XXVII
We went to the fortress in solemn procession, the people, as we passed,mingling shouts of praise for Checco with yells of derision forCaterina. She walked on with her stately indifference, and when theprotonotary addressed her, repelled him with disdain.
The Castellan was summoned, and the Countess addressed him in the wordswhich Savello had suggested,--
'As Heaven has taken the Count from me, and also the city, I beg you, bythe confidence I showed in choosing you as Castellan, to surrender thisfortress to the ministers of His Holiness the Pope.'
There was a light tinge of irony in her voice, and her lips showed theshadow of a smile.
The Castellan replied gravely,--
'By the confidence you showed in choosing me as Castellan, I refuse tosurrender this fortress to the ministers of his Holiness the Pope. Andas Heaven has taken the Count from you, and also the city, it may takethe citadel too, but, by God! madam, no power on earth shall.'
Caterina turned to Savello,--
'What shall I do?'
'Insist.'
She solemnly repeated her request, and he solemnly made his reply.
'It is no good,' she said, 'I know him too well. He thinks I am speakingunder compulsion. He does not know that I am acting of my own will, forthe great love I bear the Pope and the Church.'
'We must have the citadel,' said Savello, emphatically. 'If we do notget it, I cannot answer for your safety.'
She looked at him; then an idea seemed to occur to her.
'Perhaps if I went in and spoke to him he would consent to surrender.'
'We cannot allow you out of our power,' said Checco.
'You would have my children as hostages.'
'That is true,' mused Savello; 'I think we can let her go.'
Checco disapproved, but the priest overruled him, and the Castellan wassummoned again, and ordered to admit the Countess. Savello warned her,--
'Remember that we hold your children, and shall not hesitate to hangthem before your eyes if--'
'I know your Christian spirit, Monsignor,' she interrupted.
* * * * *
But when she was inside she turned to us, and from the rampartsaddressed us with mocking laughter. The fury which had been boilingwithin her burst out. She hurled at us words of foul abuse, so that onemight have thought her a fishwife; she threatened us with death, andevery kind of torture, in revenge for the murder of her husband....
We stood looking up at her with open mouths, dumbfounded. A cry of ragebroke from the people; Matteo uttered an oath. Checco looked angrily atSavello, but said nothing. The priest was furious; his big red face grewpurple, and his eyes glistened like a serpent's.
'Bastard!' he hissed. 'Bastard!'
Trembling with anger, he ordered the children to be sent for, and hecried out to the Countess,--
'Do not think that we shall hesitate. Your sons shall be hanged beforeyour very eyes.'
'I have the means of making more,' she replied scornfully.
She was lion-hearted. I could not help feeling admiration for theextraordinary woman. Surely she could not sacrifice her children! And Iwondered if a man would have had the courage to give that bold answer toSavello's threats.
Savello's expression had become fiendish. He turned to his assistants.
'Let a double scaffold be erected here, at once and quickly.'
The chiefs of the conspiracy retired to a sheltered place, while the mobgathered in the piazza; and soon the buzz of many voices mingled withhammering and the cries of workmen. The Countess stood above looking atthe people, watching the gradual erection of the scaffold.
In a little while its completion was announced. Savello and the otherscame forward, and the priest once more asked her whether she wouldsurrender. She did not deign to answer. The two boys were broughtforward--one was nine, the other seven. As the people looked upon theiryouth a murmur of pity passed through them. My own heart began to beat alittle. They looked at the scaffold and could not understand; butCesare, the younger, seeing the strange folk round him and the angryfaces, began to cry. Ottaviano was feeling rather tearful too; but hissuperior age made him ashamed, and he was making mighty efforts torestrain himself. All at once Cesare caught sight of his mother, and hecalled to her. Ottaviano joined him, and they both cried out,--
'Mother! Mother!'
She looked at them, but made not the slightest motion, she might havebeen of stone.... Oh, it was horrible; she was too hard!
'Once more, I ask you,' said Savello, 'will you surrender the castle?'
'No--no!'
Her voice was quite steady, ringing clear as a silver bell.
Savello made a sign, and two men approached the boys. Then suddenly theyseemed to understand; with a shriek they ran to Checco, and, falling athis feet, clasped his knees. Ottaviano could hold out no longer; heburst into tears, and his brother, at the elder's weakness, redoubledhis own cries.
'Oh, Checco, don't let them touch us!'
Checco took no notice of them; he looked straight in front of him. Andeven when the Count had just fallen under his dagger he had not been soghastly pale.... The children were sobbing desperately at his knees. Themen hesitated; but there was no pity in the man of God; he repeated hissign more decisively than before, and the men advanced. The childrenclung to Checco's legs, crying,--
'Checco, don't let them touch us!'
He made no sign. He held his eyes straight in front of him, as if he sawnothing, heard nothing. But his face! Never have I seen such agony....
The children were torn from him, their hands bound behind their backs.How could they! My heart was bursting within me, but I dared saynothing. They were led to the scaffold. A sobbing cry came from thepeople and wailed through the heavy air.
The Countess stood still, looking at her children. She made not theslightest motion; she might have been of stone.
The children cried out,--
'Checco! Checco!'
It was heartbreaking.
'Go on!' said Savello.
A groan burst from Checco, and he swayed to and fro, as if he were goingto fall.
'Go on!' said Savello.
But Checco could not bear it.
'Oh, God! Stop!--stop!'
'What do you mean?' said Savello, angrily. 'Go on!'
'I cannot! Untie them!'
'You fool! I threatened to hang them, and I will. Go on!'
'You shall not! Untie them, I tell you!'
'I am master here. Go on!'
Checco strode towards him with clenched fists.
'By God, Master Priest, you shall go the way you came, if you thwart me.Untie them!'
In a moment Matteo and I had pushed aside the men who held them, and cuttheir cords. Checco staggered towards the children, and they with abound threw themselves into his arms. He clasped them to himpassionately, and covered them with kisses. A shout of joy broke fromthe people, and many burst into tears.
Suddenly we saw a commotion on the castle walls. The Countess had fallenback, and men were pressing round her.
She had fainted.