CHAPTER XIV. THE CITATION
We were breaking our fast upon the following morning when Falcone sentword to me by one of the pages that a considerable force was advancingtowards us from the south.
I rose, somewhat uneasy. Yet I reflected that it was possible that,news of the revolt in Piacenza having reached Parma, this was an armyof Pontificals moving thence upon the rebellious city. But in that case,what should they be doing this side of Po?
An hour later, from the battlements where we paced side by side--Biancaand I--we were able to estimate this force and we fixed its strengthat five score lances. Soon we could make out the device upon theirbannerols--a boar's head azure upon an argent field--my own device, thatof the Anguissola of Mondolfo; and instantly I knew them for Cosimo'smen.
On the lower parapet six culverins had been dragged into position underthe supervision of Falcone--who was still with us at Pagliano. Thesepieces stood loaded and manned by the soldiers to whom I had assignedthe office of engineers.
Thus we waited until the little army came to a halt about a quarter of amile away, and a trumpeter with a flag of truce rode forward accompaniedby a knight armed cap-a-pie, his beaver down.
The herald wound a challenge; and it was answered from the postern by aman-at-arms, whereupon the herald delivered his message.
"In the name of our Holy Father and Lord, Paul III, we summonAgostino d'Anguissola here to confer with the High and Mighty Cosimod'Anguissola, Tyrant of Mondolfo and Carmina."
Three minutes later, to their infinite surprise, the bridge thudded downto span the ditch, and I walked out upon it with Bianca at my side.
"Will the Lord Cosimo come within to deliver his message?" I demanded.
The Lord Cosimo would not, fearing a trap.
"Will he meet us here upon the bridge, divesting himself first of hisweapons? Myself I am unarmed."
The herald conveyed the words to Cosimo, who hesitated still. Indeed, hehad wheeled his horse when the bridge fell, ready to gallop off at thefirst sign of a sortie.
I laughed. "You are a paltry coward, Cosimo, when all is said," Ishouted. "Do you not see that had I planned to take you, I need resortto no subterfuge? I have," I added--though untruthfully--"twice yournumber of lances under arms, and by now I could have flung them acrossthe bridge and taken you under the very eyes of your own men. You wererash to venture so far. But if you will not venture farther, at leastsend me your herald."
At that he got down from his horse, delivered up sword and dagger to hissingle attendant, received from the man a parchment, and came towardsus, opening his vizor as he advanced. Midway upon the bridge we met. Hislips curled in a smile of scorn.
"Greetings, my strolling saint," he said. "Through all your vagaries youare at least consistent in that you ever engage your neighbour's wife tobear you company in your wanderings."
I went hot and cold, red and white by turns. With difficulty Icontrolled myself under that taunt--the cruellest he could have flung atme in Bianca's hearing.
"Your business here?" I snarled.
He held out the parchment, his eyes watching me intently, so that theynever once strayed to Bianca.
"Read, St. Mountebank," he bade me.
I took the paper, but before I lowered my eyes to it, I gave himwarning.
"If on your part you attempt the slightest treachery," I said, "youshall be repaid in kind. My men are at the winches, and they have myorders that at the first treacherous movement on your part they are totake up the bridge. You will see that you could not reach the end of itin time to save yourself."
It was his turn to change colour under the shadow of his beaver. "Haveyou trapped me?" he asked between his teeth.
"If you had anything of the Anguissola besides the name," I answered,"you would know me incapable of such a thing. It is because I know thatof the Anguissola you have nothing but the name, that you are a craven,a dastard and a dog, that I have taken my precautions."
"Is it your conception of valour to insult a man whom you hold as ifbound hand and foot against striking you as you deserve?"
I smiled sweetly into that white, scowling face.
"Throw down your gauntlet upon this bridge, Cosimo, if you deem yourselfaffronted, if you think that I have lied; and most joyfully will I takeit up and give you the trial by battle of your seeking."
For an instant I almost thought that he would take me at my word, asmost fervently I hoped. But he restrained himself.
"Read!" he bade me again, with a fierce gesture. And accounting him wellwarned by now, I read with confidence.
It was a papal brief ordering me under pain of excommunication and deathto make surrender to Cosimo d'Anguissola of the Castle of Pagliano whichI traitorously held, and of the person of his wife, Madonna Bianca.
"This document is not exact," said I. "I do not hold this castletraitorously. It is an Imperial fief, and I hold it in the Emperor'sname."
He smiled. "Persist if you are weary of life," he said. "Surrender now,and you are free to depart and go wheresoever you list. Continue inyour offence, and the consequences shall daunt you ere all is done. ThisImperial fief belongs to me, and it is for me, who am Lord of Paglianoby virtue of my marriage and the late lord's death, to hold it for theEmperor.
"And you are not to doubt that when this brief is laid before theEmperor's Lieutenant at Milan, he will move instantly against you tocast you out and to invest me in those rights which are mine by God'slaw and man's alike."
My answer may, at first, have seemed hardly to the point. I held out thebrief to him.
"To seek the Emperor's Lieutenant you need not go as far as Milan. Youwill find him in Piacenza."
He looked at me, as if he did not understand. "How?" he asked.
I explained. "While you have been cooling your heels in theante-chambers of the Vatican to obtain this endorsement of your infamy,the world hereabouts has moved a little. Yesterday Ferrante Gonzaga tookpossession of Piacenza in the Emperor's name. To-day the Council will beswearing fealty to Caesar upon his Lieutenant's hands."
He stared at me for a long moment, speechless in his utter amazement.Then he swallowed hard.
"And the Duke?" he asked.
"The Duke has been in Hell these four-and-twenty hours."
"Dead?" he questioned, his voice hushed.
"Dead," said I.
He leaned against the rail of the bridge, his arms fallen limply tohis sides, one hand crushing the Pontifical parchment. Then he bracedhimself again. He had reviewed the situation, and did not see that ithurt his position, when all was said.
"Even so," he urged, "what can you hope for? The Emperor himself mustbow before this, and do me justice." And he smacked the document. "Idemand my wife, and my demand is backed by Pontifical authority. You aremad if you think that Charles V can fail to support it."
"It is possible that Charles V may take a different view of the memorialsetting forth the circumstances of your marriage, from that which theHoly Father appears to have taken. I counsel you to seek the ImperialLieutenant at Piacenza without delay. Here you waste time."
His lips closed with a snap. Then, at last, his eyes wandered to Bianca,who stood just beside and slightly behind me.
"Let me appeal to you, Monna Bianca..." he began.
But at that I got between them. "Are you so dead to shame," I roared,"that you dare address her, you pimp, you jackal, you eater of dirt? Beoff, or I will have this drawbridge raised and deal with you here andnow, in despite of Pope and Emperor and all the other powers you caninvoke. Away with you, then!"
"You shall pay!" he snarled, "By God, you shall pay!"
And on that he went off, in some fear lest I should put my threat intoexecution.
But Bianca was in a panic. "He will do as he says." she cried as soon aswe had re-entered the courtyard. "The Emperor cannot deny him justice.He must, he must! O, Agostino, it is the end. And see to what a pass Ihave brought you!"
I comforted her. I spoke brave words. I swore to hold
that castle aslong as one stone of it stood upon another. But deep down in my heartthere was naught but presages of evil.
On the following day, which was Sunday, we had peace. But towards noonon Monday the blow fell. An Imperial herald from Piacenza rode out toPagliano with a small escort.
We were in the garden when word was brought us, and I bade the herald beadmitted. Then I looked at Bianca. She was trembling and had turned verywhite.
We spoke no word whilst they brought the messenger--a brisk fellow inhis black-and-yellow Austrian livery. He delivered me a sealed letter.It proved to be a summons from Ferrante Gonzaga to appear upon themorrow before the Imperial Court which would sit in the Communal Palaceof Piacenza to deliver judgment upon an indictment laid against me byCosimo d'Anguissola.
I looked at the herald, hesitation in my mind and glance. He held out asecond letter.
"This, my lord, I was asked by favour to deliver to you also."
I took it, and considered the superscription:
"These to the Most Noble Agostino d'Anguissola, at Pagliano.
Quickly. Quickly. Quickly."
The hand was Galeotto's. I tore it open. It contained but two lines:
"Upon your life do not fail to obey the Imperial summons. Send Falconeto me here at once." And it was signed--"GALEOTTO."
"It is well," I said to the herald, "I will not fail to attend."
I bade the seneschal who stood in attendance to give the messengerrefreshment ere he left, and upon that dismissed him.
When we were alone I turned to Bianca. "Galeotto bids me go," I said."There is surely hope."
She took the note, and passing a hand over her eyes, as if to clear awaysome mist that obscured her vision, she read it. Then she considered thecurt summons that gave no clue, and lastly looked at me.
"It is the end," I said. "One way or the other, it is the end. Butfor Galeotto's letter, I think I should have refused to obey, and mademyself an outlaw indeed. As it is--there is surely hope!"
"O, Agostino, surely, surely!" she cried. "Have we not suffered enough?Have we not paid enough already for the happiness that should be ours?To-morrow I shall go with you to Piacenza."
"No, no," I implored her.
"Could I remain here?" she pleaded. "Could I sit here and wait? Couldyou be so cruel as to doom me to such a torture of suspense?"
"But if... if the worst befalls?"
"It cannot," she answered. "I believe in God."