they were not slow to take advantage. In order to keep them +employed, I took them out with me every afternoon, dismissing them +upon my return, with orders to join the nightly escort of the cardinal +and Bayard, to and from the Vatican. I saw a good deal of Bayard, and +at times expressed myself with impatience at being kept to cool my +heels. He told me he was not at liberty to mention the details of the +business on which I was to be employed, and advised me to bide my time +with a patient heart. Amongst other matters we spoke of was the murder +of Pierrot, and Bayard told me that Cesare Borgia had left Rome the +next day without seeing his father, the Pope, and that he was crushing +out completely the stand made against him by my old chief Vitelli of +Citta del Castello, and others. + +I took Bayard's advice and held patience by the tail, although I +longed for work to begin. My men were in good fettle. They had enough +work to keep them out of mischief, the pay was good, they had +sufficient leisure for amusement, and there was therefore no +grumbling. + +I used to sup alone in my rooms, occasionally asking St. Armande to +join me; and after supper we diced together for an hour or so, for +very small points. He was an infant at the game, and I taught him a +good deal, so much so, that after a little practice, for he was very +quick with his wrist, he mastered my favourite throw, and one evening +after returning from the Vatican, he knocked me up in my rooms, and +flung on the table a bag of gold pieces. + +"Three hundred of them, cavaliere!" he said, "I won them from Fabrizio +Colonna, who is looking green with rage. If your purse is running +short, they are at your service. Ha! I see a flask of Orvieto--may I?" +and he poured himself out a goblet, at which he began to sip, in +apparent defiance of his vow. + +"The devil!" I exclaimed, "but you are flying at high stakes, +chevalier. Your Picard estates must be broad. Thanks all the same for +your offer, but my purse is as full as I want it at present." + +He leaned back in his chair, with a pink flush on his delicate +features. + +"I meant no offence, cavaliere; but what is the use of money unless +one can share it with a friend?" + +"There was no offence taken, St. Armande," I replied, "and if you will +take none, I would like to have my say at you." + +He looped one finger in his golden moustache, and showed his even +teeth in his smile, as he said, "Speak on." + +"Then, chevalier, it seems to me a thousand pities that a young man +like you should waste your time here, as you appear to be doing. I +understood you to say you had never seen a sword drawn in earnest as +yet--and your moustache is grown! Take my advice. Play no more for +gold pieces with Colonna or anyone else. Mount your horse, and join +Tremouille at once." + +"Ah! that is good," he said; "and why does the grave and reverend +Cavaliere Donati waste his time here, hanging at the heels of a +churchman, and moping o' nights like an owl on a ruined wall, instead +of stirring the times himself with the point of his sword?" + +With any other I would have been annoyed; with the youth before me I +was slightly amused, and at the same time a trifle surprised. Hitherto +he had appeared so shy and reserved, and now, of a sudden, he had +thrown this off, and had put on an air which I had not noticed before, +but which became him vastly. I set it down to the fact that perhaps he +was slightly warmed with wine, having apparently absolved himself from +his vow; although of course I did not appear to notice this last, as +he was in a manner my guest. I therefore made reply. + +"My reasons for my action, chevalier, are good, and when the time +comes I promise you I shall not be found sleeping." + +The gentle reproof in my words seemed to bring him back to his old +self, for by the light of the candles I observed him flush scarlet, +and that curious look which recalled a strange resemblance to some one +I knew, but could not remember, came over his features. I began to +relent as I saw his confusion, almost as soon as I had spoken; and +added, "I may say that the time is not far distant--that it is a +matter of days only." + +"Take me with you." + +He asked this almost in a tone of entreaty, keeping his eyes away from +me, however, and nervously twisting at his moustache. + +"And your secretary, as you call him, the abbe?" + +"Oh, he will come too, and we could confess to him." + +I hesitated for a second, and then made answer. + +"Very well. Only you must be prepared to start at a moment's notice, +and there will probably be hard riding and hard fighting, and there is +yet another thing." + +"What is that?" + +"You must come as a simple volunteer, and must make no enquiry as to +what the business is on which I am engaged. I risk my life for my own +purposes; if you wish to do likewise you are welcome to join me, on +the condition I have just stated." + +"I accept with pleasure." + +"Then that is settled, and I have a new comrade." + +"Hurrah!" and he raised his glass to his lips. + +After that he retired, it being late. I saw him across the courtyard +as far as his apartments, and then returning to my rooms, +unconsciously took the chair St. Armande had vacated. The goblet of +wine he had filled was before me, and I idly lifted it in my hand. It +was barely touched. In fact he could but have tasted a few drops only. + +Like lightning a suspicion of treachery came on me. The man had been +pretending to drink. With what object? I could not make out. Was the +offer of the money a blind? Perhaps so, and if then? I had been a fool +to agree to his joining me, with that sour-looking abbe of his. Yes, I +had been a fool, but it was lucky I discovered my own folly in time. I +should keep my eyes on this silken diplomat, and if necessary pick a +quarrel with him, and run him through. Somehow I did not like the idea +of this, however; but determined to get rid of him in one way or the +other. I would allow nothing to stand between me and the road back to +honour. So musing I sat for a half-hour or so, and was startled by +Jacopo's sudden entry, so lost was I in thought. He came and stood, +bolt upright, next to my chair, without saying a word. I knew from +this that he had some request to make, some favour to ask, as +otherwise he would not have hesitated to make play with his tongue at +once. + +"What is it Jacopo?" + +He shifted uneasily from one foot to the other, and then replied-- + +"Your excellency, I want leave." + +"Leave! What for? You are not going to be married, are you?" + +"Heaven and the saints forbid, excellency. No--no--it is not that, it +is only leave for the day I want, and also for our men." + +"The devil! What are you going to do?" + +"Only a little dinner, excellency, which I am giving." + +"And wasting those crowns you got the other day. Well, that is your +affair, not mine. Yes, you can have the leave." + +"A hundred thanks, excellency." + +"Mind you, there must be no brawling, no trouble." + +"Excellency." + +"Well, good night, and remember what I say. Here, you might remove +this wine-cup as you go." + +"Good-night, signore," and Jacopo, lifting the goblet, went out. The +night being fairly warm, I kept my door open, and as he passed into +the portico, I saw him drain the contents of the goblet with a gulp, +and heard him draw his lips together with a smack of approval, and +march off to his quarters, chuckling at something or other. + +The following afternoon I rode out with Bayard and half-a-dozen +others. It was a hawking party, and there was a long gallop to our +point of operation, which was to begin a little way beyond Ponte +Molle. In a short time we started a noble heron, and Bayard flinging +his peregrine into the air, we rode after the birds. It was a glorious +ride, and Castor and Pollux far outstripped the others, so much so +that when we drew rein beside the stricken heron, and Bayard slipped +the hood on to his hawk, our companions were not in sight. This, +however, troubled us little, and turning rein we made backwards. On +our way back I seized the opportunity to mention to Bayard that St. +Armande had volunteered to aid me in my task, and that I had accepted +his offer. + +"It will do him good," he said; "he seems a noble youth, who has been +tied too long to apron-strings." + +"Do you think so?" I said; "he strikes me as being effeminate to a +degree--and yet I cannot help liking him." + +"He has a wonderful pure mind," said Bayard; "the boy, for he is no +less, is as innocent as a child." + +"The Vatican will not improve him then, especially if he plays for +gold crowns with Colonna." + +"Plays for gold crowns!" exclaimed Bayard; "you are surely mistaken, +cavaliere." + +"Did he not do so last night, my lord? I understood he won three +hundred off Fabrizio?" + +"Impossible," said Bayard, "I was at the Vatican last night, and the +party in which Colonna was playing consisted of Strigonia, Monsignore +Florido, our Lord the Pope, and Colonna himself--no more. St. Armande +was standing hard at hand for some little time, but never took a +wager. In fact, he passed most of the evening with Giulia Bella, +thrumming on a lute, much to the annoyance of his holiness. I should +say it would be well for him to quit Rome." + +"Then I am wrong," I said; "yes, I fancy it would be well for him to +quit Rome." + +By this time the others came up, and we said no more. As we went back +to Rome, I dropped a little behind, reflecting on what Bayard had told +me. It was certain that St. Armande had lied to me, and I began to +feel sure he had done this not for my good. In short, it seemed to me +that this innocent looking boy, with his shy retiring manners and +apparent want of knowledge of the world, was nothing more or less than +an accomplished actor. Then again he was a Frenchman, and how came he, +obviously fresh from France, to become an agent of the Medici +plotters, for so I put him down to be? There were the letters from +Madame de la Tremouille, his introductions were unimpeachable, the +cardinal believed in him--the whole thing was contradictory. Above +all, there was my strong personal liking for St. Armande. In his +presence I never felt that secret warning which all men feel when they +are with an enemy. I have never known it fail with me, and with St. +Armande there was no such warning, no such silent signal which goes +straight from soul to soul. On the contrary, I felt he was almost more +than friendly towards me, and I felt, in my turn towards him, despite +our short acquaintance, very nearly the same protective feeling that +one has towards a defenceless child. As may be imagined, I was in no +very comfortable frame of mind about this, and rode back silently, +revolving the point. When we reached the palace, almost the first +person I met was St. Armande, and as I dismounted he came up to me +with a cordial greeting and asked-- + +"Well, cavaliere, good sport I trust?" + +"Very," I replied shortly, and then looked him straight in the face as +I added, "Do you intend to give the Colonna his revenge to-night?" + +Something in my tone caught him, he met my eyes for a moment, then +dropped his gaze, and looked towards the ground. We stood thus before +each other for a little time before he replied, and his voice was +almost inaudible. + +"Perhaps--I am not sure," he added with an effort. + +I was standing, holding Castor's reins; but as he spoke I handed the +horse over to a groom, and, linking my arm in St. Armande's, said +loudly, and with a tone of affected gaiety: + +"You missed a great ride, chevalier--come take a turn with me in the +garden." + +He yielded passively, and in a few steps we had crossed the courtyard +and were in a secluded portion of the palace gardens that was called +the Lemon Walk. This I may add was subsequently improved out of +existence by the architect, in the course of completion of the palace +and grounds. When we reached this spot I unslipped my arm, and turning +round faced St. Armande, having resolved to end my suspicions. + +"See here, chevalier," I said, "I am playing for heavy stakes, I am +walking on dangerous ground, and must know where I put my feet; will +you answer a plain question, are you friend or foe?" + +He looked round him in a helpless sort of way, his colour coming and +going, but said nothing. Was it possible the man was a coward? + +"If you do not reply," I said, "I will take the risk, and treat you as +an enemy, do you hear? you lied to me when you said last night you had +played at the Vatican with Colonna--now draw." I pulled out my weapon, +and stood before him, expecting every instant to see his rapier in his +hands; but he stood absolutely still, his head hanging down. + +"Man," I said, "have you not heard? Am I to think you a coward as well +as a liar?" + +"How dare you say that!" he burst out. "You--you of all men--Oh! what +am I saying! Yes, I did not play with Colonna; but I thought you were +hard pressed for money, and--and invented the fiction, thinking that +perhaps----" + +"That perhaps I would accept your winnings over the gambling table, +rather than the offer of a friend. You do me much honour, chevalier." + +"You wrong me, Savelli,--nay, start not. I know your name and story, +and, before heaven, I say I am your friend." + +"You know me!" + +"Yes, and am working for you; come, put by your sword. Look at me! Do +I look like an enemy?" + +He had recovered himself, and met my gaze fearlessly. Where could I +have seen that face before? I drew my hand over my forehead as if to +sweep the cobwebs from my memory, but with no avail. + +"Well," he went on, with a smile, "do I look like an enemy? If I do, +your sword is ready. Strike now, it will be a quick riddance, come!" + +I put back my sword with a snap. + +"I do not understand, but I accept your explanation." + +He held out his hand frankly. + +"That is right, and you will still let me be your comrade?" + +I took his grasp. + +"Yes, if you wish it." + +We walked back together in silence, and on reaching the courtyard St. +Armande said, + +"I am afraid I have fallen much in your esteem." + +"My esteem, chevalier, is at present of no value to man or woman." + +"Do you think so?" he said, and then rapidly, "Adieu for the present; +remember, I hold you to your word that you think me a friend." + +I made no answer, and he ran lightly up the steps of the principal +entrance. + +I supped that evening for a change with the gentlemen of the suite; +but St. Armande was not there, and there were a few free remarks made +concerning the manner in which he was supposed to have been received +at the Vatican by Giulia Orsini, and Lucrezia Borgia. + +"If it goes on like this," said Le Clerc, "we will have to drag the +Tiber for his body, and say masses for his soul, unless he puts the +seas between himself and the Borgia." + +"He never struck me as a man to run after the ladies," I said. + +"No," replied the abbe, "but it is the other way. You would stand no +chance against him, cavalier, for all your long moustache--a thousand +thanks," and the genial Le Clerc seized the flagon of Orvieto I passed +to him, and filled his goblet. + +After this the conversation changed, and I shortly retired to my +apartments, and dismissing my lackey, sat down to read a book on +falconry that the cardinal had lent me. I had not been occupied thus +for an hour when the door opened, and Jacopo cautiously peeped in. He +withdrew his head on catching my eye, and I heard him shuffling +outside. + +"Come in." + +"Excellency," and the sound of further shuffling, but no Jacopo. I +lost patience at this, and fearing at the same time that there had +been trouble, repeated my order to come in sharply. This had the +desired effect; but as soon as my henchman appeared in view I made +certain there had been a brawl. He was very red in the face, and from +under the helmet he wore I could see a white bandage. + +"What the devil does this mean, Jacopo?" I asked sternly. + +"I have come to report, excellency." + +"You hardly appear in a fit state to do so." + +"Perfectly fit, excellency," and Jacopo drew himself up to attention +and saluted. + +"Is the matter of importance? For if not, you had better come +to-morrow." + +"Yes, your excellency--matter of importance. By your worship's leave, +as you are aware, I gave a dinner to-day, and we had----" + +"Never mind what you had; to the point." + +"Boiled meat with sause, sausages with garlic, a _risotto alla +Milanese_----" + +"I do not care what you had, go on fool." + +"I am going on, excellency. Where was I--a _risotto_ did I say? And +bread made with yeast. And for drink, signore----" + +"I doubt not you had store of that, Jacopo." + +"But a dozen flagons or so of wine, your worship--all rosso." + +"Jacopo--you will be good enough to retire at once." + +"I am retiring, excellency; but my report." + +"Will do for to-morrow." + +"As your worship desires; but we have burnt the inn." + +"What!" + +"The inn, where we rested the day of our arrival in Rome, your +worship. What with one thing and another, the landlord footed up his +bill to four crowns. And I said to my friends, 'What! Are honest +soldiers to pay like this?' Whereat there was trouble, excellency; but +we came off best." + +I rose without a word, and seizing Jacopo by the neck, ejected him +from the room, with, I am sorry to say, very considerable violence. + +Cursing myself for my folly in having been so generous, I banged the +door after him, and returned to my book. I could not, however, read, +for my mind was full of the consequences that might arise from this +mad freak of my followers, and I determined to seek out the cardinal +the next day, and obtain his permission to move out of Rome to some +quieter spot, and there await his instructions. Amidst it all, +however, I could not help being pleased at the thought that +retributive justice had overtaken the scoundrel tavern-keeper, the +memory of whose bed made me shudder. I had no doubt that Jacopo was +speaking the truth, and that, even as he spoke, the flames were +sputtering merrily above that den of thieves. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + THE VATICAN. + + +The next morning I sought an early interview with D'Amboise, and +stated to him what had occurred, proposing that I should leave Rome at +once, and await his instructions at any point he should fix. To my +surprise he did not regard the matter in so serious a light, saying +that a small fine would no doubt settle the matter. "My dear +cavaliere," he said, "Our Lord does not desire the death of a sinner, +but only his purse. Make your mind easy, but keep a tighter hand on +your men." + +"I shall assuredly do so, your eminence." + +"Another thing. I think you will have to put aside your shyness, and +attend me to the Vatican for the next few days. It is extraordinary +how suspicious the Court here is. They keep a constant watch on me, +and on all the suite, and your seclusion, and solitary rides out, have +been the subject of remark. The ladies too are taking interest in you. +In fact I have been specially asked to bring you with me, by Madonna +Lucrezia, all owing to a foolish remark made by Strigonia." + +"I am at your eminence's orders." + +"It is a little risk, but I do not want them to think that you are +anything but a mere member of my suite. If there were the slightest +suspicion, all my plans would be upset, and the time is at hand now, a +day or two at the outside." + +"Thank God! I am eating my heart out here." + +"Courage, cavaliere! It will end soon. By the way, is Bayard right in +saying you have enlisted St. Armande?" + +"Yes, your eminence." + +"_Ciel!_ I should not have thought he would have been one for your +purpose. But that is your affair," and he began to laugh. + +"I have seven good swords behind me, your eminence. The chevalier may +or may not do well; but I could hardly refuse his request." + +D'Amboise made no answer, and our interview came to a close. I would, +however, add here that nothing ever came of the burning of the inn. No +complaint was ever laid, as far as I could find out, and the matter +might have been an every-day occurrence, so little attention did it +excite. I of course did not know that affairs had reached to such a +pitch of disorder in Rome, and lived in hourly expectation, +notwithstanding the cardinal's speech, of having considerable worry +over the revengeful zeal of Jacopo. I took care that no such thing was +likely to occur again, and Master Jacopo was penitent, swearing he +would never give me further cause for annoyance. At the _levee_, that +morning, St. Armande was, as usual, beside me, and I whispered to him +to hold himself in readiness, as the time for our business was at +hand. + +"I am glad of that," he answered, his face lighting up. + +"I attend the cardinal to-day to the Vatican," I said, by way of +continuing the conversation. + +"There will be much going on this evening," he made reply. "The +Florentine envoy has been here for the past two days, and the affair +at the Vatican to-night is in his honour. Do you know that you have +excited great curiosity in the hearts of the court ladies?" + +"Indeed? It is not my way." + +"Is it not? Well, Lucrezia expressed a particular desire to see you." + +"I trust it may not lead to the Tiber, chevalier. The attentions of +the Lady Lucrezia are a trifle dangerous." + +His face became very grave. + +"Be civil to her, nothing more," he whispered. "You are quite right. +Oh, how I hate that place!"--and he shivered a little. + +"Well, we will soon be out of it." + +"Please God!" + +There was no one at the high table at dinner that day, both the +cardinal and Bayard having gone to dine with Sforza at the Sforza +Cesarini, quite an informal business, and none of the suite +accompanied them. + +The conversation at our table turned much on affairs, and as there +were for once no guests, speech was very free. + +"The fleur-de-lis will cover our tongues," said Le Clerc, "and to-day +we may let them wag." + +"Then how long is this truce to last?" asked De Briconnet, the captain +of the cardinal's guard. "I am sick of this idleness here," he added. + +"As for that, no man knows whether it is peace or war," replied Le +Clerc. "Tremouille is chafing at Passignano, swearing that the game +was ours if we had only let him march on after Fossombrone, and he was +right. Now Cesare has stamped out the Magione league, and the Borgia +are as strong as ever." + +"How came such a man as Roderigo Borgia ever to be made pope?" I +asked. + +Le Clerc laughed as he passed on the Orvieto. + +"When our Lord, the sainted Innocent, was called away, there were +three favourites in the conclave. One was Giuliano della Rovere, the +other Ascanio Sforza, and the third Roderigo Borgia. His eminence of +St. Sabine's was our man, and the election would have been certain had +not Borgia and Ascanio joined hands and the Milanese voted for +Roderigo." + +"I did not think Sforza would have been so self-sacrificing," said De +Briconnet. + +"There were compensations, Jacques," Le Clerc went on. "Four +mule-loads of gold were given to Ascanio, he was made vice-chancellor +of the church, and given Borgia's own palace, the Cesarini, where his +eminence dines to-day. Immediately after the elections were made I was +at the rota exchanging a few words with your uncle, the cardinal of +St. Malo, and he told me that as soon as the result was known, Medici +turned to Cardinal Cibo, and said, 'We are in the jaws of the wolf! +Heaven grant that he may not devour us!' As for Borgia he could do +nothing but walk about, calling out, 'I am Pope, Pontiff, Vicar of +Christ!'" + +"I do not suppose it can last long," said De Briconnet. + +"Heaven knows. He is close upon seventy-one and grows younger every +day. He is as strong as he was thirty years ago. And there are few men +who can sit a horse as he can, even now." + +"That is true," I remarked, and gave the story of my meeting with the +Borgia on the day of my arrival in Rome. + +Shortly after this our dinner, where speech had been so free, broke +up, and, finding out the hour at which the cardinal would require my +attendance, I took my book on falconry, and repaired to the garden, +intending to pass the afternoon in its perusal. I made for the Lemon +Walk, and found a companion in Bran, who was wandering there in a +disconsolate manner, evidently missing his master. I set myself down +on a sheltered seat, Bran stretching out his length at my feet, his +muzzle resting between his paws, and so we remained in quiet, the dog +absolutely motionless, and I engaged in my book. + +So an hour must have passed, when Bran gave a low growl, and looking +up I ran my eye up and down the walk, but could see nothing. I then +followed the direction in which the dog was gazing, and through the +leaves opposite to me, saw a stretch of green, terminating in a clump +of three huge chestnuts. A further examination showed two figures +standing in the shade of the trees, one of them was St. Armande, and +the other, his secretary, the abbe. But what surprised me, was that +the chevalier appeared to be overcome with some powerful emotion, for +he was leaning with his arm against the trunk of the tree, against +which his face was pressed, and his figure shook as if he were +weeping. The abbe stood by him, with a look of compassion on his +features, and was endeavouring to pacify him. + +It was clear that I was looking at something I was not intended to +see, and with a low, "Quiet, Bran," to the dog, which the well-trained +beast instantly obeyed, I rose, and whistling a catch loudly, walked +down the avenue, with my back towards St. Armande and the abbe, Bran +stalking by my side. I did not look round, and of course could not +tell what happened, but I could not help wondering what it was that +affected St. Armande so strongly. It was hardly the place for the +confessional. Yet it was no business of mine to pry into other +people's affairs. So handing over Bran to a lackey of Bayard, I went +up to my apartment, and attempted to resume my interest in my book. + +This, however, was not possible, for in a few minutes I found myself +with the volume in my lap, my eyes staring into vacancy, and thinking +of St. Armande. I began to try and analyse my feelings towards him, +but beyond that I was certain he had inspired me with a strong +friendship I could go no further. It was this friendship that urged me +to accede to his request to be allowed to share in my coming +adventure, although I was well able to see that he was anything but +fitted for a desperate deed. Still somehow, I could not find it in my +heart to refuse him, although I felt I was doing an unwise thing. I +consoled myself, or rather tried to console myself, with the +reflection that he would have to take his chance like any other man of +my troop, and if he fell, well, there was an end of it, and of him. +Yet I was not comfortable, and then, to give my thoughts another turn, +I bent them on other matters, and it came to my mind that it was a +little surprising I had not heard of D'Entrangues in Rome. + +When Bayard told me of his petition to the king, I had asked whether +anything was known of D'Entrangues' movements, and he said he did not +know. It was curious, too, how I appeared to have entirely mastered +that mad longing for revenge, which at first held me. It was a direct +answer, as it were, to my prayer, and, so thinking, I began to realise +how close in reality a man is to the divine power, which he often, too +often, thinks far from him. And a certain feeling of satisfaction came +upon me at the thought of the strength I had gained by my victory over +myself. Indeed, I felt sure, that if my enemy was in my power at the +moment that I would not injure him, but let him go without harm. + +In this manner, attempting to read, and trying to think, without very +much success in either undertaking, I passed my time until my lackey +came to assist me to dress, in order to be ready to accompany the +cardinal to the Vatican. After dressing, I descended the stairs, and +mounting Castor, placed myself at the head of my men, and joined De +Briconnet at the grand entrance of the palace. The captain of the +cardinal's guard had his full force of thirty swords out, it being a +reception night of some importance, and with great courtesy allowed me +to place Jacopo and my six men in front of his troop, drawing his own +horse alongside of mine, and discussing, with much cunning, of +falconry, in which he was more than an adept. + +We had to wait some little time for the cardinal, but at length he +came, accompanied as usual by Bayard, and with him all the gentlemen +of his suite including St. Armande. On reaching the foot of the +stairs, D'Amboise enquired somewhat sharply for me; but changed his +tone to one of pleasant greeting when he saw I was in waiting. + +"St. Dennis!" he exclaimed, "I thought you were not coming after all." + +We had but a few yards to ride, and our passage along the Via +Alessandrina to the Portone Bronse, took but a few minutes. As we rode +up there, we kept the obelisk in the centre of the Piazza di S. Pietro +to our left, and saw before us the walls of the new cathedral of St. +Peter, then about four or five feet high, the ruins of the old church +still standing around it. At the time I speak of, nothing had been +done for about fifty years towards advancing the work, begun by +Nicholas V., and the great design, afterwards altered and put into +execution by Giuliano della Rovere, when he became Pope as Julius II., +was then in a skeleton form, looking more like the remains of some +sacked shrine than the beginning of a new work. The fifty years of +neglect having the effect of making the new work almost as ruinous as +the old church founded by Constantine. + +Although, as I have mentioned, there were to be great doings at the +Vatican that evening, there was no crowd assembled in the Piazza of +St. Peter. It was full of soldiers, but the people of Rome, who might +have been expected to be there in numbers, to see the processions +of nobles and their followers, were conspicuous by their absence. +Men-at-arms there were in store, but no happy, jostling crowd of the +commons, for a terror was on Rome, and men kept as far as possible +from the Borgo. The piazza was, however, brilliantly lit up, and the +body guards of the various notables were strictly confined to the +places assigned to them, order being maintained by about a thousand +men of the Spanish guards of the Pope, under the immediate command of +De Leyva. The light from the lamps was reflected back by the +glittering arms of the men, and the various ensigns of the great +houses were distinctly visible. The single column of Colonna, rose +side by side with the eagle and griffin of Borghese, the six lilies of +Farnese trembled in the wind, near Colleoni's two-headed lion, and a +little in the background was drawn up a solid looking body of cavalry, +over whom fluttered the standard of the Borgia; these were Cesare's +own lambs, as he called them, veterans of many a hard fought field. + +At the entrance steps we halted, and were met by two chamberlains, +who, with their staffs of office in their hands, ushered us to the +bronze gates, by which we were to enter the Vatican. We passed through +amidst a blare of trumpets, each side of the passage being lined with +pikemen, standing stiff and motionless as statues. Our way led to the +Torre Borgia, the portion of the Vatican occupied by Alexander, and +the distant strains of music caught our ears as we went on, and +shortly entered the noble reception rooms, which were crowded with +people. + +The Pope himself stood at the extreme end of the apartment, surrounded +by a brilliant group of ladies and gentlemen, and as we came up to +make our duty, I had good opportunity of observing him. Alexander was +fully seventy years of age, but so hale, hearty, and strong-looking, +that he might have easily passed for a man of middle age. He was +dressed as a private gentleman, in Spanish costume, with high boots, a +jewelled dagger at his side, and a smart velvet cap on his head. But +the face itself struck me as remarkable to a degree. He was clean +shaven, so that all the features were clearly discernible, the heavy +sensual chin, the wide cruel mouth, surmounted by a nose almost Jewish +in its curve, the retreating forehead bulging over the eyes, and the +eyes themselves, in which there seemed to burn the fires of insatiable +appetite, and passion without end; all these, combined together to +make up a countenance which was a fitting mask for the evil soul +within. I made my obeisance with the others, stifling with difficulty +a sudden desire to fling aside the hand I touched, and walk out of the +room. + +I moved slightly aside, and watched the various groups as they +wandered to and fro, or stood together conversing; and the hum of +voices, the gay strains of music, and the brilliant dresses made up +together a scene well worth the looking at. + +The Florentine ambassador was talking to the Cardinal of Santa +Susanna, a few feet from me. I caught the tones of his voice, and as +he turned round our eyes met. Machiavelli, for it was he, glanced at +me as at a perfect stranger, and then, slightly adjusting his purple +lined robe, moved slowly onwards with his companion. + +"We mount yet higher, signore---_excelsior!_" + +The words were breathed rather than whispered into my ear, and Corte +stood beside me. + +"_Excelsior!_" I repeated with a smile, "but are you not putting your +head in the lion's mouth?" + +He smiled back upon me, more of a snarl than a smile. "The beast is +gorged now. He will not think of me--see, there is some one coming +your way--adieu!" + +He turned and passed into the groups, and St. Armande touched my arm. + +"You are to be presented to the Lady Lucrezia," he said, and the next +moment I found myself bowing over the hand of one of the most +beautiful, and certainly the most infamous woman of her age. She was +barely twenty-three; had already wedded three husbands, and was to +become a wife again, and marry Alfonso of Ferrara. She was seated in a +low lounge, and as I came up she extended her hand to me with a +charming smile. Standing before her, looking at her large limpid eyes, +at the small red bow of the lips, and the clear cut features set in a +mass of red gold hair, I could not imagine that the stories I had +heard were true. It could not be that this fair young woman who was +before me had smilingly committed crimes of nameless horror. I would +not believe it. + +"So, cavaliere, you have come to the court at last! I thought you were +never going to do us that honour." + +"His Eminence of Strigonia said you meant to take the vows," and a +lady, who was leaning over Lucrezia's seat, laughed as she put in +these words. I recognised the peculiar unmusical laugh I had heart at +the gate St. Paul, and glanced at her with some interest. + +"My sister-in-law, Giulia Farnese--Giulia Bella, is it not?" and +Lucrezia touched her lightly on the arm. + +"Oh, yes, Giulia Bella--and are you really going to become a hermit?" + +"I might have had such thoughts until I came here," I said, "but I +must now put them aside." + +"Neatly turned, cavaliere--St. Armande himself could not have put it +better--sit here, chevalier," and Lucrezia made room for St. Armande +on her lounge. + +At this moment a commotion at the entrance attracted our attention, +and a man robed in black, followed by two others, walked up towards +the Pope. + +"Heavens!" said Lucrezia, "it is Cesare!" and a look that was not +sisterly came over her face as she glanced at her brother, who moved +slowly up the room, men falling away from each side of him, and +greeting no one. He kept himself covered, and below his square velvet +cap, I saw a resolute face, the mouth and chin, covered by a moustache +and short beard, not so hidden, however, but that one could distinctly +see against the dark hair on his face, the full red line of the lips, +set in a habitual sneer. Bad as the whole brood of the Borgia were, +this was the worst of them all. He was as far beyond them in infamy as +they were beyond the rest of mankind in evil doing. The very room was +hushed into silence as he entered, and I watched with more interest +than I can tell, the stately figure of this wicked man, as he went up +to meet his only less wicked father. It was their first meeting since +the murder of Pierrot, and Alexander, who stood in dread of his son, +began to tremble violently as he approached, looking this way and +that, as if he would avoid him. At last they came together face to +face, Cesare speaking no word, but lifting his cap with a low bow. +Alexander almost made a motion as if he was wringing his hands; but +recovered himself with an effort, and kissed his son on the cheek. + +"So do the devils kiss." Lucrezia spoke these words under her breath, +and I turned sharply round and looked at her. Her eyes fell beneath my +glance of inquiry, and to raise some conversation I addressed Giulia +Bella. + +"So that is the Duke of Valentinois?" + +"Yes--and the man immediately behind him is Don Michelotto." + +"The strangler." + +"You use strong terms, sir," the eyes of the Farnese flashed fire, and +Lucrezia added hurriedly-- + +"Yes, yes--you are right--the strangler." + +"Hush, fool!" and Giulia Bella laid her hand on her friend's shoulder. +"See, they come this way--be cool!" + +In fact, Cesare had turned from his father without either of them +exchanging a word, and was coming directly towards us. On the way he +passed a group consisting of D'Amboise, Bayard, and the Cardinal of +Strigonia. Valentinois stopped, and in his speechless way, held out +his hand to Bayard, who merely bowed stiffly. Cesare's dark face +whitened with rage, and dropping his hand to his side he walked +straight on, and I could see that D'Amboise was expostulating with +Bayard, and Strigonia openly laughing. This insult, however, had not +added to Cesare's good temper; in fact, he came up to us as angry as a +man could be, and after greeting his sister coldly, turned to St. +Armande and looked at him in silence. + +"It is usual, signore," said Don Michelotto to the chevalier, "to +stand in the presence of a prince." + +"I was not aware that you were a prince, sir," replied St. Armande, +entirely ignoring the Borgia. + +"You can give this young gentleman a lesson in manners at your +leisure," said Cesare. "By your leave, sir," and giving his hand to +his sister, who took it passively, he led her to another apartment, +followed by Giulia Bella, who tapped a good-bye on St. Armande's arm +with her closed fan. + +Our group now consisted of Michelotto and myself standing, and St. +Armande still sitting comfortably in the lounge, evidently examining +the contour of his small and shapely foot. As for me, although I knew +St. Armande to be grossly in the wrong, I was delighted with the +sudden spirit he had shown. The youngster had heart, after all, and +there was the making of a man in him. + +Michelotto behaved with great composure. + +"I trust, signore--I do not know your name--that you will give me the +chance of carrying out the duke's commands." + +"My name is St. Armande," replied the chevalier; "and I am ready now, +if you wish it." + +"This is scarcely the place, signore; but the Vatican gardens are a +few feet away. If you will meet me near the summer-house, in, say, +half an hour from now, it would be a convenience. If we left together +perhaps it would excite remark," and the Spaniard played with the +inlaid hilt of his dagger. + +"Very well." + +Michelotto gave St. Armande a bow, made a slight inclination towards +me, and strolled off. To all intents and purposes we might have been +engaged in the most friendly of conversations. + +"Well, cavaliere," said St. Armande looking up at me, "are you +satisfied now?" + +"I am satisfied, chevalier, that you are still too young to be trusted +alone. If you wanted to pick a quarrel there were a hundred courses +open to you: there are fifty other men with whom you might have +crossed swords with no danger except to yourself, and you must needs +insult Cesare, and get embroiled with a cut-throat and risk our plans. +Where is your prudence? But the wine is poured out now. You must +drink." + +His colour kept coming and going. "I mean to fight it out. I shall +step out in ten minutes, and await him. See! they are all gathering +round the tables. What with the wine and the dice, no one will take +heed who goes or who comes--good-bye!" and he held out his hand to me. + +"Nonsense, man--you are not going alone. You will want a second." + +"But not you," he replied, "any one but you. You have work to do--not +you, Savelli." His voice had almost a choke in it as he spoke. + +"Come," I said, "put an end to this, or you will be run through the +ribs. I am going with you." + +He gave in with a feminine gesture of agreement. + +"The business will not take long----" + +"It will take long enough, signore, if you go as you are going," and +Corte stood beside us. "Signore," he added, "I have overheard every +word of the scene. Do not go as you value your lives. If you do go, go +with a strong party." + +"Diavolo!" I exclaimed, "an affair of the dagger then!" + +St. Armande looked from one to another of us in surprise. "This is a +friend, chevalier," I said, "who has done us good service," and +turning to Corte, "but we must meet the man--how on earth are we to do +so in any force?" + +"Look round you," he made answer, "like master, like man--stroll out. +You have some swords at your back. Take them with you; but better not +go at all. Ah! I see my new master, the Camulengo, looking towards +me--be wise and do not go," and Corte moved off to where the Cardinal +Ascanio Sforze was seated, surrounded by a little group of courtiers +and priests. + +"Who is that man?" asked St. Armande. + +"I met him under circumstances too long to tell you here," I said, +"some other day you may hear all about him. We will however take his +advice, and meet Don Michelotto with an extra sword or so at our +backs." So saying I took his arm, and we strolled through the +apartments, where every one appeared to be giving full rein to his +fancy. In fact the beginning of an orgie had set in. Alexander, +apparently recovered from the shock of meeting with his son, was at +the gaming table, playing heavily, with Giulia Bella at his side. +Bayard and Gonsalvo de Cordova were engaged in earnest converse with +each other, and Strigonia and D'Amboise were cracking a flask of wine. +I heard D'Este say as we passed him--"It is adieu to your eminence +after to-night. I am a sheep fat enough for the shambles, and must +look to my throat and my fleece." + +"You would be wise Strigonia," D'Amboise made answer, "if the shield +of France did not cover me, I would not be here another hour. But it +is an ill thing to lose a comrade such as you." + +"To better times," and the prelate who could only eat, drained his +glass to the prelate who could both eat and think. + +We now began to hurry a little, and found that Corte was right, for +the soldiers who had lined the passage inside the Bronze Gates had +taken themselves off, and a considerable numbers of servants and +followers were enjoying here the results of piratical raids on the +supper tables. + +Outside, however, everything was in order, for De Leyva was a thorough +soldier. I found both the Spaniard and De Briconnet cursing their luck +at being on the guards, and attacking a capon which they were washing +down with copious draughts of Falernian. Their duties kept them +outside, and it was a poor supper they were making, by the light of +torches, seated together on the steps of the Vatican. + +"What! out already, cavaliere?" asked De Briconnet. "Is the cardinal +going?" + +"No, but there is a little business," I answered as I called Jacopo. + +"_Nom du diable!_ Can I not come?" + +"It would be a relaxation," said De Leyva. + +"I am afraid not, gentlemen, although we thank you. Here, Jacopo! Get +three of our fellows and follow me. Tell the others to hold their +horses." + +It was done in a twinkling, and in a few steps, having harked back, we +were in the Papal gardens. The casino or summer-house of the Pope was +in full light, and we directed our steps there without difficulty. I +made two of our men walk in front, Jacopo and the third behind us, and +we remained in the middle. Strict orders were given to have swords +ready, and to use them at once. + +Except for the moonlight, the gardens themselves were not illuminated, +and as we tramped along the paths, I thought to myself how easy it +would have been for Michelotto to have got rid of both St. Armande and +myself, if we had been fools enough to go without escort. + +Nothing happened. We reached the casino and waited there a full hour; +but there was no sign of Michelotto. + +At last I lost patience. + +"He never meant to cross a sword with you, chevalier. I can bear +witness you were here, and kept tryst. We have escaped a felon's blow +however. Come back--it is getting late--even for his eminence." We +turned, and made our way back, but it was a good two hours before +D'Amboise retired. Bayard had gone on long before, declining all +offers of escort. When we reached the palace we found he had arrived +safely. + +I wished St. Armande a good night, with more respect for him in my +heart than I ever felt before, and turned to seek my apartments. Late +as it was, however, there was to be no sleep for me, as De Briconnet, +whose brain the Falernian had merely made more lively, insisted on +accompanying me, and we split another flask, and talked of falconry +till the verge of the morning. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + THE OPAL RING. + + +"His eminence will await the Signor' Donati at supper this evening." + +Defaure delivered his message, received his answer, and tripped away, +his little page's cap set jauntily on the side of his head, and the +haft of his dagger clinking against the silver chain which held it to +his belt. As for me, my heart leaped at the words, for I felt sure my +business was come, and summoning Jacopo, I gave him the necessary +orders to have our men in readiness for an immediate start. I then +sought St. Armande, and told him what I expected. + +"I am ready," he said simply. + +"Very well, then sup lightly, and await me in my apartments." + +I turned back, and on reaching my rooms, was surprised to find I had a +visitor awaiting me. It was Corte. As I have said, he had cast aside +his fantastic dress, and was robed as a doctor. He still kept his +heavy book under his arm, and the features of his curious seamed face, +and thin bloodless lips, were as pale as if he had arisen from the +dead. His eyes alone blazed with an unnatural brilliancy, but he was +outwardly calm. + +"I came but to see if you were safe, signore, after last night," he +said as he took my hand. + +"Thanks," I replied, offering him a seat, "we are all quite safe. +Nothing happened. The Don was not there, either he had changed his +mind, or we were in too strong force." + +"A little of both, I should think," he said with a thin smile, as he +placed his book on the table. "Signore," he went on, "are you not a +little surprised and curious to see me as I am?" + +"Well, Messer Corte, I will own to it. But I am honestly glad that +Fortune has given the wheel a right turn for you." + +"It is not Fortune," he said, "it is something greater. It is Fate. No +chance turn of the wheel of a sleeping goddess. When I fled from you, +signore, on that day," his voice choked a little, "I came to Rome. +Never mind how. Here a great man found me. Great men pick up little +things for their purposes sometimes. And Matthew Corte, who is but a +little man, knows things the great man does not know. Ho! ho!" and he +laughed mirthlessly. + +"And that has put crowns in your purse?" + +"Yes, crowns in my purse, crowns in my purse," he repeated, and then +the old madness came upon him, and he rose and paced the room. "I +could have done it last night, made the hilt of my dagger ring against +his heart--the devil--the devil. But he is not to die this way--not +thus--not thus. He will die as no other man has died, and it will come +soon, very soon--Matthew Corte swears this." + +He stopped suddenly, and turned to me with the question: + +"Have you ever seen a mad dog die?" + +"No," I answered, wondering what would come next. + +"Well, my dog is dead." + +"I am sorry," I began, but he interrupted. + +"Dead, I say. Life went from it in writhings and twistings, in screams +of agony--the little beast, poor little beast! I would have ended its +misery, but I wanted to see. I wanted to find some death so horrible, +that it would pass the invention of man. And I have found it, signore. +See this toy of a knife! This fairy's dagger!" and he held up a tiny +lancet, "only a touch of it, and a man would die as that dog did, in +writhings, in twistings, in screams----" + +I rose and put my hand on his arm, keeping my eyes steadily on his +face. + +"Corte," I said, "this is not like you. You are not well. Here is some +wine," and I poured him out a goblet of Orvieto. He drained it at a +gulp, and sat with his head buried in his hands. + +As he sat there the scene in the lonely hut, when I went forth an +outcast from Arezzo came back to me, and there rose before me the dim +light of the torch, the mad figure of my host, I could almost hear the +pattering of the rain and the dying hisses of the log fire without. +Then I saw other things as well, and a pity came on me for the man +before me. A sudden thought struck me, and acting on the impulse of +the moment, I spoke. + +"See here, Corte! You are ill, you want rest, quiet. Throw off these +dark thoughts, and do what I say. Two miles from Colza, in the +Bergamasque, lies a small farm. It is mine. Mine still, though +mortgaged. Go there. Ask for the Casino Savelli, and say you have come +from me--from Ugo di Savelli. You know my name now, and they will want +nothing more from you. Live there until you are better, or as long as +you like. The air is pure, in the hills there is the bouqueton for you +to hunt, the life is good. Will you do this?" + +He lifted his head, and looked at me. Then rising, he placed one hand +on each of my shoulders, thin hands they were, with long bony fingers +that held like claws. + +"Signore," he said with emotion, "Donati or Savelli--whoever you +are--you are a good man. I thank you, but it cannot be. Good-bye!" and +lifting up his book, he turned and strode out of the room, leaving me +a little chilled. I was glad indeed to hear De Briconnet's gay voice a +moment later, as he bustled in. + +"_Sacre nom du Chien!_" he exclaimed. "But who is that old madman, +cavaliere, who has just left your apartments? I met him on the stairs, +muttering curses that would make a dead man's hair stand on end." + +"You have hit it, De Briconnet. He is a madman. I have some +acquaintance with him, and his story is a sad one. I believe he has +found a protector in the Cardinal Sforza." + +"A queer sort of pet for his eminence to keep--thanks," and he helped +himself to the Orvieto. "_Ciel!_ my head still hums after last night. +So your little affair was but a flash in the pan--eh?" + +"Yes, there was no blood letting, as I told you last night." + +"Oh, I remember--no, I forget, last night is too far back to recall +anything with certainty. I want a little exercise. Take pity on me. +Come to my rooms, and have a turn with the foils. I have a new pair by +Castagni, the Milanese, and want to try them." + +"At your service--what! Not another glass! Then come on." + +It was something to do, and passed away a full hour. After that I came +back to my rooms, and, with an impatient heart, waited for my meeting +with D'Amboise. I saw to the packing of a valise, went down and looked +at the horses, closely inspected the arms and mounts of my men, who +looked capable of anything, and, in one way and another, managed to +get through the time, until about the sixth hour, when his eminence +supped. I presented myself punctually, and was ushered into an inner +apartment which I had not hitherto seen, and where the supper was +evidently to be held, for the table was set out there. I was alone at +first, and seating myself on a lounge, looked about me. The room was +small, but beautifully fitted up, and had all the appearance of being +the cardinal's private study. By my side was a table on which was +spread a map, with various crosses marked on it in red chalk, the +chalk itself lying on the map, where it had been carelessly flung. In +front of me was an altar, surmounted by a silver crucifix, bearing an +exquisitely carved Christ. Near it, in a corner, leaned a long +straight sword, from whose cross handle hung a pair of fine steel +gauntlets. Resting on a cushion, placed on a stand, was the cardinal's +hat, and behind the stand I could see the brown outline of a pair of +riding-boots, and the glitter of burnished spurs. In a corner of the +room was a large table, set out with writing materials and covered +with papers. Running my eyes over these idly, I finally let them rest +on the supper-table which was arranged with lavish profusion. The +curtains of the windows were drawn, and the light from eight tall +candles, in jewelled holders, fell on the rose and amber of the wine +in the quaint flasks, on the cheerful brown crusts of the pasties, on +the gay enamelling of the comfitures, and on the red gold of the +plate. I noticed, too, that the table was set for three only. It was +evidently a private supper, where things were to be discussed, and I +became glad, for I felt already a step onwards towards winning back my +name, and--I seemed to see in the mirror on the wall to my left, a +vision of a woman with dark hair, and dark eyes---- + +"Your eminence!" I fairly started up. I had not observed the entrance +of D'Amboise, until he stood beside me, and touched me lightly on the +shoulder. + +"Dreaming, cavaliere! I did not think you were so given. I am afraid +that, late as I am, I must still keep you from your supper, for I +expect another guest. Ha! there he is!" + +Indeed, as he spoke the door swung open noiselessly, and Machiavelli +entered. He was plainly and simply dressed, and wore no sword, merely +a dagger at his side. I thought, however, I caught the gleam of a +steel corselet under his vest, as he greeted the cardinal, and +D'Amboise's own sapphire was not more brilliant, than the single opal +which blazed on the secretary's hand. + +"This is the Cavaliere Donati, your excellency," said the cardinal, +"but I think you know each other." + +Machiavelli extended his hand to me, with his inscrutable smile; but +as I met his eyes, I saw that they were troubled and anxious. He, +however, spoke with easy unconcern. + +"Well met, Messer Donati. I can only say I am sorry we parted so soon. +I would have given much to have had you in Florence for a few days +more." + +"Your excellency is most kind." + +"St. Dennis!" said the cardinal, "but are you gentlemen going to +exchange compliments, and starve instead of sitting to supper. Burin, +are we not ready?" and he turned to his grey-haired major-domo, who +had entered the room. + +"Your eminence is served," replied the man, and we took our seats on +each side of the table, D'Amboise between us. + +"You need not wait, Burin, but remain in the passage." Burin stepped +out silently, and the cardinal said with an air of apology, "You +must not mind so informal a repast, gentlemen; but we have much to +discuss--pleasure first, however--my maitre d'hotel has an artist's +soul, and he will have a fit if we do not touch this pasty." + +The cardinal ate and talked. I now and then put in a word, but the +secretary was very silent, and hardly touched anything. + +"St. Dennis!" said D'Amboise, "but your excellency is a poor +trencherman. And I heard so much of you!" + +"Your eminence will excuse me, when I say I have had bad news." + +D'Amboise became grave at once. "Let me say how sorry I am. It is not +a matter of state?" and he glanced meaningly at the secretary. + +"Not in the least; but much worse--a domestic matter. I do not see why +I should not tell you. That cursed brigand Baglioni has seized on my +ward Angiola Castellani, and holds her a fast prisoner in Perugia." + +I felt cold all over to my feet. + +"The Lady Angiola?" I exclaimed. + +"Precisely," said Machiavelli, drily; "I think you have met." + +"But this can be easily remedied," burst in D'Amboise; "a demand from +the Signory, a word from France." + +"Will not bring the dead to life again," put in the secretary. + +"My God!" I burst out, "she is not dead?" + +"Worse than that," he said; "it was done by Cesare's orders." + +"Then Cesare Borgia will pay with his life for this," I exclaimed. + +At this moment there was a knock at the door, and Burin entered, +bearing a silver flagon, the stopper of which was made of a +quaintly-carved dragon. + +"Your eminence ordered this with the second service," he said, placing +it before D'Amboise, and retiring. + +"I pledge you my word, your excellency, that I will not rest until +full reparation has been made for this outrage on an ally of France," +said D'Amboise. "I could almost find it in my heart to let loose open +war for this." + +"We are not ready, your eminence. Rest assured of my thanks, and I +will gladly accept your aid; but at present we can do nothing. This, +however, has not decreased my zeal for the measures we are planning; +and with your permission we will now discuss these, and put aside my +private trouble." + +For me, I could hardly breathe. A hundred feelings were tossing +together within me, all that I could think of was to throw aside +everything, to gallop to Perugia, to save her at any cost. The +cardinal's voice came to me as from a distance. + +"I agree--one glass each of this all round, and then--cavaliere, would +you mind handing me those glasses?" + +Three peculiar shaped, straw-coloured Venetian glasses were close to +me, these I passed onwards mechanically to D'Amboise, and he went on, +filling the glasses to the brim with wine from the flagon, as he +spoke. + +"I admired the rare workmanship of this flagon last night, and his +holiness sent it home with me, full to the brim with this Falernian, +which Giulia Bella herself poured into it. The wine is of a priceless +brand, and our lord was good enough to say, that if I liked it, he +would send me all in his cellars if I only let him know." + +"We will drink this then, with your eminence's permission, to the +success of the undertaking," said the secretary, poising his glass in +the air. + +"Right," said D'Amboise. "Gentlemen, success to our venture!" + +He raised the wine to his lips. I silently did the same. + +"Hold!" + +We stopped in amaze, and Machiavelli, who had spoken, quietly emptied +his glass into a bowl beside him. + +"What does this mean?" said the cardinal. + +"This, your eminence," and Machiavelli held out his hand, on which an +opal was flashing a moment before. The stone was still there, in the +gold band on his finger; but it was no longer an opal, but something +black as jet, devoid of all lustre. + +Startled by the movement, D'Amboise bent over the extended fingers, +and I followed his example. The red on the cardinal's cheek went out, +and his lips paled as he looked at the ring. + +"Poison! Heart of Jesus!" he muttered through pale lips. + +"Yes," said Machiavelli, slowly, withdrawing his hand, "the ring tells +no lies. _Diavolo!_ Was ever so grim a jest? Asking you to tell him if +your eminence liked the wine!" + +It was too near a matter to be pleasant, and the hideous jest, and the +treachery of Alexander, filled me with a hot anger. It had the effect +however of pulling me together at once, the sudden presence of death, +and the danger, recalling me to myself, for all my thoughts of +Angiola. I breathed a prayer of thanks for our escape. It was a good +omen. My luck was not yet run out. + +D'Amboise sprang to his feet. "By God!" he said, bringing his clenched +fist into the palm of his hand, "the Borgia will rue this day; here, +give me those glasses." He seized them, and drawing back the curtains +flung them out of the window, where they fell into the court outside, +breaking to splinters with a little tinkling crash. Then he emptied +out the contents of the flagon, and hurled it into the grate where it +lay, its fine work crushed and dented, the two emerald eyes of the +dragon on the stopper blinking at us wickedly. This outburst made +D'Amboise calmer, and it was with more composure that he struck a +small gong, and reseated himself at the table. As he did so Burin +entered the room. + +"We want a clear table," said the cardinal, "remove these things, and +hand me that map." + +By the time Burin had done this, his eminence showed no further trace +of excitement, except that his lips were very firmly set, and there +was a slight frown on his forehead as he smoothed out the roll of the +map. One corner kept obstinately turning up, and as Machiavelli +quietly put his hand on it to keep it in position, he said, "See! The +ring is as it was before." + +We looked at the opal, and sure enough the poison-tint was gone, and +under the pale, semi-opaque blue of its surface, lights of red, of +green, and of orange, flitted to and fro. + +"It is wonderful," I said, and D'Amboise smiled grimly to himself. The +cardinal placed his finger on the map, where the port of Sinigaglia +was marked. + +"Is it here he lands?" + +"Yes," replied Machiavelli, "and then straight to Rome." + +"You have sure information?" + +"Yes." + +"Then will your excellency instruct M. Donati? As arranged, I pledge +an immediate movement on the part of Tremouille, at the first sign of +success." + +"You have agreed, cavaliere, to undertake the task?" and the secretary +turned to me. + +"I have, your excellency." + +Machiavelli then went on, speaking incisively, wasting no words. "In +ten days or thereabouts from now, Monsignore Bozardo, the Papal envoy +to the Grand Turk, will land at Sinigaglia and start for Rome. He +brings with him a letter and a sum of money, forty thousand ducats. +These are for his holiness. Bozardo and the letter may reach, if you +like; the ducats must not." + +"Where are they to go?" + +"To the Duke de la Tremouille." + +"I follow." + +"Understand that you take this venture at your own risk." + +I saw what he meant, if I failed I was to be sacrificed, and my mind +was made up. I would accept, with a condition. + +"I quite understand--there is one thing." + +"What?" + +"Ten days is a wide margin. I will stop Bozardo or die; but I propose +effecting the release of the Lady Angiola as well." + +A glad look came into Machiavelli's eyes; but the cardinal flashed +out-- + +"_Nom du diable!_ What grasshopper have you got in your head? Leave +the demoiselle to us. You cannot do two things at once." + +"Then with respect to your eminence I decline the affair of the +ducats." + +D'Amboise looked at me in sheer amazement. + +"You decline--you dare;" but Machiavelli interposed. + +"A moment, your eminence. Can we get another agent?" + +"Not now; it is too late now." + +"And we have no money for active measures?" + +"Not a livre." + +"It seems to me that the cavaliere has us in his hands, and we had +better agree. After all he only risks his head twice, instead of +once." + +D'Amboise bit his lip, and with a frown began to drum on the table +with his fingers. I sat silent but resolved, and Machiavelli, rising, +went to the writing table, pulling out from his vest a parchment. In +this he rapidly wrote something, and dusting it over with drying +powder held it to the flame of a candle. Then he turned back +leisurely, and, as he resumed his seat, handed me the paper. + +"I have just filled in your name on this blank safe-conduct through +the Papal States. I took the precaution of obtaining this from Sforza +to-day. When can you start?" + +"Now, your excellency," and I put the safe-conduct securely by. + +"I suppose I must agree," said the cardinal suddenly. "If it fails, +all is lost; if it succeeds----" + +"There will probably be a new Conclave, your eminence," said +Machiavelli. + +D'Amboise's forehead flushed dark at the hidden meaning in the +Florentine's words. But we all knew that the chair of St. Peter was +ever before his eyes; and for this he schemed and saved, although +profuse in his habits. George of Amboise never gained his desire; but +when he died he left a fortune of eleven millions. This however was +yet to be. + +I had already arisen to take my leave as Machiavelli spoke, and the +cardinal, taking no notice of his last remark, turned to me, with +something of his old good temper. Perhaps the hint of Florentine +support at the next papal election was not without its softening +effect. + +"Did I understand you to say you were ready to start at once, +cavaliere?" + +"Yes, your eminence." + +"Then let me wish you good fortune--adieu!" + +"Your eminence has my grateful thanks." + +I bowed to D'Amboise and the secretary, and withdrew; but as the door +swung behind me, I heard Machiavelli's voice. + +"The air of Rome does not suit me, your eminence. No, thanks. No more +Falernian." + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + EXIT THE ANCIENT BRICO. + + +I had gained my point without waste of words or time, but it was to be +my way or not at all. My lady was in dire peril. Against this could I +for a moment weigh any thought of myself? What cared I whether France, +Spain, or the Borgia ruled in Italy? What mattered it to me whether +one crafty statesman held the reins of power, or another outdid him in +craft and filched away his bone? My lady was in danger, and my honour +might rot, and the Most Christian, the Most Catholic, and Most Holy +wolves might tear each other's throats out before I would move a +finger, take one step, until she was free. If I had to pull down +Baglioni's hold with my hands, I would free her. If a hair of her head +was injured I should take such vengeance as man never heard of, and +then--my foot caught in the carpeting of the passage, I tripped up and +fell heavily, the shock sending stars before my eyes. + +"Too much haste, cavaliere," and a hand helped me to rise. As I gained +my feet I saw Machiavelli beside me. + +"I followed you at once," he said, "but you went so fast, I had missed +you but for that lucky trip. A word more--if you free her, take her to +the convent of St. Jerome, two miles north-west of Magione--the abbess +will do the rest. I will see to that." + +"Very well. God grant I succeed!" + +"Amen to that," and Machiavelli took my hand. "Adieu, cavaliere, once +again, I must go back to his eminence, we have a point or two to +discuss yet, but no more Falernian. _Corpo di Bacco!_ I grow cold when +I think of our escape." + +"Good-bye, your excellency," and we parted. + +I went on with a little more care, and being a trifle cooled by my +fall, was able to think better. By the time I reached my apartments I +had decided on my route. I should leave by the Porta del Popolo, keep +on the right bank of the river as far as Borghetto, there cross the +Tiber, and on to Perugia in a straight line by Narni and Todi. It was +close on three and thirty leagues; but I did not mean to spare +horseflesh. As I reached the entrance which led to my rooms, I found +Jacopo and my men ready, and Castor whinnied a glad welcome, pawing at +the air with his forefoot in his impatience. St. Armande and the abbe, +already mounted and attended by a couple of men, were a little to the +right. + +"I will not keep you a moment, chevalier," I called out as I passed +him, and running up the stairs to my room, began to dress rapidly. +Jacopo attended me, and as he handed me my sword, pointed to the open +window. + +"A fair night for a long ride, excellency!" + +"Yes, the moon stands well--my cloak--quick," and we descended the +stairs. + +"All ready, Jacopo?" + +"Your excellency." + +"Steady, Castor," and I swung into the saddle. + +There was the jingle of bit chains, the clank of steel scabbards, the +ring of iron-shod hoofs on the pavement, and with St. Armande by my +side and my troop behind me, I left the Palazzo Corneto. + +To avoid risk of stoppage I did not go down by the Alessandrina to the +Ponte di San Angelo, but determined to cross at the Ripetta. +Therefore, crossing the Borgi di San Angelo, we went northwards by the +V. d. Tre Papazzi, up the Via Cancellieri, and then turning to the +right, rode up the Via Crescenzio. To our right, as we rode, the moon +hung over San Angelo and the dark outlines of the gloomy stronghold +loomed like a vast shadow of evil above us. In front of us lay the +Tiber, and the long line of fires of the charcoal-burners. The latter +overhung by a blue cloud of smoke, into which the forked flames leaped +and danced. At the bridge we were stopped by the guard, but the +safe-conduct set us free, and we crossed at a slow pace. Above the +hollow beat of the horses' hoofs, I heard the waters churning around +the piers, and looking over the side, saw the grey river as it hummed +past below me, flecked with white foam-tipped waves, chasing each +other in lines of light across its surface, or, as they broke, +catching the moon rays, and dying in a hundred colours with an angry +hiss. + +Over the bridge at last! And here Jacopo with a sudden "_Cospitto!_" +put spurs to his horse, and galloped off down the Via Toma. So +unexpected was the movement, that it almost brought us to a halt, and +St. Armande called out-- + +"He is gone!" + +"Not he, chevalier," I answered, "come on," and turning to the left we +trotted up the Ripetta. I knew Jacopo too well not to feel sure he +would catch us up again, and that he had some definite object, which +was not desertion, in going off as he did. Yet I could not help being +put out by his action, and resolved to give him the rough side of my +tongue when he came back. We were almost up to the Porta del Popolo +when he returned, coming with a loose rein, and as he drew in with the +troop, I turned round. + +"How now, sirrah! What does this prank mean?" + +"Pardon, excellency, it was no bee that stung me. I suddenly +remembered that we should have little luck on our journey if I did not +pay her dues to our Lady of the Fountain." + +"Our Lady of the Fountain?" + +"Excellency, the fountain of Trevi. Does not your worship know that no +one should leave Rome without dropping a piece of silver in her +basin?" + +"Indeed! I was not aware of it, but remember--no more sudden thoughts +like this." + +"Excellency!" + +I said no more, and passing through the ruined Porta del Popolo where +the breaches made by Charles' cannon were still unrepaired, we took +the Flaminian Way, and galloped down the road almost in darkness owing +to the shadows thrown by the high walls on each side of us. We +re-crossed the Tiber at the Ponte Molle, and, still keeping the Via +Flaminia, turned our horses' heads in the direction of Castel Nuovo. + +It was a wonderful night. There was no breeze, except that which we +made ourselves as we galloped along. Not a cloud obscured the sky, +arching deep blue over the yellow moon, now in her full strength. To +the left the beacon fire from the top of the Tor di Vergara blazed +like a red star low down in the horizon, and before us was the white +road stretching in a ghostly line, its ups and downs accentuated by +the moonlight. The Tiber lay to our right, but owing to the undulation +of the ground we could not see it, although an occasional flash showed +us where the waters reflected the rays of the moon. + +Not the best horse in the world could keep up the pace we were going +for long, and I was old enough soldier to know that our speed must be +regulated by the slowest beast if we wanted to reach in full strength, +so I slackened rein to a walk and gave the animals a rest. + +Excepting once, when Jacopo rode off to make his duty to the Fountain +of Trevi, I had not exchanged a word with St. Armande, indeed I was in +no mind to talk; but he broke the silence with a question. + +"Do we ride all night, cavaliere?" + +"We have many leagues to go, St. Armande." + +"_Ciel!_" he muttered under his breath, and I heard the abbe as he +leaned forward whisper, "Courage! would you give way now? Courage!" + +Clearly there was a mystery here to which I had no clue, and it +troubled me. I glanced at St. Armande, and through the moonlight saw +the white of his cheek, showing all the paler for the black patch he +wore transversely across it; but looking at him did not explain +matters. + +"What the devil does this mean?" I said half aloud to myself. + +"Did you speak?" + +"Merely something to myself, chevalier. _Diavolo!_ But this is a dull +ride." + +"Do you think so?" and his tone softened suddenly. + +I made no reply, but stirred up Castor, and we jogged along. I left +the mystery to take care of itself, and mapped out a line of action. I +would take only two men with me into Perugia, and send the rest with +St. Armande to the convent of St. Jerome to await the result of my +attempt to free Angiola. It sounded like foolishness to give St. +Armande the control of the stronger party, especially if he meant +treachery; but this I was persuaded he did not. On the other hand a +following of six troopers was a trifle too many to pay a peaceful +visit to Baglioni, and might arouse suspicion, while they were too few +to attempt open force. In short, if I could not do what I wanted with +two men, I would not be able to effect it with six or a dozen, and +made up my mind to split our party, either after crossing the Paglia, +or beyond at San Fortunato. + +In this manner, sometimes galloping, sometimes trotting, and at other +times walking our horses to give them a rest, we reached Castel Nuovo +but did not enter the town, skirting it by our right, although one of +the troopers suggested our going westwards by Campagnano, a useless +detour as it seemed to me. We passed the little town exactly at +midnight, and the chime of bells striking the hour fell pleasantly on +our ears. A short way beyond we found the road so cut into ruts and +fissures that it was not possible to go at any other than a snail's +pace, so that within the next two hours we barely covered as many +leagues. The moon was now on the wane, the road became worse, and one +or two of the horses showed signs of fatigue. Jacopo rode up beside +me. + +"By your leave, excellency! We have the road by Soratte to cross soon, +and in the coming darkness may possibly lose our way. I would suggest, +therefore, that we halt here until dawn. It will rest the horses, and +with the light we could press on." + +"Very well. Hark! Is not that the sound of water?" + +"Yes, your worship." + +"Then we will stop there." + +A few yards beyond we came to a ruined temple, near which a fountain +was bubbling. Here I gave the order to halt, and in less time +than I take to write this, the troopers had sprung to earth, the +saddle-girths were loosened, and all the preparations for a two hours' +halt begun. + +I shared a little wine with St. Armande and the abbe, and the former, +rolling himself up in his cloak, leaned his back against a fallen +pillar, and seemed to drop off at once into sleep. + +The abbe followed his example; but my mind was too impatient for rest, +and I walked up and down, watching the ending of the moon, until it +finally sank out of sight, and darkness fell upon us. + +Dark as it was around me, my mind was in a still greater darkness, for +I was unable to think of any plan by which I could gain access to +Angiola, after reaching Perugia. Time, too, was short; but that did +not matter, for I was prepared to let the affair of the ducats slide, +rather than lose any chance of rescuing her. + +A straw yet remained. Luck might be on my side; and with luck and a +strong heart one might do anything. There was nothing for it but to +content myself for the present with this. Until I reached Perugia I +could develop no plan. So I paced up and down with an unsettled mind, +and finally, seating myself on a stone, awaited the morning, +alternately nodding and awakening with a start. + +At last! The east began to whiten, and getting up stiffly, I touched +Jacopo with the end of my sword. He jumped up with an exclamation, and +recognising me, began to apologise. This I cut short, and bade him +arouse the men. + +"This instant, your worship. _Cospetto!_ To think I should have +overslept myself! Ho, sluggards! Buffaloes! Awake! Think you that you +are going to snore here all night?" and he began to stir the men up. +They rose willingly enough, with tremendous yawnings, and stretching +of arms, and we were soon on the march again, through the increasing +daylight. + +The coming day seemed to warm the hearts of the men, and one of them +broke into song, the chorus being taken up by the others as we jogged +along. When this had lasted some little time, I gave Castor's reins a +shake, and off we went at a smart gallop. + +Shortly after passing San Oreste the road led along the side of +Soratte, and, the morning being young, besides very bright and clear, +we had a glorious view. To the left lay Civita Castellana, the walls +of the new citadel standing high above the town, which lay in the +middle of a network of deep ravines; to the right and behind us the +Sabine Hills extended in long, airy lines, and the wooded heights of +Pellachio and San Gennaro, where, close to Palembara, was an old +castle of our house, rose to the south-east. Above us was the +monastery of St. Silvestre, and Soratte itself reached towards where +Borghetto stood, on a bend of the Tiber, in a series of descending +peaks. Cool puffs of air caught us, and freshened the horses as well +as our hearts, and it was a cheery party that finally reached the +Ponte Felice, and entered the town. Here our safe-conduct again stood +us in good stead. Indeed, we had difficulty in getting away, for the +Captain Lippi, who held Borghetto for the Borghia, wished to press his +hospitality on us for a few days; but on my eventually taking him +aside, and whispering to him that I was bound on a confidential +mission, he gave in, but with some little reluctance. He, however, +invited us to share his table at dinner. I accepted, but St. Armande, +who was looking very wearied, declined, and dined quietly with the +abbe at the "Silver Eel," where I quartered my men. + +Lippi was an old soldier risen from the ranks, with a head more full +of drill than suspicion; but in order to remove any such weed that +might be growing there, I affected to be so delighted with his +conversation at dinner, that I begged the favour of his accompanying +me for a league or so on my way, after we had dined. To this he agreed +with alacrity, and I was subsequently sorry for my pains, for the old +bore did not quit me until we had all but reached the Nera, and saw +the campanile of St. Juvenalis rising above Narni. We did this portion +of the journey at a rapid pace, as I wanted, if possible, to shake off +the captain, but, mounted on an Apulian, he stuck to me like a burr, +dinning into my ears his opinion as to how the cross-bow was a weapon +as superior to the arquebus as the mangonel was above even Novarro's +new cannon. At length he wished us the day and departed, and the +horses, scenting the end of their day's journey, put on fresh speed as +we galloped through the oaks that studded the valley of the Nera. The +river here was hemmed into a narrow ravine, and crossing by an ancient +bridge of three spans, supposed to have been built by the Romans, we +climbed up the steep ascent that led to Narni, and there found food +and lodging for both man and beast, at an albergo, the name of which, +somehow, I have forgotten. St. Armande was quite worn out, and I saw +he was unfitted for any long strain. We supped together, and he +retired almost at once. After supper I had a detailed examination of +the horses, and found that one of them had a sore back. The trooper +who owned him, vowed he would not part with him, so I had to dismiss +the man, which I did. This reduced my fighting strength to six men, +including Jacopo. I did not include St. Armande and his followers in +estimating this, putting them down to so much encumbrance, of which I +would soon take care to be rid. I was anxious, however, to hurry on, +and so altered my original plans a little, and in the morning, after +we had gone about a league, I turned to St. Armande, and said: + +"Chevalier, it is necessary for me to press on with all speed. I want +you, therefore, to do me a favour." + +"Anything you like, cavaliere; but we do not part, do we?" + +"It is this. I am going on at once; I want you to take four of my +troopers, and with your own following make for the convent of St. +Jerome. It lies a little beyond Magione. Your arrival will be +expected. If not, say you are awaiting me. Await me for a week. If I +do not come then, go back to Rome, and tell the cardinal what you have +done." + +"But I thought I was to go with you, and share your adventure." + +"I give you my word of honour, St. Armande, that you will share +in the adventure for which I agreed you should come--share up to the +elbows--but you will spoil everything if you do not do what I say." + +"There is no danger to you?" + +"No more than there is to you; in one word, St. Armande, do you agree +or not?" + +"Very well." + +"Then there is no time to lose. Jacopo!" + +"Excellency." + +"Pick out a man, and he, you, the lackey, and myself, will go on +ahead. The rest can follow. I have given all other orders to the +signor, St. Armande." + +"There is Bande Nere, your worship." + +"I am ready, cavaliere;" and a tall, thin, grey-moustached trooper +saluted as he spoke. + +He looked the man I wanted. My lackey was a stout horseman, and at a +pinch might hold a sword as well as he held my valise. So, shaking +hands with St. Armande, I put spurs to Castor, and we dashed off. +Turning the corner of a belt of forest land, I looked back and waved +my hand in further adieu to the chevalier. I caught the flutter of the +white handkerchief the young dandy carried, as he loosed it to the air +in reply to my salute, and the next moment the trees hid them from +view. + +We rode hard now, Castor going almost as freely as when we started. +Indeed, I would have far outpaced the others, if I did not let him +feel the bit once, and the noble beast, as if knowing his duty, +required no further warning not to outstrip his companions. + +Going as we were now Perugia was but a few hours away; but the pace +was too great to last long, and from Todi to Perugia there were nine +leagues and a trifle over of an ascending road. Castor might do it, +the others I was sure would not. In order, therefore, to rest the +horses, as well as to avoid question, I resolved that we should dine +at Rosaro, and after an hour or so of rest press forwards, passing by +Todi, and travelling all night, so as to reach Perugia in the morning. +If we went faster, we would only reach at night, and so late as to +find entrance into the town impossible. + +We clattered past the villages of San Gemini and Castel Todino, and +about noon drew up our now somewhat blown beasts at the gates of the +"Man-at-Arms," the only inn in the village. + +It was a poor place I saw at a glance, and as we pulled up, a crowd of +yokels in holiday attire gathered around us. The inn seemed full, too, +for the yard swarmed with people, and a half-score heads of contadini +were at each window, staring at us open-eyed. + +As I took this in, the landlord came running out, cap in hand and full +of apologies. + +"_Ohime!_ But my house is full to the garrets, signore; and it is +nothing I can do for you to-day. To-morrow is the feast of St. Mary of +the Consolation, and all the country is going to Todi----" + +"I do not want to stay. We merely halt here to bait our horses and to +dine. Can you not manage that?" + +"If that is all, excellency, yes, oh, yes. The beasts, they can rest +anywhere, and there is a polenta and room for your excellency's +followers; but for yourself, signore," and he shook his head +mournfully. + +"What is the difficulty?" And I dismounted, my men following suit. + +"But this, signore. There is but one room in the house you could use, +and that is occupied by two gentlemen of the army. Violent men, +signore, who will not allow any one to share it. _Lasso me!_ But not a +paul have they paid me as yet!" + +"Give them my compliments, and say that the Cavaliere Donati begs to +be allowed a corner of their table for his dinner." + +"Alas, signore! It is useless. They have been here two days----" + +"Then it is time they made room for other travellers. Give my message, +landlord, and say I am following." + +Mine host trotted off with considerable misgivings expressed in his +face, and followed by my lackey, bearing my valise, I went after him +at a slower pace. + +When I reached the room, which could hardly be missed, seeing it was +the only one in the house that had any pretence of appearance, I found +the door open, and heard a half-drunken voice shouting: + +"Begone, dog! Blood of a king! But are two gentlemen to be disturbed +because a signore with a long name wants to dine? Skull of St. Jerome! +Did you ever hear the like of this? _Cospetto!_ Tell him to go hang, +or I'll spit him like a lark." + +I heard enough to recognise the voice, and turning to the lackey said: + +"Send Jacopo here at once with a stout cudgel--run." + +The man went off on the double, and I remained without the door +listening with amusement to the ancient Brico's bluster, for it was +he, and he was having all the talk, his companion, whoever he was, now +and then giving a grunt of assent. + +"Mitre and cowl! Hell and sulphur! Will you begone, fool, or shall I +slit your windpipe?" and I heard him beat the table with his fist. +"Out, rascal," he roared, "and bring in another skin of chianti." + +Out came the wretched inn-keeper, and seeing me at the door began to +urge me to go; but at this moment Jacopo came running up with a stout +stick in his hand, and pushing the landlord on one side I stepped into +the room, followed by Jacopo. + +Brico's friend, who was quite drunk as it seemed, had fallen asleep +whilst he was talking, and lay with his head between his arms, half on +the table, half on his chair. The ancient was seated with an empty +skin before him, and rose in wrath as I entered. + +"What the----," he began in a wine-blown voice, and then his face +paled a little as he saw me. + +I did not waste words. "Cudgel me this fellow out, Jacopo," I said, +and Jacopo attended to the task as if he loved it. The ancient +attempted to draw his sword, but it was useless, and a minute or two +later he was flung out into the courtyard, beaten to a jelly and +howling for mercy. He lay where he was flung, too bruised to move. + +His friend slept through it all; but as my lackey lifted up his head +in an attempt to eject him, I recognised Piero Luigi, and felt that +some more stringent action than I had taken with Brico should be +adopted here. + +"This man is a thief," I said to the landlord, "and his friend little +better." + +"Then to the stocks they go; and now," almost screamed the host, "not +a paul have they paid me, signore, I swear this, the bandits. Hi! +Giuseppe! Giovanni!" + +A couple of stout knaves came running in, and the innkeeper, trembling +with anger and fear combined, yelled out: + +"Bind this brigand and his companion securely, keep them in the +stables, and to-morrow we will hale them before the podesta." + +I enjoyed my dinner comfortably, and on going out to see after the +horses was met by Bande Nere, who took me aside to where, in a corner +of the stables, two men were lying securely bound. One was Luigi, +still happily drunk. The other was the ancient, whose bones must have +ached sorely, for he had been beaten sober, and was feeling the full +effect of the cudgel and the ropes. He was groaning terribly, and, +being sorry for the wretch, I was about to intercede for him with the +landlord, when Jacopo interposed with a whispered-- + +"Let the scotched snake lie, signore, he knows too much." + +I let wisdom take its course, and left the ancient to his sorrows. + + + + + CHAPTER XX. + + "A BROWN PAUL--A LITTLE COPPER." + + +Such as they were, the troubles of the ancient and his crony Luigi +could not have ended soon, for although at first they were surrounded +by a jeering crowd, fresh things caught the minds of the people after +a little time, and they were left to themselves. As the following day +was a holiday in Todi, the inn-keeper probably let them lie bound +until he had more leisure on his hands, which were in truth full +enough, as the albergo hummed with custom. I never heard or saw +anything more of either of the villains again. We had time yet at our +disposal; but after an early supper, the horses being rested, we +started, and going slowly, with a halt on the right bank of the +Paglia, we crossed the Tiber near San Fortunato, and Perugia lay +before us, bright in the sunshine. In order to throw any pursuit off +the scent, for if by chance inquiries were made about us, they would +be at the southern gates, we made a turn east, then struck north, and +getting over the numberless trenches lying between us and our point, +eventually entered the city by the Porta del Carmine. Here Jacopo, +under my secret instructions, let the guard handle his wine-skin, +buzzing out as if in the confidence of the cup, that we had come from +Fabriano in the Marches and then gave them the day. We rode on, +leaving the ward at the gate to finish the skin, and found very +comfortable house-room in the Rubicon, an hotel kept by Messer +Passaro, which lay behind the house of the Piccinino family, "close to +the Duomo, the citadel, and the gallows," as the landlord, who thought +himself a merry wag, informed me whilst he received us at his door. I +took the best room available for myself, and saw to the wants of my +followers and the horses, who were as well as when they started. I +left them in comfort, bidding Bande Nere make ready to accompany me +out at noontide. Dinner I ordered at twelve, inviting the landlord to +crack a flask of his best thereafter with me. He accepted with +effusion; my object in doing this being to try and get as much +information out of him as possible, as I saw he had a loose tongue and +a gossiping heart, and I was resolved to leave no stone unturned in my +search for Angiola. It wanted two hours or more for dinner, and having +bathed and changed my attire, I sank me down in an arm-chair to enjoy +an hour or so of repose. + +After dinner mine host appeared, bearing with him a cob-webbed flask. + +"It is a wine of France, excellency--Burgundy--and all my customers do +not taste this, I can tell you." + +"I am favoured, indeed, Messer Passaro; take a seat, and help +yourself." + +"The condescension of your excellency!" and with a bow he settled +himself on the extreme edge of a chair. + +We poured out our measures, and on testing the wine I found it most +excellent; as for Passaro, he pushed himself back into his seat and +let the liquid down his throat in drops, his eyes closed in an +ecstacy. When he opened them, which he did after a time, he gasped +out: + +"Is not that glorious, signore? Have you ever lipped the brand?" + +"I confess it is wine for the gods," I said. "Is there much in your +cellar." + +"Store of it, excellency; I was not butler to His Eminence of +Strigonia for ten years for nothing." + +"His eminence is a fine judge of wines." + +"_Cospitto!_ And your excellency's forgiveness for swearing. He is the +finest judge in the world. There is no brand he could not name, nay, +tell you the year of vintage, were he blindfold and a drop but touched +his palate. _Corpo di Bacco!_ But he is a true prince of the Church." + +"Ah! you are a sly dog, Messer Passaro," and I filled him his glass; +"I warrant me you could tell many a tale of the cardinal. But come +now, has not the Baglioni as fine a taste in wines, and a better one +for a neat ankle?" + +"Hush!" he said, looking around him as he put down his empty glass, +"in your ear, excellency--the Count Carlo has big teeth and bites +hard. Let your tongue be still when his name comes up in Perugia." + +"Thanks, friend, but Count Carlo owes me no grudge, or else I should +not be here." + +"Your worship has come to join him then?" + +"As you see, Messer Passaro," and I filled his glass again, "I am a +soldier and love to serve a soldier. Besides things will be on foot +soon, for what with the French at Passignano, war cannot be delayed +long." + +"True, and a light has been put to the torch too." + +"Hurrah! Another glass, man; we soldiers are sick of this truce. Our +purses run dry in peace. But tell me." + +"You must know, signore, that all the country east of Castiglione to +the Tiber, and lying between the Nestore and Casale, is a fief of the +Castellani, and the Count--ha! ha! It was glorious!" and he slapped +his thigh--"ha! ha!" + +Nothing irritates me so much as to hear a man laughing aimlessly, and +it was in a sharp tone that I said, "go on." + +"A moment, excellency," and he held up a fat hand, "ha! ha! I had it +all from Messer Lambro, my cousin, and groom of the chambers to Count +Carlo. Well, all the fief I spoke of is inherited by the Lady Angiola, +the daughter of old Count Adriano. The family is Ghibelline, and have +taken the French side, and seeing that Tremouille was between us and +Casale, my lady must needs go down to visit her estates. The Count, +who is looking for a wife, buckles on his armour, mounts his mare, and +with two hundred lances at his back, gallops up the left bank of the +Tiber, fords the stream, swoops down on the dovecote at Rossino, and +brings back a bride to Perugia; ha! ha! It is superb." + +"Ha! ha! Messer Passaro--diavolo! Are they married yet?" + +"Not yet--ah! The wine is wine for the gods as your worship says--not +married yet, for my lady is half beside herself they say, and the +Count, receiving a sudden message from Cesare, has had to leave +Perugia for a few days." + +"_Cospitto!_ How he must curse the Borgia for putting off his +happiness! And she is handsome, eh?" + +"For the matter of that, excellency, one does not squint at a sour +face set in a golden coif. But they do say the lady is very +beautiful." + +"You have not seen her then?" + +"_Corpo di Bacco!_ She is under lock and key, and not for the likes of +me to look upon." + +"In the citadel I suppose--a gloomy cage for a fair bird." + +"Maybe, but I have let my tongue wag too freely, signore, and must be +going." + +"Safe enough with me, Messer Passaro, for I am on the right +side--adieu!" + +I made no further attempt to detain him, and he waddled off with the +best part of the now empty flask under his belt. I was sure he knew +but little more, and what I had got out of him did not amount to much. +At any rate I had discovered that Baglioni was out of Perugia, and +that she was still here. This was better than nothing; but worse than +nothing if I could not discover the place of her imprisonment. I threw +myself back in my chair, and racked my brains to no purpose. There was +nothing definite for me to get hold of, no clue of any kind. I thought +of getting the landlord to invite the Count's valet to drink a bottle +or so of his Burgundy with me, but the mere whisper of such a thing +would excite suspicion of a further object, and the slightest +suspicion would ruin the business. Bande Nere appearing at this time, +in accordance with my orders, I resolved to hang about the Palazzo +Publico, and see if I could pick up any information there. On second +thoughts I resolved to go alone, and dismissing Bande Nere, sallied +forth by myself. I went by way of the Piazza del Duomo, and here I +stopped in an idle manner, and was for a moment struck by the entrance +to the palace, which lies here. Over the gate was a splendid bronze of +a lion and a griffin, set above a series of chains and bars of gates, +trophies of an old victory gained over the Sienese. A crowd of beggars +surrounded me, but I was in no mood for charity, and drove them off +with a rough oath. One of the number, however, remained. He was lame +in both feet, supported himself on crutches, and wore a huge patch +over one of his eyes. + +"That is right, excellency--drive them off--the scum, the +goats--pestering every noble gentleman. It is only to the deserving +your excellency will give--a paul, excellency--a brown copper for the +poor cripple--a million thanks, excellency--may this copper be +increased to you a thousandfold in gold." + +"Begone, fool!" I said, and walked on; but he hobbled along at a great +rate beside me. + +"But a favour, excellency. If your worship would but come with me, I +would show you a wonderful sight. A bird-cage, excellency; would your +lordship be pleased to buy a bird--" + +I turned round in my anger, and raised my hand to cuff the rascal's +ears, cripple though he was, when he suddenly added: "Or _free_ a +bird, excellency--there is someone coming--a paul, quick--thanks, +excellency--may your lordship die a prince." + +As he spoke a couple of gentlemen and their servants pushed by us, and +I gave them the road, the beggar hopping nimbly to my side. My heart +was beating rapidly, and all my blood tingling. Was I on the edge of a +discovery? + +"No more riddles," I said, "who are you?" + +"It is not safe to talk here, signore," he answered. "Follow me." He +started off across the square, hobbling along on his crutches and +wailing out, "A copper for the poor cripple--a brown paul--a little +copper?" + +"By God!" I exclaimed to myself as I followed behind, "what does this +mean?" I had to find out for myself, however, and followed the man, +who stumped along at a rare pace, notwithstanding the ups and downs of +the side-streets by which we went. He never once looked behind him, +but kept up his cry of "a copper for the poor cripple--a brown paul--a +little copper," and once or twice, when I lost him in the crowd, the +cry served as a signal to me telling me where he went. Finally he +turned to the left, and on reaching the Via della Conca, made straight +for the gate. Here a toll was collected, and paying his paul he went +straight out of the town. I kept him in view now easily, and could +have caught him up as I liked, for the speed at which he had hobbled +along had no doubt breathed him. At last he left the road, and toiling +somewhat painfully over the very uneven ground, vanished behind a spur +of the hills on which Perugia is situated. I now put on my best +walking pace, and in a minute or two turned the elbow of the spur +myself, and found the mendicant seated on a stone mopping his brow, +his crutches lying beside him. He stood up with the greatest ease as I +approached. + +"Well, fellow," I said, "what does all this mean? Beware, if you have +attempted to trick me." + +"Does not your excellency know me?" + +"Never saw you before." + +"I am Gian, excellency." + +"Gian! Gian! That throws no light on the subject." + +"The cavaliere remembers the garden of St. Michael in Florence?" + +I was not likely to forget the place where I had received Angiola from +Luigi, but I could not connect the man before me with the +circumstance. "I remember perfectly, but I do not know you. Drop this +foolery and speak plainly." + +"I am speaking plainly, signore. I was not sure if it was you myself +until now. I am Gian, the Lady Angiola's servant, and his excellency +the secretary has sent me to you." + +"But how did you hear I was in Perugia: his excellency did not himself +know I was coming here until a half-hour before I started, and I have +ridden hard?" + +"The pigeon, your worship: it flew to Florence with a letter to the +Lady Marietta. She sent another one on to the convent of St. Jerome, +and the result is I am here. I was to seek out your worship, and +inform you where my lady is confined." + +"Basta! It was well conceived by his excellency. But where is she--in +the citadel?" + +"No, excellency; but in the Casino Baglioni, behind Santa Agnese." + +"How did you find out?" + +"I was brought here prisoner, excellency, and was allowed to be in +attendance on her ladyship, together with Madonna Laura, her maid. I +escaped back to Florence with a letter from the Lady Angiola a day or +so after. It was by her orders I went." + +"Then she may not be there now." + +"I have made sure of that, excellency--but Madonna Laura----" he +stopped. + +"The maid--what of her--no doubt with her mistress?" + +"Alas, no, excellency! She was killed by Pluto." + +"Pluto!" + +"Yes, your worship. A black bear that the cavaliere Paolo, who holds +the house, has as a pet," and he commenced to weep. + +I felt for the faithful fellow's grief, but said nothing, and after a +little he composed himself. + +"Come, Gian," I said, laying my hand on his shoulder, "be a man, and +we will have an eye for an eye." + +He ground his teeth but made no reply, I and went on-- + +"How far is the house from here?" + +"Close," he said. "We can reach it by the Porto San Angelo." + +"Come, then." + +"There is no need for the crutches now," he remarked, as he tucked +them under his arm. "I will use them when we come to the gate. Will +your excellency follow?" + +As we walked northward over the hills, I continued my questions: + +"Who is the Cavaliere Paolo?" + +"A cousin of Count Carlo Baglioni, your worship. A man in middle +life--my age--and a perfect devil." + +"I doubt not, the breed is a bad one. Has he many men with him?" + +"About six, excellency, and then, of course, there is the guard at the +Porta San Angelo always at hand." + +"Now listen to me, for we may not have time to talk further of this. +When you have shown me the house we must separate. Go to the Albergo +of the Rubicon--you know it?" + +"Alas! no, excellency." + +"It is behind the Palazzo Piccinino; you cannot miss it. Go there, and +await me a few steps from the doors--you follow?" + +"Yes, your worship." + +We had now crossed the Vici dell' Elce, but passing the gate of that +name, went onwards, and after a stiff climb reached the Porta San +Angelo. Here my companion, betaking himself once more to his crutches +and keeping ahead of me, turned southwards along the road which lined +the walls towards Santa Agnese. Shortly before reaching the church, we +came to a small but solid-looking building, half fortress, half +dwelling-house, and Gian, stopping dead in front of it, turned round +and began his whine: + +"A copper for the poor cripple--a brown copper. The house, signore," +speaking the last words under his breath as I came up. + +"Do you know the room?" I asked pretending to fumble for a coin. + +"In the tower behind," he answered rapidly, "may the saints bless your +lordship," and he limped away. + +In order to gain time to look about, I put back my purse leisurely, +and then, with the same object, proceeded to rearrange and retie the +bows on my doublet. The face of the house was a little way back from +the wall which it overlooked. The massive doorway was shut, and the +windows on each side of it, as well as those set above, heavily +grated. I was too near the house to see the tower behind, and it +looked so deserted that it was hardly possible for six men to be on +guard there. + +"An odd sort of bower to place one's lady-love in," I said, half +aloud, to myself; but then Baglioni's wooing was a rough one. There +was obviously nothing to be got by staring at the front of the house, +and I turned to my left, pausing between two dead walls, until I +obtained a view of the tower behind. The windows of the topmost room +were all closed and strongly barred, and it seemed deserted. I glanced +lower down, and to my joy saw that the room below was evidently +occupied, and once I caught a glimpse of a figure moving within. It +was a brief glimpse; but the eyes of love are sharp, and I knew it was +Angiola. I made up my mind at once, and stepping back quickly to the +front of the house, hammered loudly at the door with the knocker. +After a moment's silence, I heard the firm tread of a soldier. A small +barrier was let down, a bearded face looked up, and a rough voice +asked-- + +"Who knocks?" + +"Diavolo!" I exclaimed. "You are polite. Is the Cavaliere Paolo +within?" + +"He is not," replied the man shortly. + +"Expected soon?" + +"Cannot say." + +"If you do not answer more civilly it will be bad for you. Tell him +when he comes that the Cavaliere di Savelli"--I gave my proper +name--"has arrived from Rome on an urgent affair, and will call on +him to-morrow; forget, and it will be the worse for you." + +The man seemed a little surprised, and altered his tone at once. + +"I will give your message, signore." + +"Beware how you fail--harkee--is there a road to the Via Appia behind +this house?" + +"Yes, signore, straight on, after taking the passage." + +I did not even thank him, but turned on my heel, and walked off +whistling a catch. I went down the passage between the two walls, and +after some considerable stumblings up and down the vile roads, reached +the Via Appia and turned southwards to my hostel. I had formed the +somewhat daring plan of trying to force the house in broad daylight, +choosing my time an hour or so after dinner, and if done boldly this +would probably be successful, as my own force was nearly equal to that +of the garrison including Pluto. + +As I was approaching the Rubicon, I heard a voice at my side. + +"A copper, signore--a brown paul." + +"Gian." + +"Excellency." + +"Drop the beggar, and attend--can you ride?" + +"Yes, excellency." + +"Very well!" + +I said no more and went on in silence, but a little distance from the +hostel I bade Gian stop, and entering the yard, sought out Jacopo. + +"Has the landlord any horses for sale?" + +"Two, your excellency." + +"Good ones?" + +"Fairly so, excellency--about twenty crowns a piece with saddle +included." + +"Then buy one--and here--a few steps to the right of the entrance you +will find a cripple, he is one of my men, do not speak, but attend--go +out quietly--get him decently clothed, and bring him back here, the +horse will be for him. You can get clothes to fit him anywhere, for +the shops do not shut until late; get him a sword too, there are some +good and cheap weapons in Perugia." + +"It shall be done, excellency." + +"Then be off at once." + +I went on, and had a look at the horses. Bande Nere was with them, +seated on a rough wooden bench cleaning his corselet, which already +shone like silver. He rose to the salute as I came up. + +"How are the horses, Bande Nere?" + +"As well as possible, signore, they are all in high mettle." + +With a parting pat to Castor, I sought my chamber, reaching it a +little after the supper hour. I kept up an outward composure, but my +mind within me was aflame with excitement. I ordered another flask of +the Burgundy and forced myself to eat and drink a little. Then I +betook myself to the arm-chair, and my thoughts. So impatient was I, +that the idea came on me to make the attempt there and then, and it +was with difficulty I persuaded myself to abandon such a plan, which +could have only ended in disaster. Finally, I was about to retire for +want of something better to do, when Jacopo came in, followed by Gian. + +The latter was entirely transformed, except for the patch which he +still wore over his eye, and I was able to recall him now as the old +servant who had come somewhat fiercely up to me in the garden of St. +Michael. He had the art which I found so difficult, of completely +disguising himself when he chose. Jacopo had performed his task well, +and bidding them keep their tongues closed, I dismissed them with a +good night. + + + + + CHAPTER XXI. + + THE RESCUE OF ANGIOLA. + + +The next day as the big gun from the citadel boomed out the twelfth +hour, and all the bells of the town clanged forth the time, five +horsemen rode through the gate of St. Angelo, whose doors were spread +wide open. The single sentry on duty paced sleepily up and down, he +was longing for his noontide siesta, and the guard of a half-score of +Baglioni's lances, lay with their armour off, basking in the mellow +sun. A subaltern officer, who had evidently dined to some purpose, +reclined on his back, half in half out of the shade of a few olive +trees that grew to the left of the gate, and the ruby on his cheeks +showed up all the brighter against the green of the grass on which he +was stretched. The horsemen were myself and my four followers. We had +taken the route I went the day before with Gian, and the plan I had +formed was this. On my gaining admittance to the house, Jacopo and +Bande Nere were to put themselves at the door, and engage the guard +there in conversation. Gian and the lackey were to hold the horses. As +soon as I ascertained the position of Angiola's room, I would blow +shrilly on a whistle I had purchased for the purpose. My men at the +door, who were armed with arquebuses as well as their swords, would +hold the passage, and I should try and account for the Cavaliere Paolo +and bear off the prize. If we succeeded, we could easily make the +gate, and then, the road to St. Jerome lay open before us. The fact +that the attempt was to be made in broad daylight too would be a +safeguard, as no one would deem that such a deed, usually done under +cover of night, was to be adventured at this hour. I had partly paved +the way for my entrance by my call of yesterday, and was provided with +a sufficiently plausible story to keep the cavaliere engaged, whilst I +took stock of his surroundings. Jacopo too had been carefully drilled +as to how he was to announce me, and the question resolved itself into +hard hitting, and a little luck. I had dressed myself with particular +care, wearing my buff-coat under a gay jerkin, and a short velvet +cloak hung from my shoulders. This almost gala attire was to act as a +further blind, and give all the appearance of a mere visit of +ceremony. There was of course the possibility of my being refused +admittance, and of the Cavaliere Paolo declining to see me; but this +was not probable, and if it did happen, I was ready for a bold stroke, +and for this Bande Nere carried with him a grenade with which to blow +open the door. As it turned out, however, we had no difficulty on this +score. On reaching the house I glanced up, and saw a face peering at +us through the caging of one of the windows above; but it was almost +immediately withdrawn. Jacopo dismounted and knocked firmly. The same +performance, I have described, of opening a grating was gone through, +but on my name being mentioned the porter shut his peep-hole, there +was the sound of the removal of a bar, the clank of chains, and the +door swung open with a sullen groan, disclosing a hall, in which stood +two men, completely armed, their arquebuses at the ready in their +hands, whilst the doorkeeper himself, a sturdy knave, stood full in +the entrance, swinging a bunch of keys. + +"Is the Cavaliere Paolo Baglioni within?" I asked as I dismounted, +taking it for granted I was to be received, from the preparation I saw +was made. + +"He is, signore--be pleased to follow." + +With a warning glance to Jacopo I stepped in, finding myself in a hall +of middle size, the walls discoloured with age, and chipped and +cracked in many places--clearly the Casino Baglioni needed repairs. At +the end of the hall was a spiral staircase, whose stone steps, worn to +a hollow in the middle, by the passing and repassing of feet, marked +its great age. Up this narrow stairway I followed the man, until we +reached a corridor, hung on each side with rusty suits of armour, and +old and tattered banners. The place was very damp, and there was a +musty smell about it, as if no pure air ever came that way. It was +evident that the cavaliere was on the alert, for a man was on guard +here, armed like those below, with sword and arquebus. To him my guide +addressed himself. + +"He has come," he said, jerking his thumb backwards at me. + +"Well, announce him," said the sentinel. + +"That is for you," answered the janitor, "I had enough of Pluto this +morning." With this he turned on his heel and ran back downstairs, +jingling his keys. + +The sentry stood still, however, and after waiting for half a minute, +I spoke, my blood rising a little within me. + +"Will you be good enough to announce the Cavaliere di Savelli--on an +urgent affair?" + +The man turned round to a closed door behind him, rapping at it with +his mailed hand. From inside I heard a shuffling noise, a heavy body +lurched against the door, and there was a scratching at the wood. No +answer, however, came to the knock. + +"Knock again," I said, a little impatiently, and this time a deep +voice called out-- + +"Enter." + +I placed my hand on the door to open it when the sentry spoke with +unexpected civility. + +"Take care of the beast, signore!" + +"The beast--what beast?" I asked, pretending not to know anything of +Pluto's existence. + +"His excellency's bear--do not fear it--else it might injure +you--_cospetto!_ But it is a perfect fiend if you run from it. It +killed a poor woman the other day." + +"Thanks, friend, I will beware," I answered, and pushed open the door, +springing back a yard as I did so, for with a short roar that echoed +through the house, a huge bear rose on his hind legs, and struck out +at my face with his claws. + +"_Diavolo!_ go back," shouted the sentry to the brute, and I whipped +out my sword; but the animal merely stood in the open doorway, making +no further advance, his great jaws open, and puffing like a +blacksmith's bellows. + +"_Cospetto!_ excellency, call off the bear," shouted the sentry again, +indeed he seemed positively to hate the animal, and from inside came a +low deep-toned but mocking laugh. "Come back, Pluto--down, you +brute--down!" then there was a heavy "thud," the tinkling of shivered +glass, and the bear dropping on its fore feet, shambled back into the +room. I was considerably startled, and not a little angry; but +concealing these feelings, stepped boldly into the room, keeping my +drawn sword still in my hand. + +"The Cavaliere di Baglioni?" I enquired. + +"At the Cavaliere di Savelli's service," and a tall figure rose from a +lounge chair and surveyed me. I confess that my heart began to beat a +little fast when I saw the man against whom I was to pit myself. He +was far above the middle height, and proportionately broad. His +grizzled hair, parted in the middle, hung down straightly to his neck, +and a thick grey beard and moustache hid his mouth and chin. A cruel +hooked nose, almost Hebraic in shape, was set between a pair of small +and piercing eyes. His complexion was deathly pale, and by the light +which fell from the barred window, I saw beneath the skin the little +red lines of swollen veins which marked an intemperate life. At a +small table beside the chair was a pack of cards, and a glass half +filled with red wine, the bottle from which the wine was taken was +lying in fragments at the door, where it had fallen and broken to +bits, after being flung at Pluto. The bear was now beside his master, +facing me, his huge head held down and swaying from side to side. We +remained for a half minute staring at each other, and then Baglioni +spoke again, with his deep sneering accent, "Is it usual for the +Cavaliere di Savelli to pay visits with a drawn sword in his hand?" + +"Is it usual," I replied, "for gentlemen to be received by having a +savage beast set at them?" + +"Oh, Pluto!" and he touched the bear, "Pluto was not set at you, +man--you would not be here if he was." + +"Probably--if however you will call the beast to one side, I would +like to discuss my business with you, cavaliere." + +"Shut the door, and sit down there," he replied, "Pluto will not +disturb us--you can put back your sword. It would avail you little," +he grinned. + +It cost me an effort, but I did as I was bidden, and Baglioni sank +back into his lounge, the bear still standing, and keeping its fierce +eyes on me. Its master however kept running his hand up and down its +shaggy coat, whilst he asked in his measured voice-- + +"Well, and to what do I owe the honour of this visit?" + +"You would prefer no beating about the bush?" + +"It is my way." + +"Well, then, cavaliere, I have come from Rome with a special object, +and that is to ask you to change sides, and to use your influence with +your cousin, Count Carlo, to do likewise." + +"I follow the head of my house." + +"Exactly. You are aware that His Holiness is now over seventy years of +age." + +"The lambkin of God, Alexander--yes." + +"Well, he cannot go on for ever, and if he were to die, it is an end +to the Borgia." + +"Ho! ho!" he laughed, "it is an end to the Borgia--Cavaliere, your +employers are mad. It will take not a little to break Cesare--Cesare +Borgia, Duke of Romagna, Imola and Faenza, Marquis of Rimini, Count of +Forli, Lord of Pesaro and Fano, Gonfaloniere of the Church--good for a +low-born bastard--eh? Ho! ho! break Cesare! Not you." + +"Stronger trees have fallen, signore--remember we have France, and the +Florentines on our side, and twenty thousand men, under Tremouille and +Trevulzio, are not twenty miles from you." + +I was playing a risky game. If I did succeed in inducing this man to +listen to my proposals, and he actually persuaded his cousin to do +likewise, it would be a terrible blow to the Borgia. On the other hand +I ran the immediate risk of being arrested, and kept a prisoner, or +killed outright. But it was the only way to gain time, and look about +me; and whilst Baglioni reflectively stroked his strange pet, making +no reply to my last speech, I glanced cautiously but carefully around +the room. Like the passage outside, the walls were hung with old +armour and old flags. Time had defaced the pictures on the ceiling, +and such furniture as there was, was old, and the coverings of the +chairs and tables moth-eaten and wine stained. The stale odour of wine +mingled with the must of a long untouched room, and everywhere, on the +tables, on the chairs, and strewn here and there on the floor, were +cards. Evidently the cavaliere had a weakness in this direction, and +like lightning it flashed upon me, that if he were a gambler the game +was probably in my hands, and I would drop policy and turn to the +cards. My thoughts were interrupted by Baglioni, who broke the +silence. "What evidence have you, to show you are the person you +represent yourself to be?" + +"I can offer you none. In matters like this one does not carry +evidence about--but if you like to send a trusted messenger to Rome, +to the Cardinal d'Amboise--see the reception he will get--or nearer +still to Tremouille?" + +"And why come to me?" + +"Because of your influence with your cousin, and because you are a man +who will play for a big stake," and I risked the shot. His eyes +flashed, and his hand stopped in its movement through the fur of the +bear. + +"My influence with my cousin is--that," he snapped his fingers, "but a +big stake--yes--I like playing for big stakes." + +I stooped and picked up a card, holding it idly up between my finger +and thumb. + +"This, what I propose, is a bigger stake than you could ever get on +the king, cavaliere," and with a twist of my wrist I sent the card +from me, it hit the wall opposite with a smart tap, and then floated +slowly and noiselessly down to the floor of the room. + +The man's eyes followed the card, and he muttered as if to himself-- + +"A big stake--yes--Carlo gives me nothing--I am his jailor--I, who in +a single night have lost two lordships to Riario, have now not a ducat +to fling in the air, except what the niggard allows me." + +I did not like the part I was playing; but I knew enough of the state +of affairs to be certain that D'Amboise would richly reward the person +who could detach Baglioni from the Borgia. I said no more than the +truth therefore when I added quietly-- + +"You would have another lordship, or two maybe, to stake, if my +proposal were carried out." + +"_Cospetto!_" he said, "it is useless." + +"Then I am sorry," I replied, rising as if to depart, "but must wish +you good day." + +"_Diavolo!_ Cavaliere, you are not going without some refreshment. Ho! +without there," and his deep voice pealed out like a great bell. + +The bear, which had stretched itself on the floor, rose with a grunt, +but Baglioni pressed its head down, and it sank back, and began to hum +to itself between its paws, like an enormous bee, or rather with the +sound a thousand bees might make. + +After a little delay there was a knock at the door, but apparently, as +usual, the person outside, whoever he was, did not feel disposed to +come in. My host rose in anger, and stepped across the room, followed +by his beast, the latter passing unpleasantly close to me. + +There was an altercation at the door, my host went out with his pet, +and for a minute or two I was left alone. I moved my seat nearer to +the small table beside Baglioni's lounge, and taking up the pack of +cards began to shuffle and cut them. + +The cavaliere came back very soon, a flask in one hand and a glass in +the other. + +"Blood of St. John!" he exclaimed as he set them down with a clink on +the table, "those rascals--I will have their ears cut off--they fear +this poor lamb," and he fondled the great bear, which rose on its hind +feet and began muzzling its master. + +"I am not surprised. _Corpo di Bacco!_ The king again!" and I flung +down the pack in apparent disgust. + +"Down, Pluto!" and Baglioni turned to me, "The king again. What was +that you said?" + +"Cutting left hand against the right. I lost three times." + +"I lost ten thousand one night over cutting--but help yourself," and +he pushed the flask towards me, and then filled his own, which he +drained at a gulp. + +"Come, cavaliere--you are in no hurry--cut me through the pack." + +"With pleasure; but my purse-bearer is downstairs--will you permit me +to see him?" + +"By all means--the heavier the purse the better for me." + +"A favour--I cannot play with that beast near me--could you not send +him away?" + +"Send him away--my familiar," he said with an awful smile, "No, no, Di +Savelli--he is my luck; but I shall keep him at a distance if you +like." + +I rose and went down to Jacopo, and found him and Bande Nere already +on friendly terms with the guard. I took my purse from him, and found +time to whisper a warning to strike the moment he heard my whistle. +When I came back, I was relieved to find the bear fastened by a chain +to a ring in the wall. The chain itself was weak, and could have been +snapped with ease, but the animal made no effort to strain at it, and +lay down as contentedly as a dog. Baglioni had pulled a table into the +centre of the room, and was seated at it, impatiently ruffling the +cards. + +"Back at last," he said, and his voice had lost its measured cadence, +"heavens, I have not spread the cards for a whole year--what stakes?" + +"Simply cutting the cards?" + +"Yes. It is the quickest game I know." + +"Say a crown each turn to begin with." + +We cut through four times, and I paid over two crowns. Baglioni +laughed as he put them on one side, "peddling stakes these, +cavaliere--make them ten crowns a cut." + +"Agreed--three cuts and a shuffle." + +He nodded, and I paid ten crowns, feeling at this rate that my purse +would soon be empty; but I saw that the fever was taking hold of him, +and offered to double the stakes and won. From that moment luck +favoured me, and at the end of half an hour's play the cavaliere +had lost all his ready money, about sixty crowns, and owed me five +hundred besides. He did not take his losses well, all the restrained +self-command which he first exhibited, gave place to a wild +excitement, and his hands shook as he shuffled the cards, his white +face paling whiter than ever. + +"Curse the cards!" he said, "I have no luck." + +The moment had come for which I had been watching. Time after time I +felt inclined to strike a sudden blow; but held myself in. + +"No more to-day, cavaliere," I said, filling my glass, "I have +business and must away." + +A red flush came to his forehead, "I cannot pay you at once," he said +in a low tone. + +"Tush!" I replied, "the word of Baglioni is enough--but if you want a +last try for your revenge, I will cut you----" + +"Double or quits?" he burst in. + +"No, cavaliere," and I dropped the words out slowly, "the five hundred +against a five minutes' interview with the Lady Angiola." + +He leaned back in his chair in amaze, and I went on, "Listen to me, I +only want five minutes' speech with her--in your presence if you +will--come, shall I cut or will you?" + +"_Diavolo!_" he muttered, "if Carlo hears of this--well, yes--I will +cut first--the ten--a bad card to beat." + +I cut carelessly, and faced my card. It was a king. + +"Hell and Furies!" he burst out. "You have won. Come, sir," and rising +he advanced towards the bear. + +"A moment, cavaliere. I said in _your_ presence. I did not include +Messer Pluto there in the interview." + +He gave me an unpleasant look; but stopped short. + +"Very well," he said, and taking a large key from his girdle, went on +before me. + +It cost me a great effort to keep cool, up to now my luck had been so +great that every moment there was a temptation to put all to the +hazard of one stroke. I smiled, under my beard, as I thought of the +imposing fool Count Carlo had placed in charge of his prize, and when +I saw the huge shaking hand clutching the key, I could not help +thinking that nerves like that would never hold a sword straight, and +that for all his size and courage, the cavaliere was not a very +formidable foe. + +In a few steps we reached the door he wanted, and Baglioni, after +knocking once, simply turned the key and pushed open the door. + +Looking over his shoulder I saw a small but well-furnished room, and +standing in the middle of it, in startled surprise at this sudden +intrusion, the figure of Angiola. Quick as thought I made a warning +gesture, and almost at the moment Baglioni turned round with-- + +"A visitor for you, madam." + +She did not seem to recognise me, but at the warning gesture I made, a +faint flush came into her cheek. She stood looking at us half +frightened, half indignant, and at last spoke. + +"I do not recognise----" + +"Ugo di Savelli, madam," and I bowed. + +Her lips curled a little as she answered-- + +"Well, Messer Ugo di Savelli--Cavaliere Ugo di Savelli I should +say--is it not so? May I ask your business? If it is any message from +your master, I decline to hear it," and she turned away with a motion +of supreme disdain, thinking no doubt that I was a follower of Count +Carlo. + +"Ho! ho!" laughed Baglioni, at my look of discomfiture, "the future +countess can speak her mind. I pity Carlo. You had best cut short your +five minutes, cavaliere, and come back to the cards." + +At this moment I heard the bear whining below, impatient for his +master, and I knew his bonds were all too slender to hold him. There +was nothing for it, but to save Angiola in spite of herself. All this +happened in a flash, and with my full strength I hit Baglioni below +the left ear, just where the neck and head united. So sudden, so +unexpected was the blow, that the huge man rolled over like an ox, and +a short shrill scream broke from Angiola. My sword was out in a +moment, and I stood over Baglioni. + +"A cry, a movement, and I kill you like a dog," I gasped out, my +breath coming thick and fast; "throw the key to the lady--pick it up, +girl--quick--now run to the door and stand there--I am here to save +you." It was done at once, for Baglioni saw he must obey or die, and +springing back, I closed the door quickly and turned the key. Almost +as I did so, I heard footsteps hurrying below, and blew loudly on my +whistle. The sound of the whistle was followed by an angry shouting +that was drowned by a terrible roar, and I saw Pluto before me, +rushing up the stair, with the end of his broken chain still hanging +to him. Baglioni was battering at the door behind me. He was safe +enough, but my companion had dropped in a faint, and I wanted all my +hands and all my nerve to meet the beast, who was now on the stairway, +not ten feet away from me. Close to me was a heavy stool, I seized +this, and flung it at the animal with all my strength, and getting +between his forefeet, it caused him to stumble and slip back a +half-dozen steps; but with another roar Pluto gathered himself +together, and rushed up again, his jaws agape, and white with foam. I +gave him the point deep into his neck. It might have been a pinprick, +and he dented the steel with his teeth. Rising to his feet, he struck +at me, tearing my short cloak clean off my shoulders, and then, my +sword was up to the hilt in his side, and we grappled. My left cheek +was once touched by his claws, and seemed to be hanging in ribbons; +but although almost blinded with blood, and choked by his f[oe]tid +breath, I held my head well down, and drove my dagger again and again +into the beast. Angiola had recovered from her faint, and above the +grunting of the bear, the battering at the door, and the clash of +steel below, I heard her laughing in shrill hysterics. My strength was +failing. I was about to give up all for lost, when there was a loud +report, and with a howl the bear fell backwards. My hand somehow +fastened itself to the hilt of my sword, sticking in the animal's +side, and the weight of him, as he fell back, and as I shook myself +clear, freed the blade. I stood half dazed, watching the huge black +body sliding limply down the stairs, until it lay in a shapeless heap +on the landing. Jacopo's voice brought me to myself. + +"For the love of God--quick, excellency--quick!" + +God, I suppose, gives men strength sometimes, for his own purposes. +And so it must have been with me, for I picked my dear up in my arms, +and half giddy, and staggering, made my way to the entrance door. I +need not say I had no time to look about me; but Jacopo helped me with +my burden. Lifting her to the pommel of the saddle, I sprang up +behind, and drawing my darling close to me, with a shout of triumph, I +set free my plunging horse and let him go with a loose rein. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII. + + THE RIDE TO ST. JEROME. + + +We galloped at a break-neck pace to the gate, but the guard was +already alarmed, and half-a-dozen men came hastening towards us. +They were on foot, however, and had no mind to stand the shock of +meeting horses coming at full speed down an incline, so skipped +nimbly aside. The officer alone held his ground, paying for his +courage with his life, for Bande Nere sliced his head in two like a +ripe water-melon--poor wretch. Had they only closed the gates we were +lost, but we reached them just in time, and passing through like a +flash were free of the town. A bullet or two whizzed past us, but did +no damage. It was done, and another half hour of the pace we were +going would place us beyond pursuit. It was no easy matter, however, +to sit the horse and hold Angiola as I was doing, and I very soon +began to feel that the strain on my arm was getting beyond me, and +that she was slipping from my grasp. She lay still and passive, her +eyes closed, her head resting on my shoulder, and seemed in a faint. +Perhaps I spoke roughly, but it was no time to mince words. + +"Come, madam," I said, "you must rouse yourself--take another day to +swoon--hold me as closely as you can--quick." + +My words--and the tone they were spoken in--had the effect I wanted. +She looked a little indignant, but held on, leaving my left arm, which +was getting numbed, more free to guide the horse, and my sword arm +greater liberty should occasion arise. + +The country, rugged although it was, descended in a slope towards the +basin of Trasimene, but I turned sharp aside from the road, fearing +there might be a picquet thereon, and galloped across the open, far +out-pacing my followers, who I saw were coming after me in a bunch, +and at their utmost speed--the honest knaves. The glance over my +shoulder that I took to observe this also showed me a strong body of +horse spurring from the gate, and I chuckled to myself as I thought we +had gained a mile's start and that they had to deal with Castor. Five +leagues to go--it was nothing to the brave horse; and in answer to my +call he stretched himself out as he had never done before. As for me, +such thoughts as I had when I felt the arms of the woman I loved +clasped about me are to be recalled for one's self alone, and concern +none else beside. Once or twice I glanced down, meeting her eyes, and +as she dropped her lids over them they seemed to me to be alive with a +soft light. After a little I felt her arms beginning to relax. + +"Hold tight," I said. + +"I cannot; my strength is going." + +"Courage, take heart; see, to our left is the Tower of Magione--a few +minutes and we are safe." + +I drew her closer towards me. With an effort she rallied, her arms +again tightened in their clasp, and we sped down the long slope which +led to Trasimene, Castor stretching himself like a greyhound. I looked +again over my shoulder. Far behind my men were riding for their lives, +and farther still was the dark line of our pursuers, coming on with +dogged persistence, the sun lighting up their armour and flashing from +their spears. Once beyond Magione we were comparatively safe, but a +false step, a stumble, and all was lost. Magione itself was held by +the Baglioni, and from the old watch-tower, built by the Sforza, which +stood high above the country, we might have already been spied, and a +party sent out to intercept us. The thought seemed to grow into a +reality, and a despair began to come over me. "On, on, Castor!" I +spoke to the good horse, and he laid his ears back at the sound of my +voice, and even as he did so I saw a cloud of dust coming towards our +left, and knew that the danger I feared was at hand. Going as we were +I was riding right into the party from Magione, and therefore with a +touch on the rein, I swung Castor round to the north, and we raced on, +leaving the tower over my shoulder. The double burden and the +tremendous pace, however, began to tell on the horse, and within the +next five minutes he slackened perceptibly in his stride. To my horror +I saw that the ground began to be furrowed and cut up by ravines and +that we were approaching the bed of a river. I had therefore to +slacken the pace, and at the same time our new pursuers sighting us, +came on with all the speed of their fresh horses. Castor scrambled in +and out of the ravines like a cat, but we were going slowly now, and +the enemy had all the advantage of the level ground to come up, which +they did at a dreadful rate. With the failing strength of my companion +I dared not risk jumps, weighted as I was, but the brave horse did his +utmost, as if knowing our danger. + +"For God's sake hold on!" I cried out as we topped a deep ravine with +a plunge that almost caused Angiola to slip from my grasp, and as I +said this I heard a shot and a ball from an arquebus whistled over my +head. The enemy were in the rough ground now themselves, but they were +within gun-range, and I dreaded that some of them might dismount and +pick me off. This however did not occur to them, and on we went, with +every now and again a bullet, fired from horseback with an unsteady +aim singing past us. My charge had twisted her arms into my shoulder +belt and held on bravely, but I saw by her white face and the blue +coming into her lips that this could not last, and if she fainted +there was an end of all. + +At the outside it was a matter of a few minutes now, one way or the +other; but as I came to the crest of another ravine I saw before me a +steep bank leading down to a small stream that was swishing along in a +white flood, and on the opposite shore a sight that made my heart +leap, for drawn up in array, evidently roused by the sound of the +shots, was a strong body of men-at-arms, and over them fluttered the +pennon of Hawkwood, a red hand on a white field. I knew in a moment we +were within the king's outposts. + +"Saved!" I shouted in my joy. "Saved!"--and risking all I made the +horse fly the last ravine, and the next instant we had slid down the +bank, and the white water was churning round Castor as he dashed into +the stream. + +A puff of smoke above us, a flash as of lightning, a deafening roar, +and one of Novarro's nine pounders belched out a storm of grape, that +hissed over our heads in the direction of our pursuers, and stopped +them, beaten and baffled. One effort more, we were out of the stream, +up the bank, and panting, breathless and still bleeding, with my +companion in a dead faint in my arms, I reined in Castor. In a moment +we were surrounded, but the faces were kindly, and dismounting slowly, +I placed my lifeless burden on a heap of cloaks that were flung to the +earth for her, and then turning round, saw Hawkwood before me. It was +the first time we had met since the affair at Arezzo, when I was cast +forth a dishonoured man. I did not know how to greet him, and there +was a constraint in his face, for I saw he knew me, and was like +myself at a loss for speech. I had, however, to take the matter in my +hand. + +"Signore," I said, "accept my thanks. This lady is the Countess +Angiola Castellani, a ward of the Florentine secretary, whom I have +brought off from Perugia, and have to take to the convent of St. +Jerome." + +He tugged at his tawny moustache. + +"I have merely carried out orders--you have nothing to thank me for, +signore. My instructions were to prevent any of Baglioni's men +crossing the Sanguinetta, and to protect all fugitives from the +territories of the Borgia." + +I bowed and added, with a pain in my tone I could not conceal, for +this man was once my friend-- + +"All the same I thank you, signore; I have, however, four followers." + +"I can do nothing for them if they are on the other bank," he +interrupted, and went on, "St. Jerome is not a half-league from here. +My men will make up a litter, and help to bear the lady there. It will +be easier for her. I wish you a good day." He turned on his heel and +gave some orders to his men in English, a language I do not know, +leaving me standing by the body of Angiola. All the misery of the past +came back to me in a flash. Would the stain never be wiped out? All +the kindness I had received from Bayard and the cardinal, all the +efforts made by those who believed in me, seemed to be swept away as +dust in the wind. Almost did I feel that I would accept the ban cast +on me, and turn wolf in earnest. It cost me much to restrain myself +from drawing on Hawkwood, but a glance at the still pale face before +me recalled me to my duty. A man very kindly brought me a little wine, +I knelt down and forced some of it between her blue lips. In a short +time she revived, some colour came into her cheeks, and she attempted +to rise, with a look of fear on her face at the number of armed men +she saw around her. + +"There is nothing to fear, madam," I said to reassure her, "you are +safe, and in an hour will be at St. Jerome--a litter is being made +ready for you." + +Without a word she held out her hand, and thanked me with this and the +look in her eyes. + +The litter was now ready, half-a-dozen men volunteered their services, +and placing her therein, we started for the convent. Ere we had gone +half a mile we heard shouts behind us, and I was more than glad to see +Jacopo and my men riding up. + +"How did you get off?" I asked as they came up. + +"In the rear of the troop from Magione, excellency," was Jacopo's +reply, "they did not observe us, having eyes only for you; and seeing +you were safe, we forded the stream lower down and crossed--but, +excellency, your face--are you hurt?" + +"Somewhat, but at St. Jerome I will have it attended to." + +In truth the left side of my face appeared to be laid open, and +although I felt that the wound was not so dangerous as it seemed, yet +I had bled freely, and now that the excitement was over, began to +suffer much pain. Indeed at times I felt as if I could hardly hold +myself straight in the saddle, succeeding in doing so only by an +effort of will. I did not approach the litter. I was afraid that the +sight of my face would alarm Angiola, for now she was probably able to +look about her, and see that which she had not been able to observe +before. Once, however, in a bend of the road, that fortunately went to +the left and hid my wounded side, our eyes met, and I caught so bright +a smile of thanks, that it paid me for my hurt. I reined in, for I +knew my face showed too much, and henceforth kept well behind. I sent +Gian on to the convent with the good news of Angiola's rescue, and on +nearing the gates was met by St. Armande and the rest of my followers, +whom I was glad indeed to see. + +He came up with a merry greeting. "Welcome," he cried, "so, gallant +knight, you have saved the damsel in distress;" then catching sight of +my wounded face his tone changed. "Good God! you are hurt." + +"A little." + +"You should have it seen to at once--come--we are not allowed to enter +the convent; but the abbess has done all she can for us, and we camp +or lodge, whichever way you put it, in that house there," he pointed +to a small villa, set in what seemed a wilderness of holm-oak that hid +all but its roof from view. + +"Not so fast, chevalier. I must leave my charge at the convent first." + +He had to rest satisfied with this, but I was surprised that he made +no inquiry as to the condition of Angiola, an ordinary civility that +might have been expected. + +At the gates of the convent, within which we were not allowed to +enter, we were met by the lady abbess and her train. I dismounted, +intending to assist Angiola out of the litter, but as it was set down, +she sprang out of it of her own accord, and the next minute she was in +the arms of the abbess, and there was much kissing and many +congratulations, mingled with tears of joy. + +I did not stay to receive the thanks I saw would shortly be showered +on me, and thrusting a handful of crowns into the hands of the leader +of the good fellows who bore the litter, as some reward for himself +and his men, I looped Castor's reins into my arm, and set forward to +walk to the villa. The chevalier came with me, and by the time I +reached it I was quite giddy, being weak with the pain and the loss of +blood. The saturnine old abbe was there, with more concern in his face +than I had seen for a long time, and seeing me stagger, he put an arm +round me and, aided by St. Armande, assisted me to a couch. The +chevalier himself dressed my wound, with a gentle and skilful hand, +making as much of me as if I had been run through the vitals. As he +finished dressing the wound, the abbe remarked that I would have to +rest for a few days to enable it to heal, and I had replied with some +difficulty, my jaw being bandaged up, that this was impossible, when +Gian came in with a note. It was from Angiola, chiding me gently for +not waiting to receive her thanks and those of the abbess, and begging +me to come the following day, with a postscript to the effect that the +lady abbess would so far relax the rules of the order, as to admit me +within the courtyard. I dismissed Gian with thanks, and a message that +I would be at the convent, charging him to say nothing of my wound, +and then my thoughts went a wool-gathering, and I lay back with the +missive in my hands. St. Armande was leaning against the window, his +back to the light. He had taken up this position after whispering a +word or two to the abbe, who left the room. I did not, however, +observe him or anything else, my mind was full of mad thoughts, and +for the moment I let them have full play, making no effort to resist. +Folding the letter up carefully, I placed it under my pillow, and was +about to close my eyes, when the abbe returned, bearing a bowl in his +hands. This St. Armande took from him, and approaching me said-- + +"Come, cavaliere--you must drink this at once." + +His tone was sharp and incisive, and looking up in some surprise, I +saw he was pale to the lips, and wondered what bee had stung him. I +rose to a sitting posture to take the cup; but he would not have it +so, and passing his arm round my neck, made me drink like a child. The +draught was cool and refreshing, and as I sank back on my pillows, my +heart for a moment being gay at the thought of the letter, I said +jestingly-- + +"Chevalier, you would make a most excellent nurse. Shave off that +little moustache of yours, put on a black hood and gown, and +_diavolo!_ But you would break as many hearts as you cured wounds." +The words were barely out of my mouth, when he brought his foot down +with an angry stamp on the carpet, and with a face as scarlet now as +it had been pale before, turned on his heel and walked out of the +room. + +I looked to the abbe, who was sitting watching me, stroking his chin +with his hand. + +"St. John! But is he often taken this way?" + +The cleric rose, and not answering my question, spoke. + +"You had better try and sleep now, cavaliere, or else the potion may +lose its effect." He then followed St. Armande. + +I would have risen to apologise, but I felt a pleasant numbness +stealing over me, and in a minute or so my thoughts began to grow +confused, and I seemed to sink into a sleep. Not so profound a +slumber, however, as to be unconscious of what was going on around me. +I was sure I once heard Bande Nere and Jacopo in my room, and that I +was being carried apparently to a more comfortable bed. Then I felt +soft hands bathing my wound, and heard a gentle voice whispering words +of deep love in my ear. It was a dream, of course, but all through the +night that soon came, Doris d'Entrangues hung over me, and tended me +with words I cannot repeat. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII. + + THE PAVILION OF TREMOUILLE. + + +When I awoke the next morning, my head was still dazed, but I was +otherwise strong. At least, I felt so, as I lay still in my bed, all +sense of fatigue gone, and trying to collect my thoughts. After a +little, I glanced round the chamber, which was not the room where I +had taken the potion, but another and a larger apartment. It was no +fancy then, the voices of Jacopo and Bande Nere I heard and the +sensation of being lifted and moved, which I experienced in the night. +My removal was doubtless effected whilst I was under the influence of +the drug; but the voice of madame? The almost certainty that she was +by me through the hours of the night? I could not account for this, +and seeing any such effort was useless, ceased to rack my brain on the +subject, putting it down to a mad dream. For some while I lay +mustering up courage to rise, fanned by the mild breeze, which played +in from the open window on my right. Outside I could see the branches +of the trees, as they swayed to and fro in the wind, and the joyous +song of a mavis trilled out sweetly through the morning, from the +thorn bushes whence he piped. In about a half hour my head began to +grow clearer, I remembered Angiola's letter, and thrust my hand under +the pillow to find it. Of course it was not there, as I had been +moved, and a short exclamation of annoyance broke from me. + +"Excellency!" + +It was Jacopo's voice, and the good fellow, who had evidently been +watching me, came forward from behind the head of the bed. + +"Ah, Jacopo! Is it you? Here, help me to rise." + +"Signore--but is your worship able--the chevalier----" + +"Never mind the chevalier. I am as well as ever, and there was no need +of that to-do yesterday--_diavolo!_" and a twinge in my face brought +me up sharply, and recalled Pluto's claws. I put my hand up to my +face, and found I was still bandaged. + +"It was lucky he only touched your worship." + +"Luckier still your being there with your arquebus, else. St. Peter +and I had surely shaken hands--there--thanks--I will sit here for a +few minutes," and I sank into an easy chair, being really weaker than +I thought I was, the effects more of the narcotic than anything else. + +"Will your worship breakfast here?" + +"No--but before doing anything, go to the room where I was last +evening, and bring me the letter you will find under the cushions of +the couch there." + +"Excellency!" and Jacopo left the room. + +I now for the first time observed a bouquet of red and white roses, +whose fragrance filled the chamber. I had been conscious of their +perfume before, but thought the scent was borne in by the breeze from +the garden outside. Whilst I was admiring the flowers, Jacopo +returned. + +"The letter." + +"Is not there, signore, I have searched carefully." + +It was a disappointment, but I said nothing, having determined to see +for myself. As Jacopo assisted me to dress, I enquired to whom I was +indebted for the flowers. + +"I cannot say, excellency; they were here when I came this morning. +Possibly the Signor de St. Armande, who was with your worship all +night." + +"All night!" + +"Signore." + +I could not help being touched by this proof of devotion, and when I +had dressed went down, with the intention of finding my letter, and +thanking the chevalier for his kindness. I was, I saw, still a little +weak, but a few hours' rest would make me fit for action, and I could +not help thinking I had been made much over, on too small an occasion. +St. Armande was in the room where I had left the letter, and at the +first glance I saw he was haggard and worn, with dark circles under +his eyes, eyes which many a beauty would have been proud to own. He +seemed so slim, so small and delicate, as he came to meet me, that my +heart began to misgive me again, as to his powers to endure the labour +involved in the difficult adventure we had before us. He was much +concerned at my having risen, made many enquiries about my condition, +and put aside my thanks. + +"_Per Bacco!_ chevalier," I said, "you look more of an invalid than I. +I fear me, I shall have to be nurse in my turn." + +"It is but a touch of the megrims, I have; but you must not think of +doing anything for a week." + +"Or a month, or a year," I gibed, as I turned over the cushions of the +couch, and in answer to St. Armande's enquiring look, went on, "The +letter I received yesterday--I am certain I left it here." + +He came forward to help me, but with no avail. + +"It must have been blown away," he said. + +"But I put it under the cushions!" + +"True--but you forget you were moved, and the things were shifted. +Come to breakfast now, and I will have a thorough search made +afterwards." + +"Not yet; I will but step over to the convent, and enquire after the +Lady Angiola----" + +"What! With a bandaged face?" + +"It is a wound," I answered coldly, and turning, went out of the +villa. My lackey ran forward to enquire if a horse should be made +ready; but thinking the walk would do me good, I declined. I was right +in this, the fresh, air acted as a tonic, and when I reached the gates +of the convent, all the giddiness had passed. There, to my dismay, I +heard that Angiola was unable to leave her room, a thing I might have +expected, and sending a civil message I retraced my steps, entering +the villa by a side gate, and walking towards it through a deserted +portion of the garden. I went leisurely, stopping every now and again +to admire the flowers and the trees. In one of these rests, whilst I +idly gazed about me, my eye was arrested by a number of fragments of +paper, that lay on the green turf at my feet. Yielding to an impulse I +could not control, I stopped and picked up one of the pieces, and saw +in a moment it was a piece of Angiola's letter to me. I lost no time +in collecting the remaining bits of the paper, and carefully placed +them in my vest pocket. Then I retraced my steps to the villa. + +As we sat down to breakfast, the chevalier explained that he had made +a further search for the letter, but in vain. + +"I ought to have told you," I said, "I have found it." + +"Where?" + +"In the garden--in shreds and tatters." + +He became suddenly very silent, and so we finished our meal. All that +day I rested, more for the horses' sake than my own, and be sure I did +not fail to make frequent enquiry of Angiola's condition, hearing each +time she was better, and would certainly see me on the morrow. Whilst +I lay resting, my mind was active. I cast up the time I had left at my +disposal. I still had four clear days to carry out my mission, and to +make my plans to intercept Bozardo. But after my adventure in Perugia +I had need for extra care, and could not afford to throw away an hour +of the four days that were left to me. There were many points to think +of. Bozardo would no doubt be strongly escorted, and if the forty +thousand ducats he had with him were in gold, they would be difficult +to carry away, and would be a great temptation to my men. I could +answer for Jacopo and Bande Nere; of course St. Armande was beyond +suspicion, my doubts of him were at rest; but for the others? They +might or might not yield to temptation. If they did yield, affairs +would be serious indeed. I deliberated long and carefully, making up +my mind to adopt the following course. Tremouille was but a few miles +from me. I would see him, tell him of the enterprise which D'Amboise +had entrusted to me, and ask him to send a troop, or some trusted men, +to whom I could hand over the money in case I succeeded. If he could +send these men on to Sassoferrato, I meant to ambuscade on the banks +of the Misa, make my dash at Bozardo there, and if all went well, they +could receive the money in a few hours, and relieve me of that +anxiety. Of course Tremouille might refuse to see me; he might even do +worse; but I would give him the chance and accept the risk. + +When I came to think of it, it was hardly possible that he was +unacquainted with the cardinal's design, and I could form no better +plan than the one I had resolved upon. I would have to deny myself the +pleasure of seeing Angiola on the morrow, but the four days gave me no +margin. The day's repose did me much good, and, after supper, which we +took about six o'clock, I ordered Castor to be saddled. St. Armande +looked surprised, but I wasted no words, telling him briefly that I +was bound on business, and that on my return we should have to make an +immediate start. I refused all offer of companionship, and shortly +after Castor and I were galloping through the glow of a late sunset to +the camp of Tremouille. + +I skirted the shores of Trasimene, the road being easier there, and as +I went on, could not help wondering to myself what manner of reception +I would have from the duke. Good or bad, I was determined to see him, +and I soon caught sight of the line of tents, cresting the hills that +overhung the defile where Hannibal caught the Romans. The tents were +soon lost to view in the grey of the coming night. One by one the camp +fires began to light the hills; the mist that rises here after sundown +enveloped me, and slackening speed, I let Castor pick his way up an +ascending road, covered with loose stones, and cut into ruts and +fissures. In a while I came to an outpost, and at once challenged by +the sentry, and surrounded by the piquet. I explained that I was from +Rome to see the duke, and could not possibly give the pass word. The +officer of the watch replied that this was my affair, not his, and +that I would have to remain here until the morning, or until a field +officer inspected the posts, in which case he would take his orders. +There was no help for it, and I resigned myself to circumstances, with +an impatient heart So an hour or two passed, which I beguiled by +discourse with the subaltern, telling him of Rome; he was a cadet of +the house of Albani, and hearing petty items of news in return, the +chief of which was that the Seigneur de Bayard had returned to the +camp. Even as he said this, we heard the deep bay of a hound, and I +recognised Bran's throat. + +"_Per Bacco!_ It is Bayard himself going the grand rounds," exclaimed +the subaltern springing to his feet, and giving the order for the men +to stand at attention. In a few minutes we heard the sound of horse's +hoofs, the sharp clink of steel scabbards, and a half-dozen horsemen +rode up. As they approached, Castor neighed in recognition of his twin +brother, and an answering call showed that Pollux knew the greeting, +and gave it back. The hound too came up, and rising on his hind feet, +fawned a welcome on me. I made myself known to Bayard at once. + +"_Ciel!_" he said, "you are the last man I expected to meet, and you +want to see the duke, come with me then." + +On the way I told him of the success of my attempt to free Angiola. + +"We have just heard of it," he said, "and it has gone far in your +favour. In fact Madame de la Tremouille, who is back again, could +speak of nothing else at supper this evening. It was a brave deed, and +I envied your luck, cavalier." + +I told him of my plan, enquiring if he thought Tremouille would give +me the assistance I wanted, pointing out that the movement of any +troops, where I wanted the detachment to go, could not possibly be +taken as a breach of the truce. + +"As for the truce," he made answer, "it is in the air. The king has +really left Macon at last. It is said that the advance guard under the +Seneschal of Beaucaire has already crossed the Ombrone. Tremouille +cannot possibly refuse, and here we are." + +We pulled up at the entrance to a large pavilion, out of whose open +door a broad band of light streamed into the night. + +"Follow me," said Bayard, and I did so, the guards saluting +respectfully as we entered. + +I had not time to look about me, but saw that Tremouille, who was in +his armour, was pacing up and down the tent, with his limping gait, +and dictating a despatch to his secretary. He stopped short in his +walk, and greeting Bayard cheerfully, looked at me with a grave +surprise. + +"This is M. di Savelli," said Bayard, "he has business of such +importance with your excellency, that I have taken it upon myself to +bring him here." + +The duke glanced at me keenly, the thin lines of his lips closing +together. + +"Are you aware of the risk you run by coming to my camp?" he asked. + +"I am perfectly aware, your excellency, but----" + +"You must either be a fool, or a very brave man," he interrupted. + +"I lay claim to neither honour, my lord, and I take the risk: will you +hear me?" + +He nodded, and I laid my proposal before him. When I had finished his +face expressed approval. + +"Very well," he said, "I will detach Hawkwood. If you succeed, hand +the money over to him." + +"I understand, my lord," and bowing I retired. As I reached the door +of the pavilion, I heard the duke's voice again: + +"M. di Savelli." + +"My lord," and I faced him. + +"Succeed in this, and count me as a friend. I give you the word of +Tremouille." + +"I thank your excellency," and turning again I went forth. Bayard +followed me out. + +"I have half a mind to ask you to let me share your adventure," he +said, "I am afraid, however, they will not allow me to go. At any rate +I will ride back to the outposts with you--down, Bran," and he swung +into the saddle. + +When I shook hands with Bayard on parting from him, his last speech +was--"Be careful, cavaliere, for Tremouille is a man of his word--if +you fail, however, remember the game is not yet lost--good-bye, and +good luck." + +I turned Castor's head towards the convent, and leaving the camp fires +behind me, went on through the darkness. It was midnight when I +reached the villa. Those tough old soldiers Jacopo and Bande Nere were +on the watch. Everything was ready; and after sharing a skin of wine +all round, we rode out--shadowy figures through the mist, now faintly +lit up by a young moon, whose thin crescent lay quietly in the sky. I +looked back at the walls of the convent; from a window of an upper +chamber a light was shining. Perhaps it was hers! And I bent down my +head in a silent prayer, for God's help in my fight back to honour. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV. + + TOO DEARLY BOUGHT. + + +About a mile from Arcevia, the road from Sinigaglia to Rome, begins to +ascend the oak-shrouded hills whence the Misa has its source, passes +Sassoferrato, and then, turning due south, goes on for some nine miles +over the mountains. At the point where this road, up to now following +the banks of the Misa, and advancing in a gentle slope, begins the +somewhat abrupt ascent of the outer chain of the Pennine Alps, on a +high overhanging rock, covered with twisted and gnarled oaks, stood a +ruined and deserted castle. It was of the eleventh century, and +originally belonged to the Malatesta, whose battered and defaced +scutcheon frowned over the half-falling arch of the gate. Now it was +ownerless, but there were tenants there, for the falcon had made her +eyrie in its rocks, in the crannies of the falling towers were +numberless nests of swallows, on the ruined _debris_ of the walls the +little red lizard basked in the sunlight, and, when the night came, +the melancholy hoot of the owl was heard, and tawny fox, and grey wild +cat, stole forth on plundering quests, from their secure retreats +amidst the thorn, the wild serpythum, and the fragments of the +overthrown outer wall, which afforded these bandits of nature so safe +a hiding place. + +For once, however, for many years, the castle was again occupied by +man. There were a dozen good horses under the lee of the north wall +which still stood intact, and in the great hall, part of whose roof +lay open to the sky, a fire of oak-logs was burning, whilst around it +were gathered Jacopo and my men, cracking jokes, and finding the +bottom of a wine skin. In a smaller chamber, a little to the right, I +sat with St. Armande and the abbe. We, that is the chevalier and +myself, had been dicing a little together to kill time, the abbe +improving the occasion by reading from his Breviary. We had now been +here for three days, on the watch for Bozardo's party, but there was +no sign of them. They had certainly not gone on, for we had carefully +enquired, and were doubtless detained by some reason, of which we knew +not the details. In order not to be taken by surprise, I had sent +Bande Nere on to scout, with instructions to come back with a free +rein, the instant he had news of the party. Two days had passed since +he went, there was no sign of him, and I was beginning to feel a +little anxious. + +"_Diavolo!_" I exclaimed, "I am getting sick of sitting like a vulture +on a rock here. I wish Monsignore Bozardo would hasten his steps." + +The abbe looked up in a mild surprise, and St. Armande put in +gently--"The compulsory rest has done your wound good at any rate." + +"I fancy, chevalier, I owe more thanks to your skilful doctoring than +to the rest. _Per Bacco!_ But I think I shall carry those claw marks +to my grave." + +"What one carries to the grave does not matter," said the abbe, "it is +what one carries beyond the grave that the signor' cavaliere should +think of." + +"True, reverend sir, I trust I may ever remember that," and rising, I +put my hand on St. Armande's shoulder, "come, chevalier, I go to take +a turn outside, will you join me?" + +He rose with pleasure on his face. On our way out we passed through +the great hall, and listened for a moment to Jacopo, who in a tuneful +voice was singing a Tuscan love song. So absorbed was he and his +audience, that they did not observe us, nor did our footfalls attract +any attention as we passed out into the open air. + +The moon was still young enough for all the stars to be visible, and +leaning over the ruined battlements we looked out into the night. Far +below us we heard the river, murmuring onwards towards the sea, behind +us the castle stood grim and silent, a red light showing from the +windows of the hall, through which we could catch the lilting chorus +to Jacopo's song. + +For a time neither of us spoke, and then to make some conversation I +turned to my companion. + +"Who is that abbe, chevalier, who accompanies you everywhere? Not a +tutor surely?" + +"In a way--yes," he answered, "he was born and brought up on our +estates, and is a faithful servant of our house--you must know," he +went on, "that in Picardy, the name of St. Armande is honoured as that +of the king. I would trust Carillon with more than my life; my honour, +if need be; for he and his fathers have served us more faithfully I +fear than we have served France." + +"Not more faithfully than you mean to though--eh, St. Armande?" + +"If I live," was the reply, as he made a slight gesture, a movement of +the head that brought back to me the shadowy memory I was always +trying to grasp. + +"Live--why of course you will live," I answered. + +"I shall not see the sun set to-morrow." + +I looked at him blankly for a moment. Moon and stars were sufficient +to light his face, so that I could see the sad, far-away eyes, eyes +more fit for a saint than a soldier. + +"_Animo!_ Do not talk like that. It is nonsense," but I felt a +foreboding myself that I could not account for, and it chilled me. + +"It is not nonsense," he said in his dreamy voice, and then, as if +rousing suddenly, "Cavaliere--di Savelli--I want you to promise me one +thing. Do not hesitate; but promise. It is about myself I ask--will +you?" and he held me by the arm with his slight fingers that I felt +were shaking. To soothe him I answered gravely, "I promise." + +"I know that I will not live beyond to-morrow. When I die, bury me as +I am--here--here in this ruin--and--and you will not forget me, will +you?" + +As he said this his voice took a cadence, his face took an expression +that suddenly brought back a hundred old memories, no longer vague and +misty, but clear and distinct. In a moment the scales fell from my +eyes, and I saw. I seemed to be once more hawking on the banks of the +Chiana with madame, I was once more in the aisles of the church at +Arezzo, treading down temptation, and bidding farewell to a woman who +was trying to be strong. + +"God in heaven!" I gasped to myself as I leaned back against the +parapet, and drew my hand across my forehead, as if to wake myself +from a dream. St. Armande did not notice my exclamation, he did not +even observe my movement. His own excitement carried him away. + +"Promise," he said, and shook my arm in his earnest entreaty. + +"As there is a God above me I promise." + +"I believe you," he said simply, "and now I am going in." + +I made no offer to bear him company, and his slight figure drifted +into the moonlight. I saw it clearly again, making a dark bar against +the red glare in the open door of the hall, and then vanished from +view. I was utterly thunderstruck by the discovery I had made. A +hundred actions, a hundred tricks of gesture, of speech, of manner, +should have disclosed St. Armande's identity to me. Now I knew it, it +was all so simple and clear, that I wondered at my denseness in not +having guessed through the disguise before. Now that I had discovered +it however, now that my blindness was cured, what was I to do? I +resolved on keeping the secret I had probed, and never once letting +St. Armande know he was other than what he pretended to be. A great +pity came up in my heart, for there was a time when I almost thought I +loved this woman, and it required little conceit to see, after what +had happened, that madame was prepared to make almost any sacrifice +for my sake. I was sorry, more sorry than I can tell, for I knew my +own hands were not clean in this matter, and I paced up and down, +flinging bitter reproaches at myself, and utterly at a loss to plan +out some way of escaping from the difficulty in which I was placed. I +made up my mind that St. Armande, as I will still speak of the +disguised chevalier, should be placed in no danger, resolving that as +soon as the affair on which we were engaged was over, that I would +send him, or rather her, with a message to the cardinal, and the +message was to be one that, I hoped and trusted, would have the effect +of making madame cease her foolish prank--I had it at this moment +almost in my heart to be angry with her; but I could not, for the +small voice that kept whispering to me-- + +"Thou art not free from blame." I was not; but nothing would induce me +to add another wrong to the one I had committed. That in itself was +sufficient to haunt me to the grave, and I shivered as I thought of +the abbe's words, "It is what one carries beyond the grave that the +Signor Cavaliere should think of." + +So alternately reproaching myself, and praying for aid, prayers that +brought no relief, I passed the night, and in the small hours of the +morning stole back into the castle. Round the fire in the great hall, +the figures of my followers were stretched, all but one, who kept +watch, but recognising me did not challenge. I passed by softly, and +entered the other room. The abbe had dropped asleep over his breviary, +the lamp burning low beside him. + +Rolled in a cloak, and half reclining against a saddle, St. Armande +was in a profound slumber. I took the lamp in my hand, and holding it +aloft, surveyed the sleeping figure. A last hope had come to my mind +that I was mistaken, that perhaps I was jumping too quickly to +conclusions. But no, there was not a doubt of it. There could be no +mistaking that fair face with its delicate features, the straight +nose, the curved bow of the lips, half hidden under its disguise, the +small shapely head with its natural curls of short golden hair--oh! I +knew all these too well. It was Doris d'Entrangues without shadow of +doubt, and no blind beggar, who groped his way through a life-long +darkness, was blinder than I had been. I set down the lamp softly, and +with a sick heart stepped back into the hall, where I found room for +myself until the morning, which indeed it was already. With the +sunrise, I was awakened from a fitful sleep by hearing Bande Nere's +voice. + +"What news?" I asked as I drew the old soldier aside. + +"I have been as far as Sinigaglia, excellency, and all goes well. The +party left Sinigaglia the morning I arrived, and I followed in their +track, letting them keep well ahead of me to avoid suspicion. Last +night, however, I passed them. They will be here about noon, maybe a +little before." + +"The numbers?" + +"Ten lances, excellency, for escort. It is those we have to deal with. +Then there are about a score of mounted servants, four laden mules, +and Monsignore Bozardo." + +"_Um!_ That is rather strong, if the servants carry weapons." + +"But they march as through a friendly country, signore, the servants +going on ahead to prepare for Monsignore's arrival. He himself keeps +close to the mules, with one or two men, and of course the escort." + +"Do you know who commands the escort?" + +"No, excellency--I did not wish to risk anything, and asked no +questions." + +"You are right, and have done well--here are ten crowns." + +"Your excellency is generosity itself." + +"It is not more than you deserve. Go and get something to eat now, and +take as much rest as you can within the next hour." + +"Excellency," and Bande Nere stepped back to join his fellows, who +surrounded him with eager questions, and there was a bustling and a +buckling-to of arms and armour. + +When we met a little later my face showed no signs of my discovery to +St. Armande, and whilst we breakfasted together I told him that the +time was come for which we had been waiting. + +"Remember your promise," he said with an affected gaiety, but his +voice nearly broke down and I saw the abbe glance at him with a deep +compassion. + +"I will not forget," I answered, "but God grant there may be no need +to keep it." + +"I should say 'Amen' to that," he answered, "only I cannot." + +My plans were already made, and as soon as we had breakfasted we set +forth from the castle. The road, as I have already explained, ascended +abruptly a short distance from the base of the rock on which the +castle was perched. Between the base of the rock and the road was a +narrow but thick belt of forest, which afforded admirable concealment, +and here we posted ourselves secure from all view. The abbe and St. +Armande insisted on accompanying us, and in order to put the chevalier +from harm I placed him a little way up the rock, with instructions to +charge down as soon as he heard my whistle, which I never intended to +blow. The abbe took his station beside him, saying where the chevalier +was it was his duty to be. St. Armande held out a small hand to me as +I was turning away, and I took it gently for a moment in mine. The +quick impulsive movement reminded me much of that day when madame had +held the flowers I gathered to her husband's face. Something almost +choked me as I turned away hastily, having only strength to repeat my +warning-- + +"Do not move till you hear my whistle." + +I borrowed an arquebus from one of my men, and the arrangement was +that we were to charge out after a volley, the first shot of which I +was to fire. All being now ready, it was only necessary for us to +wait. I would merely add that in order to prevent discovery by the +neighing of the horses, we had muzzled ours as far as possible. There +was now a dead silence, that was only broken by the rustle of the +leaves overhead, an occasional crack amongst the dry boughs as a +squirrel moved against them, or the uneasy movement of a horse, which +caused a clink of a chain-bit, and a straining sound made by the +leathers of the saddlery, that was not in reality so loud as it +seemed; but caused Jacopo and Bande Nere to scowl fiercely at the +unfortunate rider, a scowl which was only equalled by their own +stolidly impassive faces, when their own beasts sinned. We had not +long to wait; presently we heard voices shouting, the clatter of +horses trotting, a rapid reining in at the ascent, and a number of +followers and lackeys, some mounted on horses, others on mules, with +led mules beside them, came past, and went on, heedless of the eager +faces watching them through the trees. One or two of our horses became +so uneasy that I was afraid of immediate discovery, but so occupied +were the knaves in babbling together, all at once, that what with +this, and the thwacking of their animals, and in some cases the +efforts to remain on, we remained unnoticed. Then there was a short +interval, and the suspense was strained to breaking point. In a while +we heard the firm beat of a war-horse's hoof, and our quarry came in +view. First came Monsignore Bozardo, a tall thin man, wrapped in a +purple cloak, with a fur cap on his head. He rode a strong ambling +mule, and by his side was the commander of the escort. Immediately +behind were four troopers, then the mules with the ducats, behind +these again six other lances, whilst the rear was brought up by +half-a-dozen lackeys, without a sword amongst them. But what struck me +almost dumb with surprise was that the leader of the escort was none +other than D'Entrangues himself. There could be no mistake, his visor +was up, and I saw the sallow face, the long red moustaches, and almost +caught the cold glint of his cruel eye. At last! I raised my arquebus +and covered him. At last! But a touch of my finger and the man was +dead. I could not miss, my heart was mad within me, but my wrist as +firm as steel. In another moment he would be dead, dead, and my +revenge accomplished. It was already in my hand. I looked aside for a +second at the line of breathless faces watching me, then back again to +the muzzle of my weapon. D'Entrangues was now not twenty yards away. I +could scarcely breathe as I pointed the arquebus at his heart. I had +already begun to press the trigger, when something seemed to come +across my mind like lightning. I saw in a moment that lonely room in +the Albizzi Palace, where I had kneeled to my God and sworn to put +aside my vengeance. The weapon shook in my grasp. + +"Fire, signore," whispered Jacopo hoarsely. + +With an effort I jerked the muzzle in the air, and pulled the trigger. +The report was followed by four others, and two of the troopers fell. +The next moment we were on them with a shout, and there was the clash +of steel, as fierce blows were struck and received, now and again a +short angry oath, and sometimes a cry of pain. I did not want to take +life, but a trooper came at me, so I had to run him through the heart, +and the man fell forward under Castor's hoofs, with a yell I shall +never forget. The next instant D'Entrangues and I crossed blades, and +whether he recognised me or not I do not know, but he fought with a +skill and fierceness I have never seen equalled. At last I lost my +temper, and cut savagely at him. He parried on the forte of his blade, +but so furious was the stroke that it broke the weapon in his hand, +and almost unhorsed him. Reining back skilfully he avoided another cut +I made at him, and drawing a wheel lock pistol from his holster, fired +it straight at me. At the flash, someone dashed between us. I heard a +scream which froze the blood in me, and a body lurched forwards and +fell to my side, whilst a riderless horse plunged through the press, +and galloped away. I saw the light of the golden head as it fell, and +forgetting everything, forgetting D'Entrangues, forgetting all but the +fact that a dreadful deed was done, I sprang down from Castor, and +raised St. Armande in my arms. As I did this a hoarse yell from my men +told me the day was won; but I had no ears for this, no eyes for +anything, except the slight figure, which lay in my arms gasping out +its life. + +"Congratulations, signore, we have taken the lot," and Jacopo, +bleeding and dusty, rode up beside me. + +"At too great a price," I groaned; "help me to carry----," I could say +no more. + +"Here, two of you secure those mules--Bande Nere, see to the +wounded--Queen of Heaven--the chevalier----" and Jacopo, giving his +sharp orders, sprang down beside me, and together we bore our +unconscious burden under the shadow of the oaks. A dark figure stepped +to our side, and kneeling down supported the lifeless head on his arm, +whilst hot tears fell from his eyes, as he prayed over her. It was the +abbe. + +"How did this happen?" I asked, "did I not say you were not to move?" + +"It was done at once," he answered, "I could not prevent it--alas! How +can I carry this tale back to St. Armande?" + +"Water, excellency." + +Jacopo had brought some clear water in his helmet. I thanked him with +a look, and he stepped back, leaving us three together, two who were +living, and one who was going away. + +I bathed the forehead and drawn lips, from which flowed a thin stream +of blood, and as I did so her eyes opened, but the film of death was +on them. + +"Di Savelli--Ugo--," and she was gone. + +Gone like a flash, flung swiftly and fast into eternity, struck down, +perhaps unwittingly, by the arm which should have been a shield to +her. I have often wondered if D'Entrangues ever knew who fell to his +pistol shot. If he did, God pity him! In the one glimpse I caught of +his white face, as he swung round and rode off, I thought I saw a look +of horror. But everything went so quickly, that then I had no time to +think, and now I can recall but the end. + +To her dead lips Carillon pressed his crucifix, into her dead ears he +mumbled prayers. I knelt tearless, and prayerless, beside him, +thinking only of the great love that had laid down a life. + +One by one my men stole up, and stood in a half circle, leaning on the +cross-handles of their swords, over which the grim, bearded faces +looked down on us in pity. + +Suddenly Carillon raised his crucifix aloft. + +"My Father," he cried, "receive her soul!" + +And someone said softly, + +"Amen!" + + + + + CHAPTER XXV. + + THE VENGEANCE OF CORTE. + + +We buried our dead; and madame slept beneath the ilex, in the +courtyard of the castle, below the north wall. Over her nameless grave +we raised a rude cross, and after it was done, Carillon bade me +farewell. He was going, he said, to bear the story to St. Armande, and +when he reached it, I wit there was sorrow in the Picard chateau, +whence madame took her name. It was with a heart of lead that I rode +into Sassoferrato, and there, as arranged, made over my prize to +Hawkwood. The tale of the ducats was complete, and the Englishman, +giving me my quittance, held out his hand, saying bluntly-- + +"I wronged you, Di Savelli; but I know now. We all know, for Bayard +has told us." + +I hesitated. Many memories came to me, and there was bitter resentment +in my soul. They had all been too ready to believe. They had flung me +forth as a thing too vile to touch, and now--it was an easy matter to +hold out a hand, to say, "I am sorry," to think that a civil word +would heal a hideous wound. The kind world was going to forgive me, +because it had wronged me. Such as it was, however, it was the world, +and things had made me a little humble. After all, if the positions +were reversed; if I stood in Hawkwood's place, and he in mine, how +should I have acted? I would not like to say. + +"Come," said Hawkwood, "let the past be covered. Come back--we want +you." + +"As you will," and I took his grasp; "I will come back in a little +time. Till then adieu!" + +"Good-bye!" and we parted. + +Five minutes later, I was spurring to Rome, my following at my heels. +It was, in a manner, putting my neck on the block, for Bozardo was +probably making his way thither with all speed, and doubtless +D'Entrangues as well. Recognition was almost certain; but risk or no +risk, I was bound to see the cardinal, and tell him my task was done. +Little did I think, however, as Castor bore me, with his long, easy +gallop, across the oak forests of the Nera, that the face of affairs +in Rome had been changed in an hour, and that, had I so wished, I +might have, in safety, proclaimed what I had done from the very +house-tops. As we came nearer the city, it was evident that there was +some great commotion within, for, from every quarter pillars of dim +smoke rose up in spiral columns, and then spreading out like a fan +hung sullenly in the yellow of the sunset. It was clear that houses +were burning, and swords were out. We soon began to meet parties of +fugitives, hurrying from the city, and making across country in all +directions. They avoided us like the plague, and the mere glint of our +arms was sufficient to make them scatter to right and left, leaving +such property as they could not bear with them, to the tender mercies +of the road-side. Some of my men were eager to ride after the +runaways, and question them; but I forbade this, knowing we should +hear soon enough, and that if there were danger, it would be best to +hold together. + +"_Per Bacco!_" and Jacopo, riding up beside me, pointed to a black +cloud, which slowly rose, and settled above the vineyards of the +Pincian Hill, "we had best go with a leaden boot, excellency. There is +a devil's carnival in Rome, or I am foresworn." + +At this juncture, we turned an abrupt corner of the road, coming upon +a crowd of fugitives, who seemed to be running forwards, caring little +where they went, so that they put a distance between them and Rome. +Amongst the throng was a figure I recognised; and in a mean habit, +mounted on a mule, which was seized with an obstinate fit, and refused +to budge, although soundly thwacked, I saw the Cardinal of Strigonia. +Bidding Jacopo keep the men together, I rode up to him, and asked-- + +"Can I render your eminence any aid?" + +His round eyes, starting out of his head like a runaway hare's, +glanced at me in fear, and the stick he bore dropped from his hand, no +doubt much to the satisfaction of the mule. At first he was unable to +speak, for my words seemed to fill the man with terror, and I had to +repeat the question, before he stammered out-- + +"You are mistaken, sir; I am no eminence, but a poor brother of Mount +Carmel, on my way to Foligno, out of this hell behind me," and he +glanced over his shoulder towards Rome. + +"I see," I answered with a smile, "but if the poor brother of Mount +Carmel will look more closely at me, he will see a friend. In short, +your eminence, I am Di Savelli." + +"_Corpo di Bacco!_ I mean our Lady be thanked. And so it is you, +cavaliere! Take my advice, and turn your horse's head to Foligno. On +beast!" and he kicked at the mule, which moved not an inch. + +"I am for Rome, your eminence; but what has happened?" + +"Oh, that I had a horse!" he groaned. "What has happened? Everything +has happened. Alexander is dead or dying. Cesare dead, they say, and +burning in Hades by this. Orsini and Colonna at the old game of hammer +and tongs----" + +"And the Cardinal--D'Amboise?" + +"Safe enough I believe, as the Orsini hold the Borgo, and have +declared for France." + +"Trust me, your reverence, you will be safer in Rome than out of it. +The whole country will rise at the news, and the habit of Mount Carmel +will not save the Cardinal of Strigonia. Turn back with me, and I will +escort you to the Palazzo Corneto." + +To make a short story, D'Este agreed after a little persuasion, and +the mule was kind enough to amble back very willingly to Rome. We +placed his eminence in the centre of our troops, and went onwards, +entering the city by the Porta Pinciana, riding along leisurely in the +direction of S. Trinita di Monti, and thence straight on towards the +Ripetta. It was a work of no little danger to make this last passage, +for everywhere bands of plunderers were engaged in gutting the houses, +many of which were in flames, and we continually came across dead +bodies, or passed houses from which we heard shrieks of agony. We +could help no one. It was all we could do to keep our own heads on our +shoulders; but by dint of shouting, "_A Colonna!_" with the Colonna, +and "_Orsini_! _Orsini!_" with their rivals, and sometimes hitting a +shrewd blow or two, we crossed the Ripetta, and in a few minutes were +safe in the Palazzo Corneto. + +Here we were received by Le Clerc, who comforted the trembling +Strigonia, with the assurance that an excellent supper awaited him, +informing me, almost in the same breath, that D'Amboise was in the +Vatican. I lost no time in repairing thither, which I did on foot, +accompanied by Jacopo alone, and made my way without let or hindrance +to the Torre Borgia. Here everything was in the wildest confusion, and +the Spanish soldiers of the Pope were plundering right and left. I +stumbled across De Leyva, who, with a few men at his back, was trying +to maintain order. He gladly accepted the offer of my sword, and we +did what we could to prevent the wholesale robbery from going on. In a +brief interval of rest, I asked, + +"Do you know where D'Amboise is?" + +"In the Sistine Chapel, with half-a-dozen others; De Briconnet guards +the entrance." + +"And Alexander?" + +"Dead or dying--I do not even know where he is; Don Michele has seized +as much as he can, and carrying Cesare on a litter, has escaped to +Ostia." + +"Then Cesare is not dead----" + +"No. Cross of St. James! see that?" and he pointed to a reeling +drunken crowd, full with wine and plunder, who passed by us with +yells, into the great reception rooms. + +Followed by the few men who remained steady, De Leyva dashed after +them, and with Jacopo at my heels, I made for the Sistine Chapel. I +reached the Scala Begia, and although I knew the Sistine Chapel was +but a few feet distant, yet, owing to the darkness that prevailed, I +missed the way, and Jacopo was of course unable to help me. Groping +onwards we came to a small door, and pushing it, found it to open +easily. It led into a narrow, vaulted passage, where the darkness was +as if a velvet curtain of black hung before us. "I like not the look +of this, excellency," said Jacopo, as we halted in front of the door. + +"Keep a drawn sword," I answered, "and follow me." + +We could only go in single file, and picked our way with the greatest +care, our feet ringing on the stone floor. Except for this, the +silence was intense, and we could hear no sound of the devilry +outside. The passage continued, until we almost began to think it had +no end, but at last the darkness gave way to a semi-gloom, and a faint +bar of light gleamed ahead of us. At this we increased our pace, +finding a sharp corner, a little beyond which rose a winding flight of +stairs, ending before a half-open door, through which the dim light +came. I put my foot on the first of the steps, and was about to +ascend, when we were startled by hearing a moan of mortal agony, +followed by a laugh, so wild and shrill, so exultant, and yet so full +of malice, that it chilled us to the bone. It pealed through the door, +and echoed down the passage behind us, until the horrid cadence became +fainter and fainter, finally dying away into the black darkness. + +"God save us!" exclaimed Jacopo, "it is a fiend laughing its way to +hell." + +He went on, with chattering teeth, to adjure me to go no further; but +crossing myself, I bade him be silent, and stepped forwards. Since +that moan of agony, and terrible laugh of triumph, there was no sound, +and I could almost hear my heart beating, as I reached the door. +Jacopo had nerved himself to follow me, and stood pale and trembling +at my shoulder, his sword quivering in his shaking hand. I was myself +not free from fear, for no man may combat with spirits, but after a +moment's hesitation, I looked cautiously in. I saw before me a room of +great size, dimly lighted by two tall candles, burning on each side of +a massive bedstead, on which lay a man bound, and writhing in the +throes of death. The light, though faint around the room, fell full on +the face of the man, and horribly as the features were changed, +distorted as they were, I saw they were those of Alexander, and +that he was in his last agony, alone and friendless in his splendid +palace. Yet not alone, there was another figure in the room. As I +looked, it stepped out of the gloom of the rich curtains at the +window, and standing over the bed, laughed again, that terrible laugh +of devilish joy. At the sound, the dying man moaned through his black, +foam-clothed lips, and Corte, for it was he, bent over the body and +mocked him. + +"Roderigo Borgia, Vicar of Christ, hell yawns for you; but a few +moments, Borgia, but a few moments of life; think you, that you suffer +now? There is more coming--things I even cannot dream of." In the face +of Alexander came so awful a look of entreaty that I could bear it no +longer. I stepped into the room, and putting my hand on Corte's +shoulder, said, + +"Come, let him die in peace." + +He turned on me with a snarl, but recognising me, laughed again. + +"Ha! ha! Let him die in peace. Why, man, you saw her die, and can say +this? But he is going too. It is a week since his doctor, Matthew +Corte, bled him for an ague, and touched him with a little knife, just +a little pin-prick. He began to die then; but hell is not yet hot +enough for him. He dies in too much peace. Why, my dog died in more +agony! But he has felt something. See those torn curtains! See this +disordered room! He tore those curtains in his madness. He bit at the +wood of the chairs, he howled like a dog at the moon, and they tied +him here, and left him. I alone watch. I will let him die in peace. +Ha! ha! It is good. I do not want him to die yet. I give him food, and +he lives. In a little while perhaps he will die. But in peace! ha! ha! +I could almost die with laughter, when I hear that. It is too good! +Ha! ha!" + +I saw it was hopeless to do anything with Corte, and the Pope was +beyond repair. I might have cut down the madman, but it would have +served no purpose. For a moment I thought I would pass my sword +through the Borgia, and free him from pain. It would have been a +mercy, but I luckily had the sense to restrain myself. Again, +Alexander deserved his fate, and a few minutes more or less would make +no difference. So I left the wretch to die the death of a dog, that +befitted his life, and turning on my heel, went back through the +passage. + +Jacopo heaved a sigh of relief as we came out, and I felt a different +man as I ran down the steps of the Scala Regia. Here I met with De +Leyva again, and told him what I had seen. + +"The Camerlengo has just gone to him," he answered, referring to the +Pope, "and you have missed D'Amboise. He has returned to the Palazzo +Corneto. I can do nothing here, and am going myself. Do you walk or +ride? I have no horse." + +"Walk," I answered, and the Spaniard linked his arm in mine, as, +followed by Jacopo, we took our way back to the cardinal's house. + +On reaching I sought D'Amboise at once. He had heard of my arrival, +and was awaiting me. After a brief greeting, I told him his business +was done, and handed him the quittance I had received from Hawkwood. +He was mightily pleased, as may be imagined. I felt it my duty to +inform him of the death of St. Armande, telling him how it occurred, +without in any way disclosing my knowledge of the secret. He was much +affected. + +"It is a sad business," he said, "but we have other things to think of +now. _Mon Dieu_! _mon Dieu!_" And to this day I am unaware if he knew +or not. + +But the night was not yet over, and late as it was, there were yet +things to be done. About midnight we heard that Alexander was dead, +and a few minutes later Gentil' Orsini hurried to the cardinal. They +held a hasty council, and De Briconnet and I were summoned. News had +come that Cesare had not yet left Ostia, that he was too ill to +travel, and D'Amboise and Orsini resolved on a bold stroke. It was +nothing less than the capture of Borgia. Orsini offered to lend two +hundred lances for the purpose, but a leader was wanted. He could not +go himself, as his archenemy, Fabrizio Colonna, held all Rome on the +left bank of the Tiber, and was in sufficient force to make a dash for +the Borgo at any moment. The short of it was, that at the cardinal's +recommendation, I received the command, and about two in the morning +set out for Ostia. If the ships Cesare had hired had arrived the +matter was ended, and we could do nothing; but if not, there was every +chance of his surrendering without a blow, as although he had about +five hundred men with him, they were not to be relied on, except the +half-dozen cut-throats who formed his personal guard, and who might be +trusted to fight to the last. The luck which had followed me so far +favoured me again, and pressing on as fast as our horses could bear +us, we came up with the fugitives in the early morning. Only one ship, +too small to hold all, had come, and they were crowded on the banks of +the Tiber, making every effort to embark. The river-shore was strewn +with the enormous quantity of baggage they had with them, and a scene +of the utmost confusion took place on our arrival. The ship was +drawing up to the quay, and we could see the litter of the Borgia, +surrounded by the few men who meant to fight. The affair was over in +five minutes, and Cesare was my prisoner. Seeing how matters stood, +the master of the ship anchored in midstream, heedless of the yells +and execrations of the followers of the Borgia, who were not spared by +my men. Indeed, I had great difficulty in keeping Cesare from harm. He +was in truth very ill, but was able to gasp out as he yielded:-- + +"_Maldetto!_ It is my fate. I had prepared for everything except being +ill." He then lay back in his litter, and spoke no more. + +One short and desperate attempt was made to rescue him. About a dozen +horsemen charged right at us, and for a moment it appeared as if they +would succeed. But we were too strong, and although they inflicted +severe loss on us, killing Bande Nere amongst others, they were cut +down, all but one, who led them. This man, seeing all was lost, and +determined not to be taken himself, galloped to the quay, and striking +his spurs home, leaped his horse far into the river, and made for the +vessel. The stream was running fast and strong, but the good beast, +despite his burden, struggled bravely against the flood. To relieve +the horse, the cavalier, having torn off his morion, slipped from the +saddle, and with his hand on the pommel, attempted manfully to swim +beside the animal. The weight of his cuirass, however, bore him down. +Twice his head sank below the water, twice he rose again and battled +with the flood. Those on the ship made no effort to save him, and we +on shore could do nothing. He had now, fighting every inch of his way, +drifted astern of the vessel, and someone flung a rope at him. His +hand reached out to clasp it, but missed, and then the under-current +caught man and horse and dragged them down. He rose yet once again, +his white despairing face turned towards us, and with a supreme effort +of hate, shook his clenched hand at me, and was gone. + +So died Crepin D'Entrangues, the death of a brave man, unyielding and +fighting to the last. The yellow Tiber hissed in white foam over the +spot where he sank. Perchance the mad currents dragged his body down +to the slime of the river-bed, picked it up again in their swirl, +tossed it in sport from one to another, and finally flung it to rot on +some lonely bank, where the gulls screamed above it, and the foxes of +the Maremma gnawed at the rusty armour, and snapped and snarled over +the white bones in the moonlight. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVI. + + CONCERNING MANY THINGS. + + +Everyone knows the history of the times, and it is not my intention to +dilate on this, but merely to set down, without comment, those matters +of state in which Fortune allowed me to play a part. When Cesare +surrendered at Ostia the Borgia were broken for ever, and Valentinois +allowed, after a short confinement, to escape to Spain, where he died +like a soldier. Now that the game was in their hands, the allies began +to quarrel amongst themselves, the French king to drivel away his +opportunities in gaiety, and the Venetians to step in, in their Most +Serene way, and claim a share of the spoils for the Lion of St. Mark. +Events moved quickly, the genius of the Great Captain won victory +after victory for Spain, the death of Francis Piccolomini paved the +way for the accession of Rouvere to the Papacy as Julius II., and the +Holy League was formed, by means of which the French were finally +driven from Italy. Thus, in a few years, the work of D'Amboise was +scattered to the winds, but long before that time I had sheathed my +sword, and concerned myself no more with war. + +But on the day that I surrendered my prisoner to D'Amboise and Orsini, +the former already in thought sat in St. Peter's Chair, and the +latter, at the very least, imagined himself the Lord of the Romagna. I +sent forward couriers, with the news of my success, to the cardinal, +and ere we reached Malafede, met with a return messenger from +D'Amboise, bearing a brief note of congratulation, and adding that +Colonna had made terms to evacuate the portions of the city he held. +The messenger informed me, that the Bailly of Caen had already entered +Rome by the Porta Pia, and that, finding himself between two fires, +old Fabrizi Colonna had made a virtue of necessity, and by yielding +now, reserved himself for another day. This enabled me to go back by +an easier route than we had come, and as we rode through the Ostian +Gate, I could not help contrasting my present entry to the day when +Jacopo and I had reined in our weary steeds to let the Borgia pass, +and give his following the road. At the Ponte S. Angelo, I surrendered +my prisoner to Orsini in person, and truly thought he would have but a +few hours more to live, for Gentil' Virginio had a long score to +settle with the Borgia, and a longer memory for a wrong. The blood, +too, of Paolo, whom Cesare strangled at Sinigaglia, and that of the +Cardinal Orsini, whom he brutally murdered in Rome, called aloud for +vengeance. Cesare himself seemed to be aware of this, for whereas up +to now he had remained in a sullen silence, he found tongue to implore +me, in the most servile manner, not to deliver him to Orsini, and when +I told him I had no option, he tried to creep out of his litter, and +lay his cap at the feet of his enemy. Orsini spoke nothing, merely +ordering him to be borne to S. Angelo; but as the Borgia shrank back +into his litter, he said with a grim smile that he trusted the duke +would find his entertainment to his liking. How it happened that +Cesare came off with a whole skin I never knew, but he did, as I have +mentioned above, and it surpasses belief. He turned cur at the last, +and the low blood showed in him; but he was one of those men who knew +how to be thoroughly bad. Orsini took back his lances, saying he had +need of them, so that it was with my own few men that I reached the +Palazzo Corneto. I must except Bande Nere from this number, and I was +truly sorry for his death, for his was an honest sword. The cardinal +received me in the little chamber where we had supped with +Machiavelli. He had thrown aside his clerical habit and was in mail, +but wore his barettina on his head. He was more than kind, +congratulating me heartily on my success, going so far as to say that +by capturing Cesare I had given a kingdom to France. I then left him +with further assurances of his goodwill towards me, and saw him no +more for the day. + +Towards the small hours of the next morning I was aroused from a deep +sleep by Jacopo. Starting up, I inquired what was astir, and was told +that Defaure, the page, was waiting to see me. I gave orders for his +instant admission, and, on coming in, he informed me that his eminence +desired my immediate attendance. Telling Jacopo to have Castor +saddled, for I smelt work afoot, I flung myself into my clothes, and +hastened to D'Amboise. + +He had evidently not slept all night, and was pacing the room in +agitation. + +"St. Dennis!" he burst out, as I entered, "do you know what they have +done? The king holds a tourney at Arezzo instead of marching on at +once. What is worse, he has granted an extension of the truce to +Spain, and Tremouille and the rest of them are off to the junkets. +They are making a May-day with those ducats you captured. By God! they +would dance away a kingdom." + +"Your eminence has no doubt sent news of the capture of Cesare?" + +"That was only yesterday, man," he snapped, "and De Briconnet is +riding for his life to the king. But it is about this I sent for you," +he went on rapidly. "De Briconnet may come to harm. Here are other +despatches. Take them and follow him; overtake him if you can. When +can you start?" + +"Now." + +"Good--here are the papers. And this for Tremouille. Adieu!"--and he +held out his hand--"_Monsieur le Compte_." + +I started a little at the last words which he uttered in French, but +had no time to ask for explanation or make inquiry. I hurried to my +apartments and found Castor ready. Bidding Jacopo follow me to Arezzo +with my men as soon as possible, I gave Castor the rein and rode out +of Rome. At Citta del Pieve I got my first news of De Briconnet. At +Cartona he was but two hours ahead of me, and when on the afternoon of +the second day I reined in the staggering Castor at the gates of the +Villa Accolti, where the king was, I saw in the courtyard a dead +horse, his sides still bleeding from the spur marks, and judged that +De Briconnet had barely beaten me by a head for all his twelve hours' +start. So once again had I entered the Villa Accolti! And as I sprang +to the ground, loosed the girths over Castor's heaving flanks, and +resigned the reins to a willing groom who led the poor beast to rest, +all the past came back to me with a vivid force, and I looked around, +almost expecting to meet again the glances of scorn and contempt, to +hear once more the hisses, the mockery, and the foul reproach of that +day. + +The cardinal was right enough when he said that high junkets were to +be held. And the day seemed to be one of merry-making. Flags were +flying from all parts of the villa, and the wide grounds were full of +the followers of the court, and the townspeople either watching, or +engaged in sports of wrestling, archery, and other games. + +For the great ones, however, the out-of-door amusement of the day came +to an end with the dinner-hour, and they were now disporting +themselves within. From the open windows strains of music floated out +into the sunlight and gay figures passed and repassed, or moved in and +out of the balcony overhanging the grand entrance which seemed, from +the constant movement and the brilliant dresses of those who crowded +thereon, to be like a bed of flowers stirring in the wind. As I came +below the balcony, I did not dare to look up, but with my sword in the +loop of my arm and my despatches clenched in my right hand, walked up +the marble steps. + +"Post from Rome! Post from the Lord Cardinal!" + +The sonorous voice of the ushers pealed this out, and I found myself +at the entrance to the gallery leading to the great hall where I had +been tried. + +"Not here, sir--to the left." My way was barred by an equerry in +violet and gold. + +"Not so, De Brienne, the king receives these despatches in person," +and Bayard had linked his arm in mine. + +"But, my lord!" + +"I take the blame," and Bayard, blazing in full mail, led me through +the gallery whose sides were lined with the archers of the Scottish +Guard. Archers in name only now, and little as my time was, I could +not forbear glancing at these fine troops, who, although few in +number, bore an unequalled reputation for service in the field. The +doors at the entrance to the hall, which were guarded by two gigantic +men-at-arms, were opened only at fixed intervals to let people in and +out, and by this means an attempt was made to avoid overcrowding. +There were a considerable number before us, and having to go slowly, +we had time to exchange a few words. + +"I suppose De Briconnet has passed in?" I asked, "he could only have +just arrived, for his horse lies dead at the gates." + +"I doubt it. All posts are received by De Vesci, whose wrath we are +going to brave. If De Briconnet came in here direct, he was probably +stopped and sent to the seneschal's apartments." + +"If so, as he was the first-comer, he should present the despatches," +I urged; "I bear but duplicates?" + +"There is no time to think of that now," replied Bayard, and as he +spoke the doors unfolded, and in a crash of music and the murmur of +voices, above which now and again trilled a peal of clear feminine +laughter, we entered the hall. At first we were unobserved, for the +interest of every one was gathered to the centre of the room, where to +the strains of music a game of chess was being played with living +figures. The king himself took part in it, and I had good opportunity +of observing him. Time had not changed Louis much, although his +reckless life had enfeebled his constitution. He had the features of +his house, the wide forehead, the oval face, the pointed chin, below +which his short brown beard was neatly trimmed. His grey eyes were set +somewhat wide apart, and his hair, which was naturally straight, he +wore carefully curled, in a length that all but touched his shoulders. +He was dressed in a tight-fitting surcoat of green, with green +trunk-hose and stockings of the same colour. A short cloak, also of +green, fell from his shoulder, and below his left knee was bound the +ribbon of the English Order of the Garter, of which he was very proud. +On his head was a velvet cap lapelled in front and on either side, and +alive with the light of jewels, with which it was studded. He was +playing king in the game, Madame de la Tremouille acting as queen, and +the rival king was Tremouille himself, who had for his partner Isabel +the Good, the wife of Gonsaga of Mantua, a princess distinguished +alike for her beauty and her virtue. A little apart from the players, +and watching the game with a grave interest, stood Etienne de Vesci, +the Seneschal of Beaucaire, who was, after the cardinal, the most +powerful man in France, and, indeed, was supposed by many to have more +of the king's ear. Close by him were a number of ladies, and I ran my +eye amongst them and around the hall, hoping in vain to catch sight of +the one face I longed to see. Whilst so engaged De Vesci observed me, +and seeing the papers in my hand, made an imperious gesture, beckoning +me towards him. This I pretended not to observe, and the seneschal, +biting his lip, edged his way towards me. It was easy to see from my +travelled and stained appearance, the red on my spurs, and the packet +in my hand, that I was the bearer of news. + +"Is not monsieur aware," he said in a harsh voice, speaking in French, +"that papers for the king should be brought to me?" + +"These are for the king's hand," I answered. + +"It is enough. Give them to me," and he held forth his hand. + +"I have said, my lord, that they are for His Majesty's own hands." + +Bayard, who was watching the game now drawing to a close, turned round +at this, and grasping the matter, cut in. + +"_Ciel!_ My Lord, let the cavaliere deliver his packet. It will come +to you soon enough. Take a holiday for once." + +De Vesci frowned, and was about to make a hot answer, when there was a +sudden shout and a clapping of hands, and Louis, who had won the game, +came forward leading Madame de la Tremouille in triumph. The last move +was made but a few feet from us, and as the king faced round with his +partner he caught sight of our group and called out as he advanced-- + +"Victory! We have won. Why those black looks, De Vesci? Come and +congratulate us." + +With an effort the seneschal smoothed his face, "Victory always +attends your majesty, and with so fair a partner defeat would be +impossible," and he bowed with a courtly grace; but the wrinkles of +his frown were still on his forehead. The duchess grew red with +pleasure at the compliment, and Louis clapped his hands like a boy. + +"Excellent! Trust a courtier's lip for a soft speech;" and then, +observing me, "but what have we here?" + +"From Rome, your majesty," and dropping to my knee, I presented my +papers, which the king took irresolutely in his hand. + +"_Diable!_" he exclaimed, with an impatient gesture, "from my lord +cardinal no doubt?" And he glanced at me. + +"Your majesty, and of the most vital import," and I rose. + +"I must read them, I suppose. A plague on the cardinal! We were just +going to the minuet----" + +"I will deal with the matter, sire. The papers should have come to +me," and De Vesci, saying this in his harsh, grating voice, reached +forth his hand. Usually a perfect master of his temper, he had +somehow, for once, let it get the better of him; and his closing words +and manner were almost those of command. Louis, though a brave man, +had a weak nature and a hasty temper. A temper that was often aroused +to fits of obstinacy, little short of mulish. He caught the +seneschal's tone, and perhaps also the suppressed smile that nickered +on the faces of his courtiers. His forehead darkened, "You mistake, my +lord, these papers come rightly to me," and turning his back on the +seneschal, he tore open the packet. + +De Vesci stepped back, white to the lips, and the court gathered round +the king in silence. Seeing Tremouille at hand, I made bold to step up +to him, and give him D'Amboise's note. He glanced at it, and turning +to me said, "I gave my word, and it shall be kept. The honour of +Tremouille is pledged." + +I was at a loss to understand; but had no time to think, for Louis +suddenly called out, "Tremouille--Bayard--gentlemen! The Borgia is +taken! Rome is ours!" + +At once there was a buzz, and a murmur of voices, in eager +congratulation at the glad tidings. Standing alone and apart from all, +I could barely see Louis, so closely did the court press around him; +but it seemed that Tremouille was urging something on him, and the +duchess too, for I caught the flash of the jewels on her fingers, as +in her eagerness she laid them on the king's arm. Then Bayard's deep +voice came to me clearly, "If done, 'twere well done quickly, sire." + +I do not exactly know how it happened; but I found myself kneeling +before the king, who stood above me, his drawn sword in his hand. + +"M. di Savelli," he said, "one king of France owed you his life, +another all but owes you a kingdom. Wear again your cross. It was +nobly won. Take back your knighthood." He laid the blade gently on my +shoulder, "for God, for your King, for your Lady. Arise, Sir Knight!" +He stretched forth his hand to aid me to my feet, and I stood up +again, with my honour white, in the very hall, almost on the very +spot, whence I had been cast out in ignominy and shame. + +I could not speak--I was choked--my eyes were wet with tears. Seeing +my emotion, Louis placed his hand kindly on my shoulder. + +"Remember, Di Savelli," he said, "France needs you yet. To the minuet, +my lords and ladies--to the minuet!" + +And he turned down the hall, not waiting for my thanks. But friends +sprang up everywhere. The first to give me her good wishes was the +Duchesse de la Tremouille, then came the duke, old Ives d'Alegres, and +others I can scarcely name. It was whilst in their midst that I saw a +face I knew well, and Machiavelli came up. + +"Late, but not the less warm in my congratulations," he said; "so the +good ship is safe in port at last! We owe you too much for speech, and +can never thank you enough." + +"Your excellency is most kind. Is the Lady Angiola well?" + +He was silent for a moment, and laughed to himself, as if something +stirred him. "As well as ever she was," he answered at length, and +added, "You must sup with us this evening. We lodge in the Borgo di +San Vito, and never mind your attire. My wife longs to see you, and +thank you in person." + +Other friends coming up, our converse was brought to an end, and I +managed to effect my escape, and take refuge in the pavilion of +Bayard, who insisted on my being his guest. I would have willingly +foregone the supper at the Borgo di San Vito, as I was weary; but +having promised, borrowed a horse from my host, and set out. I reached +the secretary's lodging, punctually to the hour, and was received by +Gian, who, after a respectful inquiry concerning my health, ushered me +into an apartment, where, on entering, I found myself alone. I had to +wait some little time, and wondering at the strangeness of my +reception, I walked towards a window, overlooking the private gardens +of the house. As I reached it, I heard the rustle of trailing +garments, and turning round beheld Angiola before me. She came up with +outstretched hands, and I took them in mine, and looked into her eyes. +Then I found words; they come to every man at the right time, and I +spoke. She made no answer as I pleaded my cause, and fearing the +worst, I dropped her hands, with a bitter reproach against my age and +my scarred face. When I had done she remained still, with her eyes +down, and there was a silence. Then she looked up again. + +"Di Savelli," and her voice was very low, "you say your face is +scarred by wounds. Do you know, cavaliere, I would I were a man, that +I too might bear wounds on my face, and looking in my mirror, see how +they became me." And the rest concerns not anyone. + + * * * * * + +We were married before the end of the truce, and on my wedding day, I +received from His Majesty the King, the patents of the county of +Fresnoy, in Guienne, a distinction that was extended to me in Italy, +by His Holiness Pope Pius III., who, on my purchasing a portion of my +ancestral estates back from Amilcar Chigi, confirmed to me the title +in my native land. But the gift I valued most of all, was a tari of +Amalfi, to which still clung a shred of the gold link, by which it had +been attached to a bracelet. And this was from my wife! + + + + + CHAPTER XXVII. + + MY LORD, THE COUNT. + + _Portion of a letter from the Countess di Savelli to her + cousin Vittoria Ordelaffi of Forli_. + + + * * * * * + +It is, as you know, gentle cousin, six years since my lord, having +lost his sword-arm at the storming of Santa Croce, retired to his +castle of Aquila in the Sabine Mountains, and ceased to help further +in stirring the times. In truth, he has yielded to my wish in this +matter, and although, in the war of the Holy League, he was offered a +command, Di Savelli, at my entreaty, refused the honour. + +The count, my lord, is well, but his wounds troubling him in the +winter, he may no longer follow the wolf in our mountains, yet still +hunts the stag in the Ciminian Forests of our kinsman, Amilcar Chigi, +to whom we have been reconciled, and whom we visit yearly. + +Last winter we spent in France, at the chateau of the Seigneur de +Bayard, which lies on the Garonne, and met there, amongst others, +Madame de la Tremouille, who is now a widow, the Duke having died of a +tertian ague at Milan. There also was a very gay and noble gentleman, +the Viscompte de Briconnet, who avers that my lord owes him a county +for having forestalled him in bearing to the king the news of the +surrender of Borgia. My Lord of Bayard, whom the Count thinks above +all men, visits us in the autumn; and, gentle cousin, come you too, +for we are to have a house full. The children are well, and Ugo grows +a strong boy, but wilful. He has his father's features, but my eyes. +They have just gone a riding, my lord on his great war horse Castor, +and Ugo on his little white pony, bred on our farm in the Bergamasque. +I see them as I write, going down the avenue. + +Your namesake Vittoria, sends you a hundred kisses, and bids you come +and be heartily welcome. I send this by a sure hand, that of my lord's +esquire, Messer Jacopo Jacopi, a faithful servant and a good sword, +though his tongue be ever wagging. Give him an answer, to say you are +coming. + + * * * * * + + + + THE END. + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Honour of Savelli, by S. 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