VII
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indedthemthatyoucouldcommand,andthatyouwereplacedherebytheVicarofChristonearth.
'Andyouforeboretoletusheartheringoftrumpetsandthetrampofsoldieryinthesquare.Nordidyouthinksonumerousasuitenecessaryforyourdignity.'
Helookedroundatthesoldiers,thoughtfullystrokinghisbeard.
'Proceed!'saidGirolamo,impatientlyhewasbeginningtogetangry.
Checco,intalking,hadrecoveredtheassurancewhichatfirstseemedtofailhim.HesmiledpolitelyattheCount'scommand,andsaid,—
'Iwillcometothepointatonce.
'Youreplacedthetaxeswhichyouhadtakenaway,andtherebyundidthebenefityouhaddone.Thetownsoonfelttheeffectofthechangeitsprosperityisalreadydeclining,anditisnotdoubtfulthatafewyearsmorewillbringittotheconditioninwhichyoufoundit.Andwhoknows,perhapsitslaststatemaybeworsethanitsfirst?
'Andnowyouproposetomakethetownspeoplepaythedutieswhichyouhavetakenoffthecountryfolk.Youhavesentformetoaskmyadviceonthesubject,andhereIgiveityou.
'Donotputon,buttakeoff.Inthenameofthepeople,Ibeseechyoutodoawaywiththetaxesyouimposedfouryearsago,andreturntothehappystateofthefirstyearsofyourrule.'
Hepausedamoment,thenwithoutstretchedarm,pointingtotheCount,headdedsolemnly,'OrGirolamoRiario,themagnificentprince,maysharethefateoftheOrdelaffi,whoruledthetownfortwocenturiesandnowwanderhomelessabouttheland.'
Therewasacryallroundtheroom.Theywereastoundedathisaudacity.Girolamohadstartedinhischair—hiseyeswerestaring,hisfaceredhewasdumbwithrage.Hetriedtospeak,butthewordsdiedinhisthroat,andnothingwasheardbutaninarticulatemurmur.Thesoldiersandcourtierswerelookingatoneanotherinsurprisetheydidnotknowwhattodoorthinktheylookedattheirmaster,butfoundnohelpinhim.Thecitizenswerebewildered,andbyturnsfeltwonder,dismay,fear,pleasuretheycouldnotunderstand....
'Oh,Girolamo!'saidChecco,unmindfuloftheexcitementroundhim,'Idonotsaythesethingsinenmitytoyou.Comeamongyourpeopleyourself,andseetheirwantswithyourowneyes.Donotbelievewhatyourcourtierstellyou—donotthinkthelandinyourchargeisacapturedtown,whichyoucanspoilatyourpleasure.Youhavebeenplacedhereasaguardianinourperilsandanassistanceinournecessities.
'YouareastrangerhereyoudonotknowthispeopleasIknowit.Theywillbefaithful,meek,obedient—butdonotrobthemofthemoneytheyhavehardlyearned,ortheywillturnagainstyou.Forlihasneversupportedanoppressor,andifyouoppressthem
