XX
I seemed to have slept a bare half-hour when I was awakened by a greatnoise downstairs. I got up, and looking out of the window saw a crowdgathered in the street below; they were talking and gesticulatingfuriously. Then I remembered the occurrence of the night, and I saw thatthe news had spread and these were citizens come to gather details. Iwent downstairs and found the courtyard thronged. Immediately I wassurrounded by anxious people asking for news. Very contrary reports hadcirculated; some said that Checco had been killed outright, others thathe had escaped, while most asserted that he was wounded. All asked forChecco.
'If he is unhurt, why does he not show himself?' they asked.
A servant assured them that he was dressing, and would be with them atonce.... Suddenly there was a shout. Checco had appeared at the top ofthe stairs. They rushed towards him, surrounding him with cries of joy;they seized his hand, they clung to his legs, some of them touched himall over to see that he was indeed unwounded, others kissed the lappetsof his coat.... Bartolomeo Moratini entered the court with his sons, andthe people shrunk back as he came forward and embraced Checco.
'Thank God you are saved!' he said. 'It will be an evil day for Forliwhen anything happens to you.'
The people answered in shouts. But at that moment another sound washeard without--a long and heavy murmur. The people surrounding thedoorway looked out and turned in astonishment to their neighbours,pointing to the street; the murmur spread. What was it?
'Make way! Make way!'
A strident voice called out the words, and ushers pushed the peopleaside. A little troop of men appeared in the entrance, and as they sankback there stepped forward the Count. The Count! Checco started, butimmediately recovering himself advanced to meet his visitor. Girolamowalked up to him, and taking him in his arms kissed him on the cheeks,and said,--
'My Checco! My Checco!'
We who knew and the others who suspected looked on with astonishment.
'As soon as I heard the terrible news I rushed to find you,' said theCount. 'Are you safe--quite safe?'
He embraced him again.
'You cannot think what agony I suffered when I heard you were wounded.How glad I am it was not true. Oh, God in Heaven, I thank Thee for myChecco!'
'You are very kind, my lord,' answered our friend.
'But it is some consolation that the miscreants have met the end whichthey deserved. We must take steps to free the town of all such dangerouspersons. What will men say of my rule when it is known that the peacefulcitizen cannot walk home at night without danger to his life? Oh,Checco, I blame myself bitterly.'
'You have no cause, my lord, but--would it not be well to examine themen to see if they are known in Forli? Perhaps they have associates.'
'Certainly; the idea was in my mind. Let them be laid out in themarket-place so that all may see them.'
'Pardon, sir,' said one of his suite, 'but they were laid in the Churchof San Spirito last night, and this morning they have disappeared.'
Matteo and I looked at one another. Checco kept his eyes fixed on theCount.
'Disappeared!' cried the latter, displaying every sign of impatience.'Who is responsible for this? Offer a reward for the discovery of theirbodies and of any accomplices. I insist on their being discovered!'
Shortly afterwards he took his leave, after repeatedly kissing Checco,and warmly congratulating Matteo and myself on the assistance we hadgiven to our friend. To me he said,--
'I regret, Messer Filippo, that you are not a Forlivese. I should beproud to have such a citizen.'
Bartolomeo Moratini was still at the Palazzo Orsi, so, seizing myopportunity, I took him by the arm and walked with him to the statuegallery, where we could talk in peace.
'What do you think of all this?' I said.
He shook his head.
'It is the beginning of the end. Of course it is clear to all of us thatthe assassination was ordered by the Count; he will persuade nobody ofhis innocence by his pretended concern. All the town is whispering hisname.
'Having made a first attempt and failed, he will not hesitate to make asecond, for if he could forgive the injury which he has received fromChecco, he can never forgive the injury which he himself has done him.And next time he will not fail.'
'I am terribly concerned,' I said. 'You know the great affection I havefor both the Orsi.'
He stopped and warmly shook my hand.
'I cannot let Checco throw away his life in this way,' I said.
'What can be done?'
'Only one thing, and you suggested it.... Girolamo must be killed.'
'Ah, but Checco will never consent to that.'
'I am afraid not,' I said gravely. 'You know the delicacy of hisconscience.'
'Yes; and though I think it excessive, I admire him for it. In thesedays it is rare to find a man so honest and upright and conscientious asChecco. But, Messer Filippo, one must yield to the ideas of the age onelives in.'
'I, too, am convinced of his noble-mindedness, but it will ruin him.'
'I am afraid so,' sighed the old man, stroking his beard.
'But he must be saved in spite of himself. He must be brought to see thenecessity of killing the Count.' I spoke as emphatically as I could.
'He will never consent.'
'He must consent; and you are the man to make him do so. He would notlisten to anything that Matteo or I said, but for you he has thegreatest respect. I am sure if anyone can influence him it is you.'
'I have some power over him, I believe.'
'Will you try? Don't let him suspect that Matteo or I have had anythingto do with it, or he will not listen. It must come solely from you.'
'I will do my best.'
'Ah, that is good of you. But don't be discouraged by his refusals; beinsistent, for our sake. And one thing more, you know his unselfishness;he would not move his hand to save himself, but if you showed him thatit is for the good of others, he could not refuse. Let him think thesafety of us all depends on him. He is a man you can only move by hisfeeling for others.'
'I believe you,' he answered. 'But I will go to him, and I will leave noargument unused.'
'I am sure that your efforts will be rewarded.'
Here I showed myself a perfectly wise man, for I only prophesied becauseI knew.