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'Iputnotrustintheirpromises,'saidChecco,bitterly. 'Filippoisright,'saidBartolomeo.'Wemustescape.' 'Andquickly!'Isaid. 'Icannotthrowupthegame,'saidChecco.'Andwithoutme,whatwillhappentomysupporters?' 'Theymayfindforgivenessinsubmission.Butyoucandonogoodhere.Ifyouareinsafety,youmaybeofsomeassistance.Anyhow,youwillhavelife.' Checcoburiedhisfaceinhishands. 'Icannot,Icannot.' TheMoratiniandIinsisted.Weadducedeveryargument.Finallyheconsented. 'Wemustgotogether,'Isaid'wemayhavetofightourwaythrough.' 'Yes,'saidScipione.'Letusmeetatthegatebytheriver—attwo.' 'Butgothereseparately.Ifthepeoplefindweareattemptingtoescape,theywillsetuponus.' 'Iwishtheywould,'saidMatteo.'Itwouldgivemesuchsatisfactiontoputmyswordintohalfascoreoftheirfatbellies!' 'Thereisnomoon.' 'Verywellattwo!' Thenightwascloudy,andiftherehadbeenamoon,itwouldhavebeencovered.Athin,coldrainwasfalling,anditwaspitchdark.WhenIgottotherivergate,fourorfiveofthemwerealreadythere.Wefelttoocoldandmiserabletospeakwesatonourhorses,waiting.Asnewarrivalscame,wepeeredintotheirfaces,andthen,onrecognisingthem,bentbackandsatonsilently.WewerealltherebutChecco.Wewaitedforatime.AtlastBartolomeoMoratiniwhisperedtoMatteo,— 'WheredidyouleaveChecco?' 'Inthehouse.Hetoldmetogoon,sayinghewouldfollowshortly.Twohorsesweresaddledbesidesmine.' 'Whomwasthesecondfor?' 'Idon'tknow!' Wewaitedon.Therainfellthinandcold.Itstruckhalf-pasttwo.Immediatelyafterwards,weheardthesoundofhoofs,andthroughthemistsawablackformcomingtowardsus. 'Isityou,Checco?'wewhispered,fortheguardofthegatemighthaveheardus.Wewerestandinginalittleplotofwasteground,tenyardsfromthewalls. 'Icannotgowithyou,'saidChecco. 'Why?'wecried. 'Ssh!'saidChecco.'Iintendedtobringmyfather,buthewillnotcome.' No