The Winslow mail., 1900-05-10
CHAPTER XX
CHAP LEX AA.
"a BROWN WNPAUL-ALITTLE COPPER.


"ABROWN NPAUL-ALITTLE COPPER"
Such as they were, the troubles of the an
cient and his crony Luigi could not have
ended soon, for, although at first they were
surrounded by jeering crowd, fresh things
caught the minds of the people after lit
tie time, and they were left to themselves.
As the following day was holiday in lodi,
the innkeeper probably let them lie bound
until he had more leisure on his hands,
which were in truth full enough, as the al
bergo hummed with custom. l never heard
or saw anything more of either of the vii
lains again. We had time yet at our dis
posal; but, after an early supper, the horses
being rested, we started, and, going slowly,
with halt On the right bank of the Paglia,
we crossed the Tiber near San Fortunate,
and Perugia lay before us, bright in the sun
shine. In order to throw any pursuit off the
scent, for if by chance inquiries were made
about US, they would be at the southern
gates, we made turn east, then struck
north, and, getting over the numberless
trenches lying between us and our point,
eventually entered the city by the Porta del
Carmine. Here Jacopo, under my secret in
structions, let the guard handle his wine
skin, buzzing out as if in the confidence of
the cup that we had come from Fabriano in
the Marches and then gave them the day.
We rode on, leaving the ward at the gate
to finish the skin, and found very comforta-
bic house-room in the Rubicon, an hotel
kept by Messer Passaro, which lay behind
the house of the Piccinino family, ''close to
the Duomo, the citadel, and the gallows,"
as the landlord, who thought himself a
merry wag, informed me whilst he received
us at his door. took the best room availa-
bic for myself, and saw to the wants of my
followers and the horses, who were as well
as when they started. l left them in COM
fort, bidding Bande Mere make ready to
accompany me out at noontide. Dinner
ordered at II, inviting the landlord to
crack flask of his best thereafter with me.
He accepted with effusion; my object in
doing this being to try and get@as much
information out of him as possible, as
saw he had loose tongue and gossiping
heart, and l was resolved to leave no stone
unturned in my search for Angola 1t want
ed two hours or more for dinner, and, hav-
ing bathed and changed my attire, sank
me down in an armchair to enjoy an hour
or so of repose.
After dinner mine host appeared, bear
ing with him cobwebbed flask.
ct is a wine of France, excellency-Bur-
gundy-and all my customers do not taste
this, l can tell YOU
II am favored, indeed, Messer Passaro;
take seat, and help yourself"
"1he condescension of your excellency!"
and with a bow he settled himself COM
fortably on the extreme edge of a chair.
We poured out our measures, and, on
testing the wine, found it most excellent;
as for Pessaro, he pushed himself back into
his seat and let the liquid down his throat
in drops, his eyes closed in an ecstasy
When he opened them, which he did after
time, he gasped out:
"ls not that glorious, signore? Have you
ever Tipped the brandt"
II confess it is wine for the gods," l
said. "Is there much in your cellar?"
"Store of it, excellency; I was not but
Ter to his eminence of Strigonia for ten
years for nothing"
"His eminence is a fine judge of Wines"
"Cospitto! And your excellency's for
giveness for swearing. He is the finest
judge in the world. There is no brand he
could not name, nay, tell you the year of
vintage, were he blindfold and drop but
touched his palate. Corpo di Bacco! But
he is a true prince of the church"
"Ah! you are sly dog, Messer Passaro,"
and l filled him his glass; 81 warrant me
you can tell many tale of the cardinal.
But come, now, has not the Baglioni as fine
taste in wines, and a better one for neat
ankle?"
"Iush!" he said, looking around him as
he put down his empty glass, Gin your ear,
excellency-the Count Carlo has big teeth
and bites hard. Let your tongue be still
when his name comes up in Perugia."
f,-,a
me no grudge, or else should not be
here"
"Your worship has come to join him
them"
"As you see, Messer Passaro," and
filled his glass again, "T am soldier and
love to serve a soldier. Besides things will
be on foot soon, for what with the French
at Passaignano, war cannot be delayed
long,"
"True, and light has been put to the
torch, too."
"Hurrah! Another glass, man; we sol
diers are sick of this truce. Our purses
run dry in peace. But tell me-"
''You must know, signore, that all the
country east of Castiglione to the Tiber,
and lying between the Nestore and Casale,
is ief of the Castellani, and the count
ha! hal 1t was glorious!" and he slapped
his thigh-"ha! hal"
Nothing irritates me so much as to hear
a man laughing aimlessly, and it was in a
sharp tone that said: Go on"
"a moment, excellency," and he held
up fat hand, cha! ha! / heard it all from
Messer Lambro, my cousin, and groom of
the chambers to Count Carlo. Well, all
the fef | spoke of is inherited by the Lady
Angola, the daughter of old Count Adri-
ano. The family is Ghibelline, and have
taken the French side, and, seeing that
| Tremouille was between us and Casale, my
lady must needs go down to visit her es-
tates. The count, who is looking for a
wife, buckles on his armor, mounts his
mare, and with 200 lances at his back,
gallops up the left bank of the Tiber,
| fords the stream, swoops down on the dove
cote at Rossino, and brings back bride
to Perugia ha! ha. 1t is superb"
Hal ha! Messer Passaro-diavolo! Are
they married yet?'
Not yet-ah! The wine is wine for the
gods, as your worship says-not married
yet, for my lady is half beside herself, they
say, and the count, receiving q sudden mes
sage from Cesare, has had to leave Peruga
for few days"
'Cospitto! How he must curse the Bor
gia for putting off his happinessl And she
is handsome, eh?"
For the matter of that, excelency, ono
does not squint at a sour face set in O
golden coif. But they do say the lady Is
very beautiful
"You have not seen her them"
"Corpo di Bacco! She is under lock and
key, and not for the likes of me to look
upon"