XXVIII

eenmadewiththegreatestcare,andthedepartureeffectedundercoverofnight.Butitleakedout,andthenthecarehehadtakeninconcealingtheaffairmadeitmoretalkedof.TheyaskedwhyCheccohadsentawayhiswifeandchildren.Washeafraidofthesiege?Didheintendtoleavethemhimself?Attheideaofabetrayal,angermixeditselfwiththeirfear,andtheycriedoutagainsthim!Andwhydidhewanttodoitsosecretly?Whyshouldhetrytoconcealit?Athousandanswersweregiven,andallmoreorlessdiscreditabletoChecco.Hiswonderfulpopularityhadtakenlongenoughtoreachthepointwhenhehadwalkedthroughthestreetsamidstshowersofnarcissibutitlookedasiflessdayswoulddestroyitthanyearshadbuiltitup.Alreadyhecouldwalkoutwithoutbeingsurroundedbythemobandcarriedaboutintriumph.Theshoutsofjoyhadceasedtobeaburdentohimandnoonecried'PaterPatri?'ashepassed.Checcopretendedtonoticenochange,butinhisheartittormentedhimterribly.ThechangehadbegunonthedayofthefiascoatthefortresspeopleblamedtheleadersforlettingtheCountessoutoftheirhands,anditwasaperpetualterrortothemtohavetheenemyintheirverymidst.Itwouldhavebeenbearabletostandanordinarysiege,butwhentheyhadtheirowncitadelagainstthem,whatcouldtheydo? ThetownspeopleknewthathelpwascomingfromRomeandFlorence,andthegeneralhopewasthatthefriendlyarmieswouldarrivebeforetheterribleDuke.StrangestorieswerecirculatedaboutLodovico.PeoplewhohadseenhimatMilandescribedhissallowfacewiththelarge,hookednoseandthebroad,heavychin.Otherstoldofhiscruelty.Itwasnotoriousthathehadmurderedhisnephewafterkeepinghimaprisonerforyears.Theyrememberedhowhehadcrushedtherevoltofasubjecttown,hanginginthemarket-placethewholecouncil,youngandold,andafterwardshuntingupeveryonesuspectedofcomplicity,andruthlesslyputting