XXI

llthatismostholytome,thatIamactuatedbynobasemotive,noambition,nothoughtofself,nopettyrevenge.IwouldwillinglyforgiveGirolamoeverything.Believeme,myfriends,Iamhonest.IsweartoyouthatIamonlydoingthisforthewelfareofthemenIlove,forthesakeofyouall,and—forLiberty.' Theywarmlypressedhishands. 'Weknowit,Checco,webelieveit.Youareagreatandagoodman.' Alittlelaterwebegantodiscussthewaysandmeans.Everyonehadhisplan,andtoittheothershadthemostconclusiveobjections.Wealltalkedtogether,eachoneratherannoyedattheunwillingnessoftheotherstolistentohim,andthinkinghowcontemptibletheirideaswerebesidehisown.Checcosatsilent.AfterawhileCheccospoke,— 'Willyoulistentome?' Weheldourtongues. 'Firstofall,'hesaid,'wemustfindoutwhoiswithusandwhoisagainstus.' 'Well,'interruptedScipione,'therearethetwosoldiers,JacopoRonchiandLodovicoPansecchitheyarefuriouswiththeCount,andsaidtomealongwhilesincethattheywouldwillinglykillhim.' 'Oursixselvesandthosetwomakeeight.' 'ThentherearePietroAlbanese,andPaglianino,andMarcoScorsacana.' TheyweredevotedadherentsofthehouseofOrsi,andcouldbetrustedtofollowtheheadofthefamilytothebottomlesspit. 'Eleven,'countedBartolomeo. 'Andthen—' Eachmentionedanametillthetotalwasbroughttoseventeen. 'Whoelse?'askedMatteo. 'Thatisenough,'saidChecco.'Itisasfoolishtohavemorethannecessaryastohaveless.Now,oncemore,whoarethey?' Thenameswererepeated.TheywereallknownenemiesoftheCount,andmostofthemrelatedtotheOrsi. 'Wehadbettergotothemseparatelyandtalktothem.' 'Itwillwantcare!'saidBartolomeo. 'Oh,theywillnotbebackward.Thefirstwordwillbringtheiradhesion.' 'Beforethat,'saidChecco,'wemustmakeallarrangements.Everypointoftheexecutionmustbearranged,andtothemnothingleftbuttheperformance.' 'Well,myideais—' 'Havethegoodnesstolistentome,'saidChecco.'Youhavebeentalkingofcommittingthedeedinchurch,orwhenheisoutwalking.Bothofthosewaysaredangerous,forheisalwayswellsurrounded,andintheformer,onehastorememberthefeelingofhorrorwhichthepeoplehaveforsacrilege.WitnessGaleazzoinMilanandtheMediciinFlorence.Oneisalwayswisetorespecttheprejudicesofthemob....' 'Whatdoyoupropose?' 'Afterthemid-daymealthe—ourfriendisinthehabitofretiringtoaprivateroomwhilehisservantsdine.Heisthenalmostalone.IhaveoftenthoughtitwouldbeanexcellentopportunityforanassassinIdidnotknowitwouldbemyselftotaketheopportunity.'