XXXIII

uncleandIdraggedyouthroughthelittledoor,andeventuallycarriedyouhere.Youareaweight!' 'AndwhereamI?' 'Inmymother'shouse,whereyouarerequestedtostayaslongasitsuitsyourconvenience.' 'AndOrso?' 'Myunclewentouttosee,andreportsthattheyhaveputhiminprison.Asyetnoharmhasbeendonehim.Thepalacehasbeensackednothingbutthebarewallsremain.' AtthatmomentPietrocameinpanting. 'Twooftheconspiratorshavebeentaken.' 'MyGod,notCheccoorMatteo!' 'NoPietroAlbaneseandMarcoScorsacana.' 'Howdidtheothersescape?' 'Idon'tknow.AllIheardwasthatthehorseofMarcobrokedown,andPietrorefusedtoleavehim.AtavillageclosetothefrontierPietrowasrecognised,andtheywerebotharrestedandsenthereforthesakeofthereward.' 'MyGod!' 'Theywerebroughtintothetownonasses,withtheirhandstiedbehindtheirbacks,andthemobyelledwithderision,andthrewstonesandrefuseatthem.' 'Andnow?' 'Theyhavebeentakentotheprison,and—' 'Well?' 'Theexecutionistotakeplaceto-morrow.' Igroaned.PietroAlbaneseandMarcohadbeenlikeDamonandPythias.IshudderedasIthoughtofthefateinstoreforthem.TheyhadbeenconspicuousintheirhatredoftheCount,anditwastheywhohadhelpedtothrowthebodyintothepiazza.IknewtherewouldbenoforgivenessinCaterina'sheart,andallthenightIwonderedwhatvengeanceshewasmeditating.