XXVIII

themtodeath,sothatathirdofthepopulationhadperished.TheForlivesishuddered,andlookedanxiouslyalongtheroadsbywhichthefriendlyarmieswereexpected. Lorenzode'Medicirefusedtohelp. Therewasalmostatumultinthetownwhenthenewswastold.HesaidthatthepositionofFlorencemadeitimpossibleforhimtosendtroopsatthepresentmoment,butlaterhewouldbeabletodowhateverwewished.Itmeantthatheintendedtowaitandseehowthingsturnedout,withoutcomingtoopenwarwiththeDukeunlessitwascertainthatvictorywouldbeonourside.Checcowasfurious,andthepeoplewerefuriouswithChecco.HehaddependedentirelyonthehelpfromFlorence,andwhenitfailedthecitizensmurmuredopenlyagainsthim,sayingthathehadenteredintothisthingwithoutpreparation,withoutthoughtofthefuture.WebeggedChecconottoshowhimselfinthetownthatday,butheinsisted.Thepeoplelookedathimashepassed,keepingperfectsilence.Asyettheyneitherpraisednorblamed,buthowlongwoulditbebeforetheyrefrainedfromcursinghimtheyhadblessed?Checcowalkedthroughwithsetface,verypale.Weaskedhimtoturnback,butherefused,slackeninghispacetoprolongthewalk,asifitgavehimacertainpainfulpleasuretodrainthecupofbitternesstothedregs.Inthepiazzawesawtwocouncillorstalkingtogethertheycrossedovertotheotherside,pretendingnottoseeus. NowouronlyhopewasinRome.ThePopehadsentamessengertosaythathewaspreparinganarmy,andbiddinguskeepsteadfastandfirm.Savellopostedthenoticeupinthemarket-place,andthecrowdthatreadbrokeoutintopraisesofthePopeandSavello.AndasChecco'sinfluencediminishedSavello'sincreasedtheprotonotarybegantotakegreaterauthorityinthecouncils,andoftenheseemedtocontradictCheccoforthemerepleasureofoverbearingandhumiliatinghim.Checcobecamemoretaciturnandgloomyeveryday.