CHAPTER V.

D'ENTRANGUES SCORES A POINT.

Before I had gone fifty paces, however, I became aware that there was

some law left in Montevarchi, for a warning cry made me look over my

shoulder, and I saw a party of the city-guards, who had discreetly

kept out of the way when Brico and I crossed swords, hurrying towards

me. The same glance showed me that the ancient was already in their

hands, and was being dragged along with but little regard to his

comfort; and I felt sure that now, as the troop was gone, the citizens

would wreak their vengeance on this hen-roost robber, and he would be

lucky if he escaped with life. As for me, the catchpolls being out,

they no doubt reasoned that they might as well net me. To stop and

resist, would only result in my being ultimately overpowered, and

perhaps imprisoned; to yield without a blow meant very much the same

thing, and, in the shake of a drake's tail, I resolved to run, and to

trust for escape to my turn for speed. So I set off at my roundest

pace, followed by the posse, and the rabble who but a moment before

were cheering me.

More than once I felt inclined to turn, and end the matter for myself;

but the fact that this might mean laying aside all chance of settling

D'Entrangues, urged me to my best efforts. Some fool made an attempt

to stop me, and I was compelled to slash him across the face with my

sword, as a warning not to interfere with matters with which he had no

concern. I hardly knew where I was going; but dashed down a little

bye-street, and was, after a hundred yards, brought to a halt by a

dead wall. I could barely reach the top of it with my hands, luckily

this was enough to allow me to draw myself up, and drop over to the

other side, just as the police reached within ten feet of me. I did

not stop to take notes of their action, but was off as soon as my feet

touched ground, and found to my joy that I was close to one of the

unrepaired breaches in the city wall, made six months ago by

Tremouille's cannon. Through this I rushed, and scrambling down a

slope of broken stone and mortar, found I would be compelled to climb

down very nearly a hundred feet of what looked like the sheer face of

a rock, before I could reach level ground. There was not even a goat

track. My agility was, however, spurred on by hearing shouts behind

me, and preferring to risk death in attempting the descent, rather

than fall into the hands of messer the podesta, I chanced the venture,

and partly by holding on to the tough broom roots, partly slipping,

and aided by Providence and Our Lady of San Spirito, to whom I

hurriedly cast up a prayer, I managed to reach the bottom, and fell,

exhausted and breathless, into a cistus hedge.

I was too beaten to go another yard, and had my pursuers only followed

up, must have become an easy prey. As it was I heard them reach the

breach, where they came to a stop, all shouting and babbling at the

same time. One or two, bolder than the others, attempted to descend

the ledge of rock, down which I escaped, but its steepness damped

their courage. They, however, succeeded in loosening some of the

debris so that it fell over the cliff, and a few of the stones dropped

very close to me; but by good hap I escaped, or else this would never

have been written. One great block indeed, just passed over my head,

and I vowed an altar-piece to Our Lady of San Spirito, who alone could

have diverted that which was coming straight to my destruction; and I

may add I duly kept my word. After a time the voices above began to

grow fainter, and to my delight I found that the citizens, thinking it

impossible I should have escaped like a lizard amongst the rocks, were

harking back, and ranging to the right and left. I waited until all

sound died away, and cautiously peeped out. The coast was clear. I had

recovered my wind, and without more waste of time, I rose and pressed

on in the direction of the hills, determined to chance no further

adventures near the towns. Indeed, I had crowded more incident into

the past few hours, than into the previous five-and-thirty years of my

life, and my sole object, at present, was to reach Florence without

further let or hindrance.

Keeping the vineyards between me and the town, I avoided all

observation, and at a small wayside inn, filled a wallet which I

purchased, with food and a bottle of the rough country wine, so that

there might be no necessity for my visiting a human habitation during

the remainder of my journey. With the wallet swung over my shoulder,

an hour or so later I was ascending the slopes of Mount St. Michele,

cursing the fallen pine-needles, which made my foothold so slippery,

that I slid rather than walked.

Turning the corner of a bluff, I suddenly came upon half-a-dozen men,

reclining under the pines in various attitudes of ease. They sprang up

at once on seeing me, and one of them, presenting his arquebus, called

on me to halt.

"You must pay our toll before you pass, Signore," said the man, who

appeared to be the leader of the party.

"As you please," I replied, "but my only metal is cold steel."

"_Corpo di Bacco!_" he exclaimed. "I thought I knew you, and your

voice makes me certain. Surely I address the Cavaliere di Savelli?"

I bowed, a little confused at the thought of my disguise being so

easily penetrated, and the bandit went on, turning to his comrades--

"Put down your gun, Spalle, this gentleman is one of us, and--hawks do

not peck out hawks' eyes. Signore," he added, "you pass free. I had

the honour to serve in your _condotta_ during the Siena war, and

doubtless you remember Piero Luigi?"

"I do," I said, and the memory of a bag of florins which accompanied

this same Luigi on his disappearance one fine day came to my mind. I

had not however seen the man for three years, but he was apparently of

those who do not forget faces. As it turned out, however, he had seen

me very recently without my knowing it.

"It is a pleasure to think I am not forgotten, and in a way,

Excellency, you have paid your footing." The rascal was alluding to my

stolen florins. "To think," he continued, "that you should have joined

us! But I suppose it was the dice, and, to be sure, the rubies were

worth ten thousand. You should have realised at once and vanished; but

experience will come, and mayhap another chance. I saw the trial,

Excellency, and we do not war with the profession, least of all with a

new recruit. You are free to pass, or, if you prefer it, to accept our

hospitality for a while."

I declined the proffered invitation with a brief thanks, and went on,

my blood boiling at the impertinence of the scoundrel who so

familiarly claimed me as one of his own kind. Innocent myself, I was

tasting to the dregs all the humiliation of the guilty, and it was

only perhaps a lucky chance that saved me from the rope, or the still

worse fate of the galleys at Pisa. Turn which way I would, my own

country would never be a country for me again. I was cut out from my

order, my infamy would be known wherever my name was heard, and my

associates would henceforth have to be the vilest of mankind. Had I

committed a murder, or even an act of treachery in war, that could

have been wiped out; but to have sunk to the condition of a common

thief, this was ignominy beyond repair. I therefore resolved, as soon

as I pushed matters to a conclusion with D'Entrangues, that I should

leave Italy and seek a new life in the strange countries beyond the

seas which Messer Columbus, the navigator, had discovered, and there,

my past being unknown, perhaps find a future of peace or the rest

which fears no disturbing from this world.

My original idea had been to seek the dominions of the Turk, but they

were too close to my shame; even the New World was hardly far enough.

So I planned, and so doubtless would I have acted had not

circumstances worked to give me back what I lost, as I thought

hopelessly, and to bring home to my mind the certainty of that tender

mercy of God, of which we on earth take too little account.

It was late in the evening before I halted and ate my dinner under an

overhanging rock, sheltered from the north wind by a clump of pines.

When I finished I rolled myself up in my cloak, and fatigue, together

with a good conscience, combined to send me to a sleep as sound as it

was refreshing. I was up before the sun and continued my way,

determined to reach Florence by evening. I took no particular notice

of the view, where I could see to my right the Prato Magno, and to my

left all the valley of the Greve; but kept my eyes before me, intent

on my thoughts.

At length, when passing Impruneta, where the black virgin is, Florence

came in sight. There was a slight haze which prevented me from seeing

as clearly as I could wish; but I plainly made out the houses on the

banks of the Arno, Arnolfo's Tower, the Palace of the Signory, the

Cathedral, the Bargello, and the unfinished Pitti Palace, whilst

beyond rose the convent-topped hill of Senario, where the Servites

have their monastery.

As I looked, there was little of admiration in my heart, although the

scene was fair enough; but I could give no mind to anything beyond the

fact that I was at last within measurable distance of D'Entrangues,

and that in a few hours my hand was like to be at his throat.

With these thoughts there somehow mingled up the face of Madame, and

the scene of our last meeting. I put this aside, however, with a

strong hand, and determined to think no more of her, although no such

recollection could be anything but pleasant and sweet. Until I met her

I had managed well enough without womankind, and for the future I

would leave bright eyes alone. Yet I knew I was the better man for

holding the privilege of her friendship. However, she had passed out

of my life, and across the seas I would have other things to think of

than the memory of my platonic friendship with Doris D'Entrangues.

It was close upon sunset when I entered the San Piero Gate, and found

myself in Florence, and in a difficulty at the same time, in

consequence of my wearing a sword. I luckily, however, remembered that

La Palisse, the French leader, was then in the city, and explaining

that I was from the army at Arezzo with a message to him, inquired

particularly his abode, which I was told was in the palace of the

exiled Medici in the Via Larga. It so happened that La Palisse was in

constant communication with Tremouille, and this and my confident

bearing imposed upon the guards. I supplemented my argument with a

couple of crowns, and they let me pass without further parley. It will

thus be seen that whatever the regulations may have been, they were

easily broken. Indeed I found later on that they were, even at that

time, a dead letter, and that the zeal of the guards was merely

inspired by the prospect of making something out of me, which they did

on this occasion. I knew Florence fairly well, having been there under

circumstances very different to the present; but as I hurried along

the crowded streets, I began to feel I was somewhat uncertain as to

whither the roads led. I judged it prudent, however, not to make

inquiries, but kept my eyes on the sharp look-out for an hostel

suitable to my purse, which was diminishing at a fearful rate. I

stopped for a while at a street stall to satisfy my hunger with a cake

of wheat and a glass of milk, a wholesome but unpalatable beverage,

and entered into conversation with the stall-keeper. It came out that

I was in a difficulty about a lodging, and the man very civilly told

me where one could be procured, and added to his kindness, seeing I

was apparently a stranger to the place, by directing his son, a small

bare-legged urchin, to guide me to the house, which he said was an old

palace of the Albizzi, that had passed into the hands of the banker

Nobili, and was rented out in tenements.

Heaven only knows through what bye-lanes and alleys the imp led me,

chattering like an ape the whilst; but at last we reached the house

which lay in the street di Pucci. An arrangement was soon entered into

with the person in charge, and I paid in advance for two weeks the

small rent asked for the room I took. I selected the room, because

there was in it some furniture, such as a bed, a table and a couple of

chairs, which, I was informed with some emphasis, had been seized from

the last tenant in default of rent. I sent the boy away rejoicing, and

was surprised to find that the housekeeper did not depart as well; but

this worthy soon made it clear to me that a further payment was

requisite on account of the furniture. I was too tired to haggle, so

paid him the three broad pieces he wanted, and bid him get me some

candles. He returned after a little delay with what I needed, and I

may say at once that under a rough exterior I found this man, with all

his faults, was capable on occasions of displaying true kindliness of

heart.

I would like to pay him this tribute, for subsequently, as will be

seen, we had a grave difference of opinion which ended in disaster for

him. At the time this happened I could not but condemn him strongly,

for in order to further a plot in which he was engaged, he tried to

induce me to crime, and when, by a happy chance, I was able to

frustrate his design, joined in an attempt to murder me. I fully

believe, however, now that I can look back on affairs coolly, that, in

common with others of his age, he thought it no wrong to adopt any

means to further a political plot, whilst in the every day observances

of life he displayed, in an underhand manner, much virtue.

When he was gone I sat down to count my money, and found I had but ten

crowns in all the world. With prudence however this would last some

time. Still it was gall and wormwood to me to have to weigh each item

of my disbursement. It would be necessary as well to renew my attire,

which, with the exception of the leather buff coat, was almost ruined

by the hard wear it had been exposed to on my journey. I sat down to

rest, but now that I had reached Florence a reaction set in, and

assailed by a full sense of my position I gave way to despair. In a

little time I became more composed; but it was impossible to keep

still with the fire in my heart, and I sallied into the street, taking

care to note landmarks, so as to find my way back. In this manner I

must have gone for about a quarter of a mile, when I was brought to a

standstill by the coming of a gay party down the street, in the

direction opposite to mine, all marching by the light of many torches,

to the music of a band. The musicians led the procession, which was

flanked on each side by a number of flambeaux bearers, and a retinue

of servants, all bearing swords despite the law.

The merry-makers walked in pairs, each lady resting her fingers

on her cavalier's arm, and all laughing and talking with the utmost

good-humour. I was compelled to draw myself to the wall to admit of

their passing, and whilst thus giving them the road, the light fell

brightly on me, and I became an object of alarm to some of the fair,

who gave utterance to pretty little exclamations of terror, with the

result that I came in for haughty looks from the gallants.

In the middle of the promenaders were two ladies, who, apparently not

having partners of the opposite sex, had linked themselves together,

and the attention of the taller of these was bestowed upon me for a

moment, and it was not flattering. As she wore a mask, I could see

little of her face beyond the half contemptuous look in her eyes which

were dark as night, and a short curl of the upper lip, with which she

no doubt intended to express the same sentiment as her glance. I

waited calmly until the whole party passed on, admiring the grace of

the demoiselle who had favoured me with her scornful survey. I watched

them until they turned off into another street, and then went on, idly

wondering who the people were, and more especially the dark-eyed lady.

The street behind me was in gloom, a few yards in front of me a lamp

hanging from a wall threw a dim radiance; beyond that there was gloom

again. Through the darkness before me I heard the sound of hurrying

feet, coming in my direction, and almost before I was aware of it, the

newcomer and I fell into the circle of the light, and met face to

face.

It was D'Entrangues! He knew me as if by instinct.

"You!" he exclaimed, and on the instant his sword was out. I said

nothing. I was blind, mad with anger. My whole soul hungered for his

life as I thrust at him, and in doing so slipped my foot over the edge

of the narrow pavement and fell heavily. He was on me at once;

something flashed in his left hand, and I felt a stinging sensation

all over my side. He did not wait to see the result of his blow.

Perhaps he made too sure, and springing over me, ran into the darkness

beyond. I scrambled up at once, and made an attempt to follow; but my

brain began to reel, and I was compelled to lean against the wall to

support myself.

The clash of steel had however aroused some of the inhabitants, and

hearing footsteps approaching I pulled myself together with an effort,

and making across the road, turned back to my lodging. Here again I

felt too weak to proceed without help, and sank to the ground, knowing

I was bleeding freely. By this time two or three men came up, and

after surveying the spot under the street-lamp, crossed over in my

direction. The rays of a lantern held by one of them discovered me,

and they hastened up. I begged the favour of their assistance to my

abode, saying I had been stabbed, and this the worthy citizens readily

accorded; and not content with that, when I reached my room, gave me

all help in dressing my injury. The dagger, which I had to extract,

had gone through the folds of my cloak, but was turned by a steel

buckle on the strap of my buff coat, and had cut through the coat and

down my side, inflicting an ugly flesh wound. This in itself was not

dangerous; but I had lost much blood, and when the kind citizens had

gone, in making an attempt to rise from my chair, I had only just time

to reach my bed before I became unconscious.