CHAPTER XII. THE FOOL'S INQUISITIVENESS
In the morning Francesco set out once more, accompanied by his servants,Fanfulla, and the fool. The latter was now so far restored as to be ableto sit a mule, but lest the riding should over-tire him they proceededat little more than an ambling pace along the lovely valleys of theMetauro. Thus it befell that when night descended it found them stilljourneying, and some two leagues distant from Urbino. Another leaguethey travelled in the moonlight, and the fool was beguiling the timefor them with a droll story culled from the bright pages of MesserBoccaccio, when of a sudden his sharp ears caught a sound that struckhim dumb in the middle of a sentence.
"Are you faint?" asked Francesco, turning quickly towards him, andmindful of the fellow's sore condition.
"No, no," answered the fool, with a readiness that dispelled the Count'salarm on that score. "I thought I heard a sound of marching in thedistance."
"The wind in the trees, Peppino," explained Fanfulla.
"I do not think----" He stopped short and listened and now they allheard it, for it came wafted to them on a gust of the fitful breeze thatsmote their faces.
"You are right," said Francesco. "It is the tramp of men. But whatof that, Peppe? Men will march in Italy. Let us hear the end of yourstory."
"But who should march in Urbino, and by night?" the fool persisted.
"Do I know or do I care?" quoth the Count. "Your story, man."
For all that he was far from satisfied, the fool resumed his narrative.But he no longer told it with his former irresistible humour. His mindwas occupied with that sound of marching, which came steadily nearer.At length he could endure it no longer, and the apathy of his companionsfired him openly to rebel.
"My lord," he cried, turning to the Count, and again leaving his storyinterrupted, "they are all but upon us."
"True!" agreed Francesco indifferently. "The next turn yonder shouldbring us into them."
"Then I beg you, Lord Count, to step aside. Let us pause here, underthe trees, until they have passed. I am full of fears. Perhaps I am acoward, but I mislike these roving night-hands. It may be a company ofmasnadieri."
"What then?" returned the Count, without slackening speed. "What causehave we to fear a party of robbers?"
But Fanfulla and the servants joined their advice to Peppe's, andprevailed at last upon Francesco to take cover until this company shouldhave passed. He consented, to pacify them, and wheeling to the rightthey entered the border of the forest, drawing rein well in the shadow,whence they could survey the road and see who passed across the patchof moonlight that illumined it. And presently the company came alongand swung into that revealing flood of light. To the astonishment ofthe watchers they beheld no marauding party such as they had been led toexpect, but a very orderly company of some twenty men, soberly arrayedin leather hacketons and salades of bright steel, marching swordon thigh and pike on shoulder. At the head of this company rode apowerfully-built man on a great sorrel horse, at sight of whom thefool swore softly in astonishment. In the middle of the party came fourlitters borne by mules, and at the side of one of them rode a slender,graceful figure that provoked from Peppe a second oath. But theprofoundest objurgation of all was wrung from him at sight of a portlybulk in the black habit of the Dominicans ambling in the rear, who justthen was in angry altercation with a fellow that was urging his mulealong with the butt of his partisan.
"May you be roasted on a gridiron like Saint Lawrence," gasped the iratepriest. "Would you break my neck, brute beast that you are? Do youbut wait until we reach Roccaleone, and by St. Dominic, I'll get yourruffianly commander to hang you for this ill-seasoned jest."
But his tormentor laughed for answer, and smote the mule again, a blowthis time that almost caused it to rear up. The friar cried out inangry alarm, and then, still storming and threatening his persecutor, hepassed on. After him came six heavily-laden carts, each drawn by a pairof bullocks, and the rear of the procession was brought up by a flock ofa dozen bleating sheep, herded by a blasphemant man-at-arms. They passedthe astonished watchers, who remained concealed until that odd companyhad melted away into the night.
"I could swear," said Fanfulla, "that that friar and I have met before."
"Nor would you do a perjury," answered him the fool. "For it is that fathog Fra Domenico--he that went with you to the Convent of Acquasparta tofetch unguents for his Excellency."
"What does he in that company, and who are they?" asked the Count,turning to the fool as they rode out of their ambush.
"Ask me where the devil keeps his lures," quoth the fool, "and I'llmake some shift to answer you. But as for what does Fra Domenico in thatgalley, it is more than I can hazard a guess on. He is not the onlyone known to me," Peppino added, "There was Ercole Fortemani, a great,dirty, blustering ruffian whom I never saw in aught but rags, riding attheir heads in garments of most unwonted wholeness; and there was RomeoGonzaga, whom I never knew to stir by night save to an assignation.Strange things must be happening in Urbino."
"And the litters?" inquired Francesco, "Can you hazard no guess as totheir meaning?"
"None," said he, "saving that they may account for the presence ofMesser Gonzaga. For litters argue women."
"It seems, fool, that not even your wisdom shall avail us. But you heardthe friar say they were bound for Roccaleone?"
"Yes, I heard that. And by means of it we shall probably learn the restat the end of our journey."
And being a man of extremely inquisitive mind, the fool set hisinquiries on foot the moment they entered the gates of Urbino in themorning--for they had reached the city over-late to gain admittance thatsame night, and were forced to seek shelter in one of the houses by theriver. It was of the Captain of the Gate that he sought information.
"Can you tell me, Ser Capitan," he inquired, "what company was that thattravelled yesternight to Roccaleone?"
The captain looked at him a moment.
"There was none that I know of," said he, "Certainly none from Urbino."
"You keep a marvellous watch," said the fool drily. "I tell you that acompany of men-at-arms some twenty strong went last night from Urbino toRoccaleone."
"To Roccaleone?" echoed the captain, with a musing air, more attentivelythan before, as if the repetition of that name had suggested somethingto his mind. "Why, it is the castle of Monna Valentina."
"True, sapient sir. But what of the company, and why was it travellingso, by night?"
"How know you it proceeded from Urbino?" quoth the captain earnestly.
"Because at its head I recognised the roaring warrior Ercole Fortemani,in the middle rode Romeo Gonzaga, in the rear came Fra Domenico,Madonna's confessor--men of Urbino all."
The officer's face grew purple at the news.
"Were there any women in the party?" he cried.
"I saw none," replied the fool, in whom this sudden eagerness of thecaptain's awakened caution and reflection.
"But there were four litters," put in Francesco, whose nature was lesssuspicious and alert than the wise fool's.
Too late Peppe scowled caution at him. The captain swore a great oath.
"It is she," he cried, with assurance. "And this company was travellingto Roccaleone, you say. How know you that?"
"We heard it from the friar," answered Francesco readily.
"Then, by the Virgin! we have them. Ola!" He turned from them, and ranshouting into the gatehouse, to re-emerge a moment later with half-dozensoldiers at his heels.
"To the Palace," he commanded, and as his men surrounded Francesco'sparty, "Come, sir," he said to the Count. "You must go with us, and tellyour story to the Duke."
"There is no need for all this force," answered Francesco coldly."In any case, I could not pass through Urbino without seeing DukeGuidobaldo. I am the Count of Aquila."
At once the captain's bearing grew respectful. He made his apologies forthe violent measures of his zeal, and bade his men fall behind. Orderingthem to follow him, he mounted a horse that was
brought him, and rodebriskly through the borgo at the Count's side. And as he rode he toldthem what the jester's quick intuition had already whispered to him.The lady Valentina was fled from Urbino in the night, and in her companywere gone three of her ladies, and--it was also supposed, since they haddisappeared--Fra Domenico and Romeo Gonzaga.
Aghast at what he heard, Francesco pressed his informer for more news;but there was little more that the captain could tell him, beyondthe fact that it was believed she had been driven to it to escape herimpending marriage with the Duke of Babbiano. Guidobaldo was distraughtat what had happened, and anxious to bring the lady back before news ofher behaviour should reach the ears of Gian Maria. It was, therefore, amatter of no little satisfaction to the captain that the task should behis to bear Guidobaldo this news of her whereabouts which from Francescoand the jester he had derived.
Peppe looked glum and sullen. Had he but bridled his cursed curiosity,and had the Count but taken the alarm in time and held his peace, allmight have been well with his beloved patrona. As it was, he--the oneman ready to die that he might serve her--had been the very one tobetray her refuge. He heard the Count's laugh, and the sound of it wasfuel to his anger. But Francesco only thought of the splendid daring ofthe lady's action.
"But these men-at-arms that she had with her?" he cried. "For whatpurpose so numerous a bodyguard?"
The captain looked at him a moment.
"Can you not guess?" he inquired. "Perhaps you do not know the Castle ofRoccaleone."
"It were odd if I did not know the most impregnable fortress in Italy."
"Why, then, does it not become clear? She has taken this company fora garrison, and in Roccaleone she clearly intends to resist in rebelfashion the wishes of his Highness."
At that the Count threw back his head, and scared the passers-by with ashearty a peal of laughter as ever crossed his lips.
"By the Host!" he gasped, laughter still choking his utterance. "Thereis a maid for you! Do you hear what the captain says, Fanfulla? Shemeans to resist this wedding by armed force if needs be. Now, on mysoul, if Guidobaldo insists upon the union after this, why, then, he hasno heart, no feeling. As I live, she is a kinswoman that such a warlikeprince might well be proud of. Small wonder that they do not fear theBorgia in Urbino." And he laughed again. But the captain scowled at him,and Peppe frowned.
"She is a rebellious jade," quoth the captain sourly.
"Nay, softly," returned Francesco; for all that he still laughed. "Ifyou were of knightly rank I'd break a lance with you on that score. Asit is----" he paused, his laughter ceased, and his dark eyes took thecaptain's measure in a curious way. "Best leave her uncensured, SerCapitano. She is of the house of Rovere, and closely allied to that ofMontefeltro."
The officer felt the rebuke, and silence reigned between them afterthat.
It was whilst Francesco, Fanfulla and Peppe waited in the ante-chamberfor admittance to the Duke that the jester vented some of the bitternesshe felt at their babbling. The splendid room was thronged with a courtlycrowd. There were magnificent nobles and envoys, dark ecclesiasticsand purple prelates, captains in steel and court officers in silk andvelvet. Yet, heedless of who might hear him, Peppe voiced his rebuke,and the terms he employed were neither as measured nor as respectful asthe Count's rank dictated. Yet with that fairness of mind that made himso universally beloved, Francesco offered no resentment to the fool'sreproof. He saw that it was deserved, for it threw upon the matter alight that was new and more searching. But he presently saw further thandid the fool, and he smiled at the other's scowls.
"Not so loud Peppe," said he. "You over-estimate the harm. At worst,we have but anticipated by a little what the Duke must have learnt fromother sources."
"But it is just that little--the few hours or days--that will do themischief," snapped the jester testily, for all that he lowered hisvoice. "In a few days Gian Maria will be back. If he were met with thenews that the Lady Valentina were missing, that she had run away withRomeo Gonzaga--for that, you'll see, will presently be the tale--do youthink he would linger here, or further care to pursue his wooing? Nothe. These alliances that are for State purposes alone, in which theheart plays no part, demand, at least, that on the lady's side thereshall be a record unblemished by the breath of scandal. His Highnesswould have returned him home, and Madonna would have been rid of him."
"But at a strange price, Peppe," answered Franeesco gravely. "Still," headded, "I agree that I would have served her purpose better by keepingsilent. But that such an affair will cool the ardour of my cousin I donot think. You are wrong in placing this among the alliances in whichthe heart has no part. On my cousin's side--if all they say be true--theheart plays a very considerable part indeed. But, for the rest--whatharm have we done?"
"Time will show," said the hunchback.
"It will show, then, that I have done no hurt whatever to herinterests. By now she is safe in Roccaleone. What, then, can befall her?Guidobaldo, no doubt, will repair to her, and across the moat he willentreat her to be a dutiful niece and to return. She will offer to doso on condition that he pass her his princely word not to further molesther with the matter of this marriage. And then?"
"Well?" growled the fool, "And then? Who shall say what may befall then?Let us say that his Highness reduces her by force."
"A siege?" laughed the Count. "Pooh! Where is your wisdom, fool! Do youthink the splendid Guidobaldo is eager to become the sport of Italy,and go down to posterity as the duke who besieged his niece because sheresisted his ordainings touching the matter of her wedding?"
"Guidobaldo da Montefeltro can be a violent man upon occasion," the foolwas answering, when the officer who had left them reappeared with theannouncement that his Highness awaited them.
They found the Prince in a very gloomy mood, and after greetingFrancesco with cool ceremony, he questioned him on the matter of thecompany they had met yesternight. These inquiries he conducted withcharacteristic dignity, and no more show of concern than if it had beenan affair of a strayed falcon. He thanked Francesco for his information,and gave orders that the seneschal should place apartments at his andFanfulla's disposal for as long as it should please them to gracehis court. With that he dismissed them, bidding the officer remain toreceive his orders.
"And that," said Francesco to Peppe, as they crossed the ante-chamberin the wake of a servant, "is the man who would lay siege to his niece'scastle? For once, sir fool, your wisdom is at fault."
"You do not know the Duke, Excellency," answered the fool. "Beneath thatfrozen exterior burns a furnace, and there is no madness he would notcommit."
But Francesco only laughed as, linking arms with Fanfulla, he passeddown the gallery on his way to the apartments to which the servant wasconducting them.