XIX
關燈
小
中
大
Matteo.
'WhatafoolIwastobetakeninbyhisprotestations!IoughttohaveknownthathewouldneverforgettheinjuryIhaddonehim.'
'Heplanneditwell,'saidMatteo.
'Exceptforthesoldier,'Iremarked.'Heshouldnothavechosenanyonewhocouldberecognised.'
'Probablyhewastheleader.Buthowwellhemanagedeverything,keepingusaftertheothers,andnearlypersuadingFilippoandmetogohomebeforeyou.Caterinawasintheplot.'
'Iwonderhedidnotdefertheattemptwhenhefoundyouwouldnotbealone,'IsaidtoChecco.
'HeknowsIamneveralone,andsuchanopportunitywouldnoteasilyoccuragain.Perhapshethoughttheycouldavoidyoutwo,orevenmurderyouaswell.'
'ButErcoleandhismen?'Isaid.
'Yes,Ihavebeenthinkingaboutthem.TheonlyexplanationIhaveisthatheplacedthemtheretocovertheirflightiftheysucceeded,andiftheyfailedorcouldnotescape,tokillthem.'
'As,infact,theydid.IthoughtIsawErcolemakeasigntothesoldierwhostabbedtheonlylivingone.'
'Possibly.Theideawasevidentlytodestroyallwitnessesandallopportunityforinquiry.'
'Well,'saidMatteo,'itwillshowothersthatitisdangeroustododirtyworkfortheRiario.'
'Itwillindeed!'
'Andnow,whatistohappen?'saidMatteo.
Checcolookedathim,butdidnotreply.
'DoyoustillrefusetodotoGirolamoashehastriedtodotoyou?'
Checcoansweredquietly,—
'No!'
'Ah!'webothcried.'Thenyouconsent?'
'Iseenoreasonnowfornottakingthelawintomyownhands.'
'Assassination?'whisperedMatteo.
AndCheccoansweredboldly,—
'Assassination!'Then,afterapause,'Itistheonlywayopentome.DoyourememberLorenzo'swords?Theyhavebeenwithmeeveryday,andIhaveconsideredthemvery,verydeeply:"LetCheccoknowthatitisonlythefoolwhoproposestohimselfanend,whenhecannotorwillnotattainitbutthemanwhodeservesthenameofmanmarch