'I apologise. I was thinking you were a Forlivese. Of course, I remember
now that you are a citizen of Castello, and we all know how tenacious
they have been of their liberty and how proud of their freedom.'
He had me on the hip; for Citta di Castello had been among the first of
the towns to lose its liberty, and, unlike others, had borne its
servitude with more equanimity than was honourable.
'However,' he went on, 'tell Checco d'Orsi that I know Girolamo Riario.
It was his father and he who were the prime movers in the conspiracy
which killed my brother and nearly killed myself. Let him remember that
the Riario is perfectly unscrupulous, and that he is not accustomed to
forgive an injury--or forget it. You say that Girolamo has repeatedly
threatened Checco. Has that had no effect on him?'
'He was somewhat alarmed.'
'Besides?'