The Honour of Savelli: A Romance
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