XXXVII

ace,butIdaresayyouwillbeabletofindroomsomewhere.Butcomein.' 'Thanks,'Isaid,'ifyoudonotmind.' IfoundChecco,Bartolomeoandhistwosonssittingtogether.Theyjumpedupwhentheysawme. 'Whatnews?Whatnews?'theyasked. ThensuddenlyIrememberedtheterriblestoryIhadtotell,forinmyownhappinessIhadforgotteneverythingthatwentbefore.Isuddenlybecamegrave. 'Badnews,'Isaid.'Badnews.' 'Oh,God!Ihavebeenforebodingit.EverynightIhavedreamedawfulthings.' 'Checco,'Ianswered.'IhavedoneallIcouldbut,alas!ithasbeenofnoavail.YouleftmeasaprotectorandIhavebeenabletoprotectnoone.' 'Goon!' ThenIbeganmystory.ItoldthemhowtheCouncilhadopenedthegates,surrenderingunconditionally,andhowtheCountesshadsalliedforthintriumph.Thatwasnothing.Iftherehadbeennoworsenewsforthemthanthat!ButCheccoclenchedhishandsasIrelatedthesackingofhisp