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hegreatdelightofabasingmyselftothebeloved.Icouldmakemyselfsosmallandmeaninmyhumilitybutnothingsatisfiedmywishtoshowmyabjectslavery....Oh,Giulia!Giulia! ButthisinactiononthepartofGirolamoRiariohadtheeffectofpersuadinghissubjectsofhisweakness.Theyhadgivenoverexpectingreprisalsonhispart,andtheonlyconclusiontheycouldcometowasthathedareddonothingagainstChecco.ItwasinconceivablethatheshouldleaveunavengedtheinsultshehadreceivedthatheshouldbearwithoutremarkthesignsofpopularitywhichgreetedChecco,notonlyonthedayoftheCouncilmeeting,butsince,everytimeheappearedinthestreets.Theybegantodespisetheirruleraswellashatehim,andtheytoldoneanotherstoriesofviolentdisputesinthePalacebetweentheCountandCaterina.EveryoneknewtheprideandpassionwhichcametotheCountesswithherSforzablood,andtheyfeltsurethatshewouldnotpatientlybeartheinsultswhichherhusbanddidnotseemtomindforthefearofthepeoplecouldnotstoptheirsarcasms,andwhenanymemberofthehouseholdwasseenhewasassailedwithtauntsandjeersCaterinaherselfhadtolistentoscornfullaughsasshepassedby,andthetownwasringingwithasongabouttheCount.ItwaswhisperedthatGirolamo'slittleson,Ottaviano,hadbeenheardsingingitinignoranceofitsmeaning,andhadbeennearlykilledbyhisfatherinapassionofrage.EvilreportsbegantocirculateaboutCaterina'svirtueitwassupposedthatshewouldnotkeepfaithfultosuchahusband,andanothersongwasmadeinpraiseofcuckoldry. TheOrsiwouldnotbepersuadedthatthiscalmwastobebelievedin.CheccowasassuredthatGirolamomusthavesomeschemeonhand,andthequietandsilenceseemedallthemoreominous. TheCountveryrarelyappearedinForlibutoneSaint'sdayhewenttotheCathedral,andashecamebacktothePalace,passingthroughthepiazza,sawChecco.AtthesamemomentCheccosawhim,andstopped,uncertainwhattodo.Thecrowdsuddenlybecamesilent,andtheystoodstilllikestatuespetrifiedbyamagicspell.Whatwasgoingtohappen?Girolamohimselfhesitatedamomentacuriousspasmcrossedhisface.Checc