'Filippo, you have been very good to me; now I want you to do me one
more favour, and that shall be the last I will ask you.'
'What is it?'
Then he expounded to me a scheme for interesting the Pope in his
affairs. He knew how angry his Holiness had been, not only at the loss
of the town, but also at the humiliation he had received through his
lieutenant. There was a difficulty at the time between the Duke of Milan
and Rome respecting certain rights of the former, and he did not think
it unlikely that the Pope would be willing to break off negotiations and
recover his advantage by making a sudden attack on Forli. Caterina's
tyranny had become insupportable, and there was no doubt that at the
sight of Checco leading the papal army they would open their gates and
welcome him as the Pope's representative.
I did not see of what use I could be, and I was very unwilling to leave
my young wife. But Checco was so anxious that I should come, seeming to
think I should be of such assistance, that I felt it would be cruel to
refuse. Moreover, I reckoned a month would bring me back to Castello,
and if the parting was bitter, how sweet would be the return! And I had
certain business of my own in Rome, which I had delayed for months
because I could not bear the thought of separation from Giulia. So I
decided to go.
A few days later we were riding towards Rome. I was sad, for it was the
first time I had left my wife since our marriage, and the parting had
been even more painful than I expected. A thousand times I had been on
the verge of changing my mind and saying I would not go; but I could
not, for Checco's sake. I was also a little sad because I thought Giulia
was not so pained as I was, but then I chid myself for my folly. I
expected too much. After all, it was only four short weeks, and she was
still too great a child to feel very deeply. It is only when one is old
or has greatly suffered that one's emotions are really powerful.
We reached Rome and set about soliciting an audience from the Pope. I
cannot remember the countless interviews we had with minor officials,
how we were driven from cardinal to cardinal, the hours we spent in
ante-rooms waiting for a few words from some great man. I used to get so
tired that I could have dropped off to sleep standing, but Checco was so
full of eagerness that I had to accompany him from place to place. The
month passed, and we had done nothing. I suggested going home, but
Checco implored me to stay, assuring me that the business would be
finished in a fortnight. I remained, and the negotiations dragged their
weary length through weeks and weeks. Now a ray of hope lightened our
struggles, and Checco would become excited and cheerful; now the hope
would be dashed to the ground, and Checco begin to despair. The month
had drawn itself out into three, and I saw clearly enough that nothing
would come of our endeavours. The conferences with the Duke were still
going on, each party watching the other, trying by means of untruth and
deceit and bribery to gain the advantage. The King of Naples was brought
in; Florence and Venice began to send ambassadors to and fro, and no one
knew what would be the result of it all.
At last one day Checco came to me and threw himself on my bed.
'It's no good,' he said, in a tone of despair. 'It is all up.'
'I'm very sorry, Checco.'
'You had better go home now. You can do nothing here. Why should I drag
you after me in my unhappiness?'
'But you, Checco, if you can do no good, why will not you come too?'
'I am better here than at Castello. Here I am at the centre of things,
and I will take heart. War may break out any day, and then the Pope will
be more ready to listen to me.'
I saw it was no use that I should stay, and I saw I could not persuade
him to come with me, so I packed up my things, and bidding him good-bye,
started on the homeward journey.