XV

tIknowGirolamoRiario.Itwashisfatherandhewhoweretheprimemoversintheconspiracywhichkilledmybrotherandnearlykilledmyself.LethimrememberthattheRiarioisperfectlyunscrupulous,andthatheisnotaccustomedtoforgiveaninjury—orforgetit.YousaythatGirolamohasrepeatedlythreatenedChecco.Hasthathadnoeffectonhim?' 'Hewassomewhatalarmed.' 'Besides?' Ilookedathim,tryingtoseizehismeaning. 'DidhemakeuphismindtositstillandwaittillGirolamofoundmeanstocarryhisthreatsintoeffect?' Iwasratheratalossforananswer.Lorenzo'seyeswerefixedkeenlyuponmetheyseemedtobetryingtoreadmybrain. 'Itwassuggestedtohimthatitwouldbeunwise,'Irepliedslowly. 'Andwhatdidheanswertothat?' 'Herecalledtheillresultsofcertainrecent—events.' 'Ah!' Hetookhiseyesoffme,asifhehadsuddenlyseenthemeaningbehindmywords,andwasnowquitesureofeverythinghewantedtoknow.Hewalkedupanddowntheroom,thinkingthenhesaidtome,— 'TellCheccothatGirolamo'spositionisveryinsecure.ThePopeisagainsthim,thoughhepretendstoupholdhim.YourememberthatwhentheZampeschiseizedhiscastleofSanMarco,GirolamothoughttheyhadthetacitconsentofthePope,anddaredmakenoreprisal.LodovicoSforzawoulddoubtlesscometotheassistanceofhishalf-sister,butheisoccupiedwiththeVenetians—andifthepeopleofForlihatetheCount!' 'Thenyouadvise—' 'Iadvisenothing.ButletCheccoknowthatitisonlythefoolwhoproposestohimselfanendwhenhecannotorwillnotattainitbutthemanwhodeservesthenameofman,marchesstraighttothegoalwithclearnessofmindandstrengthofwill.Helooksatthingsastheyareandputsasideallvainappearancesandwhenhisintelligencehasshownhimthemeanstohisend,heisafoolifherefusesthem,andheisawisemanifheusesthemsteadilyandunhesitatingly.TellthattoChecco!' Hethrewhimselfintohischairwithalittlecryofrelief. 'Nowwecantalkofotherthings.Pico!' AservantcameintosaythatPicohadgoneaway. 'Thevillain!'criedLorenzo.'ButIdaresayyouwillwanttogoawaytoo,MesserBrandolini.Butyoumustcometo-morrowwearegoingtoacttheMenacchiniofPlautusandbesidesthewitoftheLatinyouwillseealltheyouthandbeautyofFlorence.' AsItookmyleave,headded,— 'Ineednotwarnyoutobediscreet.'