XXVI
關燈
小
中
大
h.'
'DoyouthinkIamafool?Ifyouhavenofurtherbusinesswithme—go!'
Thepriestnowhadsomedifficultyincontaininghimselfhiseyesbetrayedhim.
'Iamamanofpeace,andIdesiretospillnoblood.ThereforeIwishedtoproposethatyoushouldcomewithmeandsummontheCastellantogiveupthecitadel,whichmaybethemeansofavoidingmuchbloodshed,andalsoofgainingthethanksoftheHolyFather.'
'Iwillnothelpyou.ShallIaidyoutoconquermyowntown?'
'Youmustrememberthatyouareinourhands,fairlady,'heansweredmeekly.
'Well?'
'Iamamanofpeace,butImightnotbeabletopreventthepeoplefromrevengingthemselvesonyouforyourrefusal.Itwillbeimpossibletohidefromthemthatyouarethecauseoftheholdingbackofthecitadel.'
'Icanwellunderstandthatyouwouldhesitateatnothing.'
'ItisnotI,dearlady—'
'Ah,noyouaretheservantofthePope!ItisthewillofGod!'
'Youwouldbewisetodoaswerequest.'
Therewasalookofsuchferocityinhisfacethatonesawhewouldindeedhesitateatnothing.Caterinathoughtalittle....
'Verywell,'shesaid,tomyintensesurprise,'Iwilldomybest.'
'YouwillgainthegratitudeoftheHolyFatherandmyownthanks.'
'Iputanequalvalueuponboth.'
'Andnow,madam,Iwillleaveyou.Takecomfort,andapplyyourselftopiousexercises.Inprayeryouwillfindaconsolationforallyourwoes.'
Heraisedhishandasbefore,and,withtheoutstretchedfingers,repeatedtheblessing.
