The Winslow mail., 1900-03-15
copyright. 1895. by D. Appleton & Co.
All rights reserved.]
CHAPTER N1-CONTTSU UED
L resolved not to go back to my lodging,
hlt TO omit ElOTGDCe tbe DOwCDt | bod IeI

1
but to quit Florence the moment had Sc
cured my horse. 1t was necessary, however,
| to provide some change of attire. 1 did
not intend to substitute steel corselet for
my buff-coat, having a mind to fight my
way back to fortune with no defense but
that over my heart, and contented myself
with purchasing light steel helmet, a
pair of stout riding-boots, a cloak, and some
other articles which could go into small
valise, capable of being fastened on to the
back of n saddle These | left at the ven
doris, promising to call for them in an hour
or so, and hurried toward the horse mar
ket, my shadow still keeping behind me,
in his accustomed place. Opposite the
| Baptistry heard, to my surprise, some one
shouting my name, and looking in that di-
rection saw man running across the
pavement towards me. l recognized at once
one of my lances, Jacopo Jacopi, Lucchese,
whom l had every reason to believe de-
voted to me. lie had served with me at
Fornovo and after; and although he sub
seGuently left me for little time, on my
Joining the Venetian feet against the
Turks, he returned to my banner once more,
when it was spread firm ground, and
had always proved devoted follower He
came now to me with joy on his face, shout
ing out, "Ah, excellency! 1t is |, who am
glad man to see you"
"Jacopi!" | exclaimed, "but my name
is no longer Savelli 1t is Donati now-and
what do you hcre?"
He looked tri1e embarrassed, as he
replied: Il am seeking service-l left the
army when your excellency left"
knowing the man to be a stout soldier, l
decided on the instant what to do.
"See here" | said, Il have no time to
lose. Will you follow me once more?
am bound to Rome on urgent affair, and
leave to-day"
'Will dog sniff at bone? VIII cat
pass by cream? Will an ass turn up his nose
at a carrot? l will follow to the devil, let
alone Rome, excellency, and at once if you
will"
"Have you horse?"
Nothing, signore, but an arquebus and
my sword, which have at my lodging"
''Then come with me, we must buy two
horses, and leave at once"
81 am ready, your worship" and taking
his place a little behind me we hurried on.
eve will have a hard task to get to
Rome, now that the whole country is up,
signore," said Jacopo, as we walked along.
81 have thought of that" answered; 81
propose to go by Leghorn, and taking ship
there, proceed to Rome by sea-
Jacopo gave such a groan at this that
| turned round in surprise, and became at
once aware that my shadower had crossed
the road and come so close up to us that
he must have heard every word of our con-
versation. This was most annoying, and a
disaster of which the future consequences
might be most serious. l determined how
ever to be rid of him for the rest of my stay
in Florence at any rate, and addressed him
sharply:
"Signore, l seem to have excited much
curiosity in you. May l ask what it is you
want?"
lie stood for a moment, at a loss for re-
ply, and then said: "The road is as free to
Inc as to you"
II admit that" | said; but | object to
your stopping to listen to my conversation,
and therefore will be obliged by your pass
ing on, unless you want more severe pun
ishment than you received last night"
lie turned pale with anger, and slipped
his hand into his vest; but as suddenly
pulled it out again, and without another
word hurried past us.
''Mark that man, Jacopo," said "wher-
ever he is, there is danger for us; and now
tell me some news of the army"
''The duke is in full march on Perugia,
and means to drive Cesare thence. The
whole country is awake, as you know. The
general, Ives d'Alegres, is come on mis-
sion to Florence
lives dAlegres here!"
'Yes, excellency, and the lord of Bayard
has hurried to Rome"
"Then this means something that I can
not follow"
'Nor can | explain, excellency"
"And tell me, has the duchesse de la
| Tremouille gone back to France?"
eyes, by sea from Leghorn, with great
train of ladies, just before war was declared
again. 1t is said she is gone to the court
of the king of Macon, and the escort was
commanded by Count Carlo Visconti."
''Do you know any who went with her?'
NEARLY all the ladies who were at Arezzo,
for the duke, it is said, would have none of
them, now that war was begun again"
/ had to come to the question direct:
''Was Nine. d d'Entrangues in the train of
the duchess?"
Il am sure of that, excellency. | was
with them as far as Siena, when took my
leave"
So she had gone, and felt relief at the
news Once in France, she would be safe
with her family, and | was honestly glad
che was out of the dangers of the time.
We had now reached the horse market,
and with some search discovered two like
! Unlocking animals, whose price was within
the measure of my purse. l could not af-
ford to pick and choose to any great ex-
tent, but for 30 crowns became the owner
after little trial, which showed they
were as sound as / could sec-of two nags,
one bay, and the other russet, with an
of foot white above the pastern, an IN
lucky color, and the white marking denoted
deviltry. But he was a shrewd-looking
| beast, and l kept him for myself, giving
| the bay to Jacopo. Having paid on the
spot for these, together with the necessary
faddlery, we rode to the shop where | had
left my purchases, and collected them. 1t
was here that the idea struck me that there
was an opportunity to keep my word, and
return her gift to Madonna Angola; there
fore asking messer the shopkeeper for seal
ing-waX and some parchment, which he will
ingly supplied ON a small payment, care
fully folded up the tari, and sealed up the
packet. Taking it in my hand, l went out
to Jacopo, who was holding the horses, and
said
"See here, Jacopo. Take this packet to
the house of the secretary Machiavelli. 1t
lies in the ward San Spirito, near Santa Fe-
Iicita, and cannot be missed. Deliver it
unto the hands of the Lady Angola, say
nothing, and come away. There is no re-
ply needed; you follow?"
"Excelency."
fright. Then after doing this you may
dine, collect your arms, and meet ne in an
1 bour and n half at the San I5reIiarO oa+