go on, saying he would follow shortly. Two horses were saddled besides mine.'
'Whom was the second for?'
'I don't know!'
We waited on. The rain fell thin and cold. It struck half-past two. Immediately afterwards, we heard the sound of hoofs, and through the mist saw a black form coming towards us.
'Is it you, Checco?' we whispered, for the guard of the gate might have heard us. We were standing in a little plot of waste ground, ten yards from the walls.
'I cannot go with you,' said Checco.
'Why?' we cried.
'Ssh!' said Checco. 'I intended to bring my father, but he will not come.'
None of us had thought of old Orso Orsi.
'He says he is too old, and will not leave his native town. I did all I could to persuade him, but he bade me go, and said they would not dare to touch him. I cannot leave him; therefore go, all of you, and I will remain.'
'You must come, Checco; without you we are helpless.'
'And what of your wife and children?'
'Your presence will exasperate the tyrants. You can do no good, only harm.'
'I cannot leave my father unprotected.'
'I will stay, Checco,' I said. 'I am not well known as you are. I will take care of your father, and you can watch over your family and your interests in safety.'
'No, you must go. It is too dangerous for you.'
'Not half so dangerous as for you. I will do my best to preserve him. Let me stay.'
'Yes,' said the others, 'let Filippo stay. He may escape detection, but you would have no chance.'
The clock struck three.
'Come, come; it is getting late. We must be thirty miles away before daybreak.'
We had already arranged to go to Città di Castello, which was my native place, and in case of accident I had given them letters, so that they might be housed and protected for the present.
'We must have you, Checco, or we will all stay.'
'You will take care of him?' said Checco to me at last.
'I swear it!'
'Very well! Good-bye, Filippo, and God bless you!'
They advanced to the gate, and Checco summoned the captain.
'Open the gate,' he said shortly.
The captain looked at them undecisively. I stood behind in the shade, so that I could not be seen.
'If you make a sound, we will kill you,' said Checco.
They drew their swords. He hesitated, and Checco repeated,—
'Open the gate!'
Then he brought out the heavy keys; the locks were turned, the gate growled on its hinges, and one by one they filed out. Then the gate swung back behind them. I heard a short word of command, and the clatter of horses' hoofs. I put the spurs to my own, and galloped back into the town.
In half an hour the bells were ringing furiously; and it was announced from house to house that the conspirators had fled and the town was free.
XXXI
In the morning the council met again and resolved that the town should return to its old obedience, and by surrendering without conditions hoped to receive pardon for its offences. Lodovico Moro entered in triumph, and going to the fortress was received by Caterina, who came forth from the citadel and with him proceeded to the cathedral to hear mass. The good Forlivesi were getting used to ovations; as the Countess passed through the streets they received her with acclamation, thronging the road on each side, blessing her, and her mother, and all her ancestors. She went her way as indifferent as when she had crossed the same streets a few days back amid the execrations of her faithful subjects. The keen observers noticed the firm closing of her mouth, which boded no particular good to the Forlivesi, and consequently redoubled their shouts of joy.
The protonotary Savello had mysteriously disappeared when the news of Checco's flight had been brought him; but Caterina was soon informed that he had taken refuge in a Dominican monastery. A light smile broke over her lips as she remarked,—
'One would rather have expected him to take refuge in a convent.'
Then she sent people to him to assure him of her good will and beg him to join her. The good man turned pale at the invitation, but he dared not refuse it. So, comforting himself with the thought that she dared not harm the legate of the Pope, he clothed himself in all his courage and his most gorgeous robes, and proceeded to the cathedral.
When she saw him she lifted up two fingers and said solemnly,—
'The peace of God be upon you!'
Then, before he could recover himself, she went on,—
'Sir, it has always been my hope that I should some day meet the gentleman whose fame has reached me as the most talented, most beautiful and most virtuous of his day.'
'Madam—' he interrupted.
'Sir, I beseech you bravely to bear your evil fortunes. Do you not know that fortune is uncertain? If the city has been taken from you, it is the will of God, and as a Christian you must with resignation submit yourself to His decrees.'
It was the beginning of her revenge, and one could see how sweet it was. The courtiers were sniggering at Caterina's speech, and Savello was the picture of discomfort.
'Messer Savello,' she proceeded, 'on a previous meeting you made me some very excellent admonitions on the will of God; now, notwithstanding your order, I am going to be so bold as to give you some equally excellent lessons on the same subject. If you will take your place by my side, you will have every opportunity of examining the ways of the Almighty, which, as you may remember you remarked, are inscrutable.'
Savello bowed and advanced to the place pointed out to him.
XXXII
The first thing I had done on returning to the Palazzo Orsi was to strip myself of my purple and fine linen, shave my beard and moustache, cut my hair short, put on the clothes of a serving-man, and look at myself in a mirror. If I had met in the street the image I saw I should have passed on without recognising it. Still I was not dissatisfied with myself, and I smiled as I thought that it would not be too extraordinary if a lady's wench lost her heart to such a serving-man.
I went to the old Orso's apartments,
