XVIII

ANDsomylifewentonforalittlewhile,filledwithpleasureandamusement.Iwascontentedwithmylot,andhadnowishforchange.Thetimewentby,andwereachedthefirstweekinApril.GirolamohadorganisedagreatballtocelebratethecompletionofhisPalace.Hehadstartedlivinginitassoonastherewerewallsandroof,buthehadspentyearsonthedecorations,takingintohisservicethebestartistshecouldfindinItalyandnowatlasteverythingwasfinished.TheOrsihadbeeninvitedwithpeculiarcordiality,andonthenightwebetookourselvestothePalace. Wewalkedupthestatelystaircase,amasterpieceofarchitecture,andfoundourselvesintheenormoushallwhichGirolamohaddesignedespeciallyforgorgeousfunctions.Itwasablazewithlight.Atthefurtherend,onalowstage,leduptobythreebroadsteps,underada?s,onhigh-backed,goldenchairs,satGirolamoandCaterinaSforza.Behindthem,inasemicircle,andonthestepsateachside,weretheladiesofCaterina'ssuite,andanumberofgentlemenattheback,standinglikestatues,arowofmen-at-arms. 'Itisalmostregal!'saidChecco,pursinguphislips. 'ItisnotsopoorathingtobetheLordofForli,'answeredMatteo.Fueltothefire! Weapproached,andGirolamo,ashesawus,roseandcamedownthesteps. 'Hail,myChecco!'hesaid,takingbothhishands.'Tillyouhadcometheassemblywasnotcomplete.' MatteoandIwenttotheCountess.Shehadsurpassedherselfthisnight.Herdresswasofclothofsilver,shimmeringandsparkling.Inherhairwerediamondsshininglikefirefliesinthenightherarms,herneck,herfingersglitteredwithcostlygems.Ihadneverseenherlooksobeautiful,norsomagnificent.Letthemsaywhattheyliked,CheccoandMatteoandtherestofthem,butshewasborntobeaqueen.HowstrangethatthisoffspringoftheroughCondottiereandthelewdwomanshouldhaveamajestysuchasoneimaginesofamightyempressdescendedfromcountlesskings. Shetookthetroubletobeparticularlygracioustous.Meshecomplimentedonsomeversesshehadseen,andwasveryflatteringinreferencetoapastoralplaywhichIhadarranged.ShecouldnotcongratulatemygoodMatteoonanyintellectualachievements,butthefameofhisamoursgaveherasubjectonwhichshecouldplayfullyreproachhim.Shedemandeddetails,andIleftherlisteningintentlytosomehistorywhichMatteowaswhisperinginherearandIknewhewasnotparticularinwhathesaid. Ifeltinpeculiarlyhighspirits,andIlookedaboutforsomeoneonwhomtoventmygoodhumour.IcaughtsightofGiulia.IhadseenheronceortwicesincemyreturntoForli,buthadneverspokentoher.NowIfeltsureofmyselfIknewIdidnotcaretwostrawsforher,butIthoughtitwouldpleasemetohavealittlerevenge.Ilookedatheramoment.ImadeupmymindIwenttoherandbowedmostceremoniously. 'DonnaGiulia,beholdthemoth!'Ihadusedthesimilebefore,butnottoher,soitdidnotmatter. Shelookedatmeundecidedly,notquiteknowinghowtotakeme. 'MayIofferyo