XX

I seemed to have slept a bare half-hour when I was awakened by a great

noise downstairs. I got up, and looking out of the window saw a crowd

gathered in the street below; they were talking and gesticulating

furiously. Then I remembered the occurrence of the night, and I saw that

the news had spread and these were citizens come to gather details. I

went downstairs and found the courtyard thronged. Immediately I was

surrounded by anxious people asking for news. Very contrary reports had

circulated; some said that Checco had been killed outright, others that

he had escaped, while most asserted that he was wounded. All asked for

Checco.

'If he is unhurt, why does he not show himself?' they asked.

A servant assured them that he was dressing, and would be with them at

once.... Suddenly there was a shout. Checco had appeared at the top of

the stairs. They rushed towards him, surrounding him with cries of joy;

they seized his hand, they clung to his legs, some of them touched him

all over to see that he was indeed unwounded, others kissed the lappets

of his coat.... Bartolomeo Moratini entered the court with his sons, and

the people shrunk back as he came forward and embraced Checco.

'Thank God you are saved!' he said. 'It will be an evil day for Forli

when anything happens to you.'

The people answered in shouts. But at that moment another sound was

heard without--a long and heavy murmur. The people surrounding the

doorway looked out and turned in astonishment to their neighbours,

pointing to the street; the murmur spread. What was it?

'Make way! Make way!'

A strident voice called out the words, and ushers pushed the people

aside. A little troop of men appeared in the entrance, and as they sank

back there stepped forward the Count. The Count! Checco started, but

immediately recovering himself advanced to meet his visitor. Girolamo

walked up to him, and taking him in his arms kissed him on the cheeks,

and said,--

'My Checco! My Checco!'

We who knew and the others who suspected looked on with astonishment.

'As soon as I heard the terrible news I rushed to find you,' said the

Count. 'Are you safe--quite safe?'

He embraced him again.

'You cannot think what agony I suffered when I heard you were wounded.

How glad I am it was not true. Oh, God in Heaven, I thank Thee for my

Checco!'

'You are very kind, my lord,' answered our friend.

'But it is some consolation that the miscreants have met the end which

they deserved. We must take steps to free the town of all such dangerous

persons. What will men say of my rule when it is known that the peaceful

citizen cannot walk home at night without danger to his life? Oh,

Checco, I blame myself bitterly.'

'You have no cause, my lord, but--would it not be well to examine the

men to see if they are known in Forli? Perhaps they have associates.'

'Certainly; the idea was in my mind. Let them be laid out in the

market-place so that all may see them.'

'Pardon, sir,' said one of his suite, 'but they were laid in the Church

of San Spirito last night, and this morning they have disappeared.'

Matteo and I looked at one another. Checco kept his eyes fixed on the

Count.

'Disappeared!' cried the latter, displaying every sign of impatience.

'Who is responsible for this? Offer a reward for the discovery of their

bodies and of any accomplices. I insist on their being discovered!'

Shortly afterwards he took his leave, after repeatedly kissing Checco,

and warmly congratulating Matteo and myself on the assistance we had

given to our friend. To me he said,--

'I regret, Messer Filippo, that you are not a Forlivese. I should be

proud to have such a citizen.'

Bartolomeo Moratini was still at the Palazzo Orsi, so, seizing my

opportunity, I took him by the arm and walked with him to the statue

gallery, where we could talk in peace.

'What do you think of all this?' I said.

He shook his head.

'It is the beginning of the end. Of course it is clear to all of us that

the assassination was ordered by the Count; he will persuade nobody of

his innocence by his pretended concern. All the town is whispering his

name.

'Having made a first attempt and failed, he will not hesitate to make a

second, for if he could forgive the injury which he has received from

Checco, he can never forgive the injury which he himself has done him.

And next time he will not fail.'

'I am terribly concerned,' I said. 'You know the great affection I have

for both the Orsi.'

He stopped and warmly shook my hand.

'I cannot let Checco throw away his life in this way,' I said.

'What can be done?'

'Only one thing, and you suggested it.... Girolamo must be killed.'

'Ah, but Checco will never consent to that.'

'I am afraid not,' I said gravely. 'You know the delicacy of his

conscience.'

'Yes; and though I think it excessive, I admire him for it. In these

days it is rare to find a man so honest and upright and conscientious as

Checco. But, Messer Filippo, one must yield to the ideas of the age one

lives in.'

'I, too, am convinced of his noble-mindedness, but it will ruin him.'

'I am afraid so,' sighed the old man, stroking his beard.

'But he must be saved in spite of himself. He must be brought to see the

necessity of killing the Count.' I spoke as emphatically as I could.

'He will never consent.'

'He must consent; and you are the man to make him do so. He would not

listen to anything that Matteo or I said, but for you he has the

greatest respect. I am sure if anyone can influence him it is you.'

'I have some power over him, I believe.'

'Will you try? Don't let him suspect that Matteo or I have had anything

to do with it, or he will not listen. It must come solely from you.'

'I will do my best.'

'Ah, that is good of you. But don't be discouraged by his refusals; be

insistent, for our sake. And one thing more, you know his unselfishness;

he would not move his hand to save himself, but if you showed him that

it is for the good of others, he could not refuse. Let him think the

safety of us all depends on him. He is a man you can only move by his

feeling for others.'

'I believe you,' he answered. 'But I will go to him, and I will leave no

argument unused.'

'I am sure that your efforts will be rewarded.'

Here I showed myself a perfectly wise man, for I only prophesied because

I knew.