XXVI

After a while the formal embassy sent to Cesena came back with the

message that the Protonotary Savello had been filled with doubts as to

whether he should accept the town or no; but seeing the Forlivesi firm

in their desire to come under the papal rule, and being convinced that

their pious wish had been inspired by the most High Ruler of Kings, he

had not ventured to contradict the manifest will of Heaven, and

therefore would come and take possession of the city in person.

Checco smiled a little as he heard of the worthy man's doubts and the

arguments used by the ambassadors to persuade him; but he fully agreed

with Monsignor Savello's decision, thinking the reasons very cogent....

The protonotary was received with all due honour. Savello was a

middle-sized, stout man, with a great round belly and a fat red face,

double-chinned and bull-necked. He had huge ears and tiny eyes, like

pig's eyes, but they were very sharp and shrewd. His eyebrows were pale

and thin, so that with the enormous expanse of shaven cheek his face

had a look of almost indecent nakedness. His hair was scanty and his

crown quite bald and shiny. He was gorgeously dressed in violet. After

the greetings and necessary courtesies, he was informed of the state of

things in Forli. He was vexed to find the citadel still in the hands of

the Castellan, who had been summoned with great courtesy to surrender to

the papal envoy, but without any courtesy at all had very stoutly

declined. Savello said he would speak to the Countess and make her order

the Castellan to open his gates. I was sent forward to inform Caterina

of the last occurrences and of the protonotary's desire for an

interview.

The Countess had received apartments in the Orsi Palace, and it was in

one of these rooms that the good Savello was ushered.

He stopped on the threshold, and lifting up his arm stretched out two

fingers, and in his thick, fat voice, said,--

'The peace of God be upon you!'

Caterina bowed and crossed herself. He went up to her and took her hand

in his.

'Madam, it has always been my hope that I should some day meet the lady

whose fame has reached me as the most talented, most beautiful, and most

virtuous of her time. But I did not think that the day of our meeting

would be one of such bitterness and woe!'

He expressed himself in measured tones, grave and slow, and very fit to

the occasion.

'Ah, lady, you do not know the grief I felt when I was made acquainted

with your terrible loss. I knew your dear husband in Rome, and I always

felt for him a most profound affection and esteem.'

'You are very kind!' she said.

'I can understand that you should be overwhelmed with grief, and I trust

you do not think my visit importunate. I have come to offer you such

consolation as is in my power; for is it not the most blessed work that

our Divine Master has imposed upon us, to comfort the afflicted?'

'I was under the impression that you had come to take over the city on

behalf of the Pope.'

'Ah, lady, I see that you are angry with me for taking the city from

you; but do not think I do it of myself. Ah, no; I am a slave, I am but

a servant of his Holiness. For my part, I would have acted far

otherwise, not only for your own merits, great as they are, but also for

the merits of the Duke, your brother.'

His unction was most devout. He clasped his hand to his heart and looked

up to Heaven so earnestly that the pupils of his eyes disappeared

beneath the lids, and one could only see the whites. In this attitude he

was an impressive picture of morality.

'I beseech you, madam, bravely to bear your evil fortunes. Do we 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. Remember that the ways of the Almighty

are inscrutable. The soul of the sinner is purified by suffering. We

must all pass through the fire. Perhaps these misfortunes will be the

means of saving your soul alive. And now that this city has returned to

the fold of the Master--for is not the Holy Father the Vicar of

Christ--be assured that the loss you have suffered will be made good to

you in the love of his Holiness, and that eventually you will receive

the reward of the sinner who has repented, and sit amongst the elect

singing hymns of praise to the glory of the Master of all things.'

He paused to take breath. I saw Caterina's fingers convulsively close

round the arm of her chair; she was restraining herself with difficulty.

'But the greatest grief of all is the loss of your husband, Girolamo.

Ah, how beautiful is the grief of a widow! But it was the will of God.

And what has he to complain of now? Let us think of him clad in robes of

light, with a golden harp in his hands. Ah, lady, he is an angel in

heaven, and we are miserable sinners upon earth. How greatly to be

envied is his lot! He was a humble, pious man, and he has his reward.

Ah--'

But she could hold back no longer. She burst forth like a fury.

'Oh, how can you stand before me, uttering these hypocrisies? How dare

you say these things to me, when you are enjoying the fruits of his

death and my misfortune? Hypocrite! You are the vulture feeding with the

crows, and you come and whine and pray and talk to me of the will of

God!'

She clasped her hands and lifted them passionately towards heaven.

'Oh, I hope that my turn will come, and then I will show you what is the

will of God. Let them take care!'

'You are incensed, dear lady, and you know not what you say. You will

regret that you have accepted my consolations with disdain. But I

forgive you with a Christian spirit.'

'I do not want your forgiveness. I despise you.'

She uttered the words like the hiss of a serpent. Savello's eyes

sparkled a little, and his thin lips were drawn rather thinner than

before, but he only sighed, and said gently,--

'You are beside yourself. You should turn to the Consoler of Sorrow.

Watch and pray!'

'What is it you want with me?' she said, taking no notice of his remark.

Savello hesitated, looking at her. She beat her foot impatiently.

'Quick!' she said. 'Tell me, and let me remain in peace. I am sick of

you.'

'I came to offer you consolation, and to bid you be of good faith.'

'Do you think I am a fool? If you have no further business with me--go!'

The priest now had some difficulty in containing himself; his eyes

betrayed him.

'I am a man of peace, and I desire to spill no blood. Therefore I wished

to propose that you should come with me and summon the Castellan to give

up the citadel, which may be the means of avoiding much bloodshed, and

also of gaining the thanks of the Holy Father.'

'I will not help you. Shall I aid you to conquer my own town?'

'You must remember that you are in our hands, fair lady,' he answered

meekly.

'Well?'

'I am a man of peace, but I might not be able to prevent the people from

revenging themselves on you for your refusal. It will be impossible to

hide from them that you are the cause of the holding back of the

citadel.'

'I can well understand that you would hesitate at nothing.'

'It is not I, dear lady--'

'Ah, no; you are the servant of the Pope! It is the will of God!'

'You would be wise to do as we request.'

There was a look of such ferocity in his face that one saw he would

indeed hesitate at nothing. Caterina thought a little....

'Very well,' she said, to my intense surprise, 'I will do my best.'

'You will gain the gratitude of the Holy Father and my own thanks.'

'I put an equal value upon both.'

'And now, madam, I will leave you. Take comfort, and apply yourself to

pious exercises. In prayer you will find a consolation for all your

woes.'

He raised his hand as before, and, with the outstretched fingers,

repeated the blessing.