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neofushadthoughtofoldOrsoOrsi. 'Hesaysheistooold,andwillnotleavehisnativetown.IdidallIcouldtopersuadehim,buthebademego,andsaidtheywouldnotdaretotouchhim.Icannotleavehimthereforego,allofyou,andIwillremain.' 'Youmustcome,Checcowithoutyouwearehelpless.' 'Andwhatofyourwifeandchildren?' 'Yourpresencewillexasperatethetyrants.Youcandonogood,onlyharm.' 'Icannotleavemyfatherunprotected.' 'Iwillstay,Checco,'Isaid.'Iamnotwellknownasyouare.Iwilltakecareofyourfather,andyoucanwatchoveryourfamilyandyourinterestsinsafety.' 'No,youmustgo.Itistoodangerousforyou.' 'Nothalfsodangerousasforyou.Iwilldomybesttopreservehim.Letmestay.' 'Yes,'saidtheothers,'letFilippostay.Hemayescapedetection,butyouwouldhavenochance.' Theclockstruckthree. 'Come,comeitisgettinglate.Wemustbethirtymilesawaybeforedaybreak.' WehadalreadyarrangedtogotoCittàdiCastello,whichwasmynativeplace,andincaseofaccidentIhadgiventhemletters,sothattheymightbehousedandprotectedforthepresent. 'Wemusthaveyou,Checco,orwewillallstay.' 'Youwilltakecareofhim?'saidCheccotomeatlast. 'Iswearit!' 'Verywell!Good-bye,Filippo,andGodblessyou!' Theyadvancedtothegate,andCheccosummonedthecaptain. 'Openthegate,'hesaidshortly. Thecaptainlookedatthemundecisively.Istoodbehindintheshade,sothatIcouldnotbeseen. 'Ifyoumakeasound,wewillkillyou,'saidChecco. Theydrewtheirswords.Hehesitated,andCheccorepeated,— 'Openthegate!' Thenhebroughtouttheheavykeysthelockswereturned,thegategrowledonitshinges,andonebyonetheyfiledout.Thenthegateswungbackbehindthem.Iheardashortwordofcommand,andtheclatterofhorses'hoofs.Iputthespurstomyown,andgallopedbackintothetown. Inhalfanhourthebellswereringingfuriouslyanditwasannouncedfromhousetohousethattheconspiratorshadfledandthetownwasfree.