CHAPTER VI. THE TALONS OF THE HOLY OFFICE
Acting upon my resolve, I went to wait for Cavalcanti in the littleanteroom that communicated with his bedroom. My patience was tried, forhe was singularly late in coming; fully an hour passed after allthe sounds had died down in the castle and it was known that all hadretired, and still there was no sign of him.
I asked one of the pages who lounged there waiting for their master, didhe think my lord would be in the library, and the boy was conjecturingupon this unusual tardiness of Cavalcanti's in seeking his bed, when thedoor opened, and at last he appeared.
When he found me awaiting him, a certain eagerness seemed to lighthis face; a second's glance showed me that he was in the grip of someunusual agitation. He was pale, with a dull flush under the eyes, andthe hand with which he waved away the pages shook, as did his voice whenhe bade them depart, saying that he desired to be alone with me awhile.
When the two slim lads had gone, he let himself fall wearily into atall, carved chair that was placed near an ebony table with silver feetin the middle of the room.
But instead of unburdening himself as I fully expected, he looked at me,and--
"What is it, Agostino?" he inquired.
"I have thought," I answered after a moment's hesitation, "of a means bywhich this unwelcome visit of Farnese's might be brought to an end."
And with that I told him as delicately as was possible that I believedMadonna Bianca to be the lodestone that held him there, and that wereshe removed from his detestable attentions, Pagliano would cease toamuse him and he would go his ways.
There was no outburst such as I had almost looked for at the meresuggestion contained in my faltering words. He looked at me gravely andsadly out of that stern face of his.
"I would you had given me this advice two weeks ago," he said. "But whowas to have guessed that this pope's bastard would have so prolonged hisvisit? For the rest, however, you are mistaken, Agostino. It is not hewho has dared to raise his eyes as you suppose to Bianca. Were such thecase, I should have killed him with my hands were he twenty times theDuke of Parma. No, no. My Bianca is being honourably wooed by yourcousin Cosimo."
I looked at him, amazed. It could not be. I remembered Giuliana's words.Giuliana did not love me, and were it as he supposed she would have seenno cause to intervene. Rather might she have taken a malicious pleasurein witnessing my own discomfiture, in seeing the sweet maid to whomI had raised my eyes, snatched away from me by my cousin who alreadyusurped so much that was my own.
"O, you must be mistaken," I cried.
"Mistaken?" he echoed. He shook his head, smiling bitterly. "There is nopossibility of mistake. I am just come from an interview with the Dukeand his fine captain. Together they sought me out to ask my daughter'shand for Cosimo d'Anguissola."
"And you?" I cried, for this thrust aside my every doubt.
"And I declined the honour," he answered sternly, rising in hisagitation. "I declined it in such terms as to leave them no doubt uponthe irrevocable quality of my determination; and then this pestilentialDuke had the effrontery to employ smiling menaces, to remind me that hehad the power to compel folk to bend the knee to his will, to remindme that behind him he had the might of the Pontiff and even of the HolyOffice. And when I defied him with the answer that I was a feudatory ofthe Emperor, he suggested that the Emperor himself must bow before theCourt of the Inquisition."
"My God!" I cried in liveliest fear.
"An idle threat!" he answered contemptuously, and set himself to stridethe room, his hands clasped behind his broad back.
"What have I to do with the Holy Office?" he snorted. "But they hadworse indignities for me, Agostino. They mocked me with a reminder thatGiovanni d'Anguissola had been my firmest friend. They told me they knewit to have been my intention that my daughter should become the Lady ofMondolfo, and to cement the friendship by making one State of Pagliano,Mondolfo and Carmina. And they added that by wedding her to Cosimod'Anguissola was the way to execute that plan, for Cosimo, Lord ofMondolfo already, should receive Carmina as a wedding-gift from theDuke."
"Was such indeed your intention?" I asked scarce above a whisper,overawed as men are when they perceive precisely what their folly andwickedness have cost them.
He halted before me, and set one hand of his upon my shoulder, lookingup into my face. "It has been my fondest dream, Agostino," he said.
I groaned. "It is a dream that never can be realized now," said Imiserably.
"Never, indeed, if Cosimo d'Anguissola continues to be Lord ofMondolfo," he answered, his keen, friendly eyes considering me.
I reddened and paled under his glance.
"Nor otherwise," said I. "For Monna Bianca holds me in the contemptwhich I deserve. Better a thousand times that I should have remainedout of this world to which you caused me to return--unless, indeed, mypresent torment is the expiation that is required of me unless, indeed,I was but brought back that I might pay with suffering for all the evilthat I have wrought."
He smiled a little. "Is it so with you? Why, then, you afflict yourselftoo soon, boy. You are over-hasty to judge. I am her father, and mylittle Bianca is a book in which I have studied deeply. I read herbetter than do you, Agostino. But we will talk of this again."
He turned away to resume his pacing in the very moment in which he hadfired me with such exalted hopes. "Meanwhile, there is this Farnesedog with his parcel of minions and harlots making a sty of my house.He threatens to remain until I come to what he terms a reasonablemind--until I consent to do his will and allow my daughter to marry hishenchman; and he parted from me enjoining me to give the matter thought,and impudently assuring me that in Cosimo d'Anguissola--in that guelphicjackal--I had a husband worthy of Bianca de' Cavalcanti."
He spoke it between his teeth, his eyes kindling angrily again.
"The remedy, my lord, is to send Bianca hence," I said. "Let her seekshelter in a convent until Messer Pier Luigi shall have taken hisdeparture. And if she is no longer here, Cosimo will have littleinclination to linger."
He flung back his head, and there was defiance in every line of hisclear-cut face. "Never!" he snapped. "The thing could have been done twoweeks ago, when they first came. It would have seemed that the step wasdetermined before his coming, and that in my independence I would notalter my plans. But to do it now were to show fear of him; and that isnot my way.
"Go, Agostino. Let me have the night to think. I know not how to act.But we will talk again to-morrow."
It was best so; best leave it to the night to bring counsel, for we wereface to face with grave issues which might need determining sword inhand.
That I slept little will be readily conceived. I plagued my mindwith this matter of Cosimo's suit, thinking that I saw the ultimateintent--to bring Pagliano under the ducal sway by rendering master of itone who was devoted to Farnese.
And then, too, I would think of that other thing that Cavalcanti hadsaid: that I had been hasty in my judgment of his daughter's mind. Myhopes rose and tortured me with the suspense they held. Then came to methe awful thought that here there might be a measure of retribution,and that it might be intended as my punishment that Cosimo, whom I hadunconsciously bested in my sinful passion, should best me now in thispure and holy love.
I was astir betimes, and out in the gardens before any, hoping, I think,that Bianca, too, might seek the early morning peace of that place, andthat so we might have speech.
Instead, it was Giuliana who came to me. I had been pacing the terracesome ten minutes, inhaling the matutinal fragrance, drawing my handsthrough the cool dew that glistened upon the boxwood hedges, when I sawher issue from the loggia that opened to the gardens.
Upon her coming I turned to go within, and I would have passed herwithout a word, but that she put forth a hand to detain me.
"I was seeking you, Agostino," she said in greeting.
"Having found me, Madonna, you will give me leave to go," said I.
But she was resolutely ba
rring my way. A slow smile parted her scarletlips and broke over that ivory countenance that once I had deemed solovely and now I loathed.
"I mind me another occasion in a garden betimes one morning when youwere in no such haste to shun me."
I crimsoned under her insolent regard. "Have you the courage toremember?" I exclaimed.
"Half the art of life is to harbour happy memories," said she.
"Happy?" quoth I.
"Do you deny that we were happy on that morning?--it would be just aboutthis time of year, two years ago. And what a change in you since then!Heigho! And yet men say that woman is inconstant!"
"I did not know you then," I answered harshly.
"And do you know me now? Has womanhood no mysteries for you since yougathered wisdom in the wilderness?"
I looked at her with detestation in my eyes. The effrontery, the easeand insolence of her bearing, all confirmed my conviction of her uttershamelessness and heartlessness.
"The day after... after your husband died," I said, "I saw you in a dellnear Castel Guelfo with my Lord Gambara. In that hour I knew you."
She bit her lip, then smiled again. "What would you?" answered she."Through your folly and crime I was become an outcast. I went in dangerof my life. You had basely deserted me. My Lord Gambara, more generous,offered me shelter and protection. I was not born for martyrdom anddungeons," she added, and sighed with smiling plaintiveness. "Are you,of all men, the one to blame me?"
"I have not the right, I know," I answered. "Nor do I blame you morethan I blame myself. But since I blame myself most bitterly--since Idespise and hate myself for what is past, you may judge what my feelingsare for you. And judging them, I think it were well you gave me leave togo."
"I came to speak of other than ourselves, Ser Agostino," she answered,all unmoved still by my scorn, or leastways showing nothing of whatemotions might be hers. "It is of that simpering daughter of my Lord ofPagliano."
"There is nothing I could less desire to hear you talk upon," said I.
"It is so very like a man to scorn the thing I could tell him after hehas already heard it from me."
"The thing you told me was false," said I. "It was begotten of fearto see your own base interests thwarted. It is proven so by thecircumstance that the Duke has sought the hand of Madonna Bianca forCosimo d'Anguissola."
"For Cosimo?" she cried, and I never saw her so serious and thoughtful."For Cosimo? You are sure of this?" The urgency of her tone was suchthat it held me there and compelled my answer.
"I have it from my lord himself."
She knit her brows, her eyes upon the ground; then slowly she raisedthem, and looked at me again, the same unusual seriousness and alertnessin every line of her face.
"Why, by what dark ways does he burrow to his ends?" she mused.
And then her eyes grew lively, her expression cunning and vengeful. "Isee it!" she exclaimed. "O, it is as clear as crystal. This is the Romanmanner of using complaisant husbands."
"Madonna!" I rebuked her angrily--angry to think that anyone shouldconceive that Bianca could be so abused.
"Gesu!" she returned with a shrug. "The thing is plain enough if youwill but look at it. Here his excellency dares nothing, lest he shouldprovoke the resentment of that uncompromising Lord of Pagliano. But onceshe is safely away--as Cosimo's wife..."
"Stop!" I cried, putting out a hand as if I would cover her mouth. Thencollecting myself. "Do you suggest that Cosimo could lend himself to soinfamous a compact?"
"Lend himself? That pander? You do not know your cousin. If you have anyinterest in this Madonna Bianca you will get her hence without delay,and see that Pier Luigi has no knowledge of the convent to which she isconsigned. He enjoys the privileges of a papal offspring, and there isno sanctuary he will respect. So let the thing be done speedily and insecret."
I looked at her between doubt and horror.
"Why should you mistrust me?" she asked, answering my look. "I have beenfrank with you. It is not you nor that white-faced ninny I would serve.You may both go hang for me, though I loved you once, Agostino." And thesudden tenderness of tone and smile were infinitely mocking. "No, no,beloved, if I meddle in this at all, it is because my own interests arein peril."
I shuddered at the cold, matter-of-fact tone in which she alluded tosuch interests as those which she could have in Pier Luigi.
"Ay, shrink and cringe, sir saint," she sneered. "Having cast me offand taken up holiness, you have the right, of course." And with that shemoved past me, and down the terrace-steps without ever turning her headto look at me again. And that was the last I ever saw of her, as youshall find, though little was it to have been supposed so then.
I stood hesitating, half minded to go after her and question her moreclosely as to what she knew and what she did no more than surmise. Butthen I reflected that it mattered little. What really mattered was thather good advice should be acted upon without delay.
I went towards the house and in the loggia came face to face withCosimo.
"Still pursuing the old love," he greeted me, smiling and jerking hishead in the direction of Giuliana. "We ever return to it in the end,they say; yet you had best have a care. It is not well to cross my LordPier Luigi in such matters; he can be a very jealous tyrant."
I wondered was there some double meaning in the words. I made shift topass on, leaving his taunt unanswered, when suddenly he stepped up to meand tapped my shoulder.
"One other thing, sweet cousin. You little deserve a warning at myhands. Yet you shall have it. Make haste to shake the dust of Paglianofrom your feet. An evil is hanging over you here."
I looked into his wickedly handsome face, and smiled coldly.
"It is a warning which in my turn I will give to you, you jackal," saidI, and watched the expression of his countenance grow set and frozen,the colour recede from it.
"What do you mean?" he growled, touched to suspicion of my knowledge bythe term I had employed. "What things has that trull dared to..."
I cut in. "I mean, sir, to warn you. Do not drive me to do more."
We were quite alone. Behind us stretched the long, empty room, before usthe empty gardens. He was without weapons as was I. But my manner wasso fierce that he recoiled before me, in positive fear of my hands, Ithink.
I swung on my heel and pursued my way.
I went above to seek Cavalcanti, and found him newly risen. Wrapped ina gown of miniver, he received me with the news that having given thematter thought, he had determined to sacrifice his pride and removeBianca not later than the morrow, as soon as he could arrange it. And toarrange it he would ride forth at once.
I offered to go with him, and that offer he accepted, whereafter Ilounged in his antechamber waiting until he should be dressed, andconsidering whether to impart to him the further information I had thatmorning gleaned. In the end I decided not to do so, unable to bringmyself to tell him that so much turpitude might possibly be plottingagainst Bianca. It was a statement that soiled her, so it seemed to me.Indeed I could scarcely bear to think of it.
Presently he came forth full-dressed, booted, and armed, and we wentalong the corridor and out upon the gallery. As side by side we weredescending the steps, we caught sight of a singular group in thecourtyard.
Six mounted men in black were drawn up there, and a little in theforeground a seventh, in a corselet of blackened steel and with a steelcap upon his head, stood by his horse in conversation with Farnese. Inattendance upon the Duke were Cosimo and some three of his gentlemen.
We halted upon the steps, and I felt Cavalcanti's hand suddenly tightenupon my arm.
"What is it?" I asked innocently, entirely unalarmed. "These arefamiliars of the Holy Office," he answered me, his tone very grave. Inthat moment the Duke, turning, espied us. He came towards the staircaseto meet us, and his face, too, was very solemn.
We went down, I filled by a strange uneasiness, which I am sure wasentirely shared by Cavalcanti.
"Evil tidings, my Lord of Paglian
o," said Farnese. "The Holy Office hassent to arrest the person of Agostino d'Anguissola, for whom it has beenseeking for over a year."
"For me?" I cried, stepping forward ahead of Cavalcanti. "What has theHoly Office to do with me?"
The leading familiar advanced. "If you are Agostino d'Anguissola, thereis a charge of sacrilege against you, for which you are required toanswer before the courts of the Holy Office in Rome."
"Sacrilege?" I echoed, entirely bewildered--for my first thought hadbeen that here might be something concerning the death of Fifanti,and that the dread tribunal of the Inquisition dealing with the mattersecretly, there would be no disclosures to be feared by those who hadevoked its power.
The thought was, after all, a foolish one; for the death of Fifanti wasa matter that concerned the Ruota and the open courts, and those, as Iwell knew, did not dare to move against me, on Messer Gambara's account.
"Of what sacrilege can I be guilty?" I asked.
"The tribunal will inform you," replied the familiar--a tall, sallow,elderly man.
"The tribunal will need, then, to await some other opportunity," saidCavalcanti suddenly. "Messer d'Anguissola is my guest; and my guests arenot so rudely plucked forth from Pagliano."
The Duke drew away, and leaned upon the arm of Cosimo, watching. Behindme in the gallery I heard a rustle of feminine gowns; but I did not turnto look. My eyes were upon the stern sable figure of the familiar.
"You will not be so ill-advised, my lord," he was saying, "as to compelus to use force."
"You will not, I trust, be so ill-advised as to attempt it," laughedCavalcanti, tossing his great head. "I have five score men-at-armswithin these walls, Messer Black-clothes."
The familiar bowed. "That being so, the force for to-day is yours, asyou say. But I would solemnly warn you not to employ it contumaciouslyagainst the officers of the Holy Office, nor to hinder them in the dutywhich they are here to perform, lest you render yourself the object oftheir just resentment."
Cavalcanti took a step forward, his face purple with anger that thistipstaff ruffian should take such a tone with him. But in that instant Iseized his arm.
"It is a trap!" I muttered in his ear. "Beware!"
I was no more than in time. I had surprised upon Farnese's mottled facea sly smile--the smile of the cat which sees the mouse comeventuring from its lair. And I saw the smile perish--to confirm mysuspicions--when at my whispered words Cavalcanti checked in hisrashness.
Still holding him by the arm, I turned to the familiar.
"I shall surrender to you in a moment, sir," said I. "Meanwhile,and you, gentlemen--give us leave apart." And I drew the bewilderedCavalcanti aside and down the courtyard under the colonnade of thegallery.
"My lord, be wise for Bianca's sake," I implored him. "I am assured thathere is nothing but a trap baited for you. Do not gorge their bait asyour valour urges you. Defeat them, my lord, by circumspection. Do younot see that if you resist the Holy Office, they can issue a ban againstyou, and that against such a ban not even the Emperor can defend you?Indeed, if they told him that his feudatory, the Lord of Pagliano,had been guilty of contumaciously thwarting the ends of the HolyInquisition, that bigot Charles V would be the first to deliver you overto the ghastly practices of that tribunal. It should not need, my lord,that I should tell you this."
"My God!" he groaned in utter misery. "But you, Agostino?"
"There is nothing against me," I answered impatiently. "What sacrilegehave I ever committed? The thing is a trumped-up business, conceivedwith a foul purpose by Messer Pier Luigi there. Courage, then, andself-restraint; and thus we shall foil their aims. Come, my lord, I willride to Rome with them. And do not doubt that I shall return very soon."
He looked at me with eyes that were full of trouble, indecision inevery line of a face that was wont to look so resolute. He knew himselfbetween the sword and the wall.
"I would that Galeotto were here!" cried that man usually soself-reliant. "What will he say to me when he comes? You were a sacredcharge, boy."
"Say to him that I will be returning shortly--which must be true. Come,then. You may serve me this way. The other way you will but have toendure ultimate arrest, and so leave Bianca at their mercy, which isprecisely what they seek."
He braced himself at the thought of Bianca. We turned, and in silencewe paced back, quite leisurely as if entirely at our ease, for all thatCavalcanti's face had grown very haggard.
"I yield me, sir," I said to the familiar.
"A wise decision," sneered the Duke.
"I trust you'll find it so, my lord," I answered, sneering too.
They led forward a horse for me, and when I had embraced Cavalcanti,I mounted and my funereal escort closed about me. We rode across thecourtyard under the startled eyes of the folk of Pagliano, for thefamiliars of the Holy Office were dread and fearful objects even to thestoutest-hearted man. As we neared the gateway a shrill cry rang out onthe morning air:
"Agostino!"
Fear and tenderness and pain were all blent in that cry.
I swung round in the saddle to behold the white form of Bianca, standingin the gallery with parted lips and startled eyes that were gazing afterme, her arms outheld. And then, even as I looked, she crumpled and sankwith a little moan into the arms of the ladies who were with her.
I looked at Pier Luigi and from the depths of my heart I cursed him, andI prayed that the day might not be far distant when he should be made topay for all the sins of his recreant life.
And then, as we rode out into the open country, my thoughts were turnedto tenderer matters, and it came to me that when all was done, that cryof Bianca's made it worth while to have been seized by the talons of theHoly Office.