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gtosaythatifeverwemeetinCastelloIwillhaveyouwhippedbymylacqueysinthepublicplace.' Ifeltaferociouspleasureinthrowingthewordsofcontemptinhisface. 'Comeon,'saidMatteo'wecannotwasteourtimehere.' Weputthespurstoourhorses.Thesoldierslookedtotheircaptaintoseewhethertheyshouldstopus,buthegavenoorder,andwepassedthrough.Whenwegotoutside,Matteosaidtome,— 'Girolamomustbeplanningsomething,orErcolewouldnothavedaredtodothat.' 'Itisonlytheimpotentangerofafoolishman,'Ianswered.'TheCountwillprobablybeveryangrywithhimwhenhehearsofit.' Werodeafewmiles,andthenMatteoturnedback.WhenIfoundmyselfaloneIheavedagreatsighofrelief.Iwasfreeforawhileatleast....AnotherepisodeinmylifewasfinishedIcouldforgetit,andlookforwardtonewthings. AsIrodeon,theMarchwindgotintomybloodandsentitwhirlingmadlythroughmyveins.Thesunwasshiningbrightlyandcoveredeverythingwithsmilesthefruittreeswereallinflower—apples,pears,almonds—thedaintybudscoveredthebrancheswithasnowofpinkandwhite.Thegroundbeneaththemwasbespatteredwithnarcissiandanemones,theveryolivetreeslookedgay.Alltheworldlaughedwithjoyatthebrightspringmorning,andIlaughedlouderthantherest.Idrewinlongbreathsofthekeenair,anditmademedrunk,sothatIsetthespurstomyhorseandgallopedwildlyalongthesilentroad. IhadmadeupmymindtoforgetGiulia,andIsucceeded,forthechangingscenestookmeawayfrommyself,andIwasintentontheworldatlarge.ButIcouldnotcommandmydreams.Atnightshecametome,andIdreamedthatshewasbymyside,withherarmsroundmyneck,sweetlycaressing,tryingtomakemeforgetwhatIhadsuffered.Andthewakingwasbitter....Buteventhatwouldleavemesoon,Ihoped,andthenIshouldbefreeindeed. Irodeon,fullofcourageandgoodspirits,alongendlessroads,puttingupatwaysideinns,throughthemountains,pastvillagesandhamlets,pastthrivingtowns,tillIfoundmyselfintheheartofTuscany,andfinallyIsawtheroofsofFlorencespreadoutbeforeme. AfterIhadcleanedmyselfattheinnandhadeaten,Isaunteredthroughthetown,renewingmyrecollections.IwalkedroundMadonnadelFiore,andleaningagainstoneofthehousesatthebackofthepiazzalookedatthebeautifulapse,themarbleallglisteninginthemoonlight.Itwasveryq