hadconferredonthetownshowedthemhispresentnecessities,andfinallyaskedthemtore-imposethetaxeswhichhehadtakenoffatthebeginningofhisreign.Theywereallprejudicedagainsthim,formanyofthemhadalreadylenthimmoneyprivately,buttherewassuchacharminhisdiscourse,hewassopersuasive,thatonereallycouldnothelpseeingthereasonablenessofhisdemand.IknowImyselfwouldhavegrantedhimwhateverheasked.'
'Hecanmakeonedoanythinghelikeswhenheoncebeginstalking,'saidLodovico.
'TheCouncilunanimouslyvotedthere-impositionofthetaxes,andGirolamoofferedthemhisthanksinhismostgraciousmanner.'
Therewasasilence,brokenbyMatteo.
'Andthen?'heasked.
'Then,'answeredChecco,'hewenttoImola,andcommencedspendingtherethemoneythathewasgatheringhere.'
'AndwhatdidtheythinkofitinForli?'
'Ah,whenthetimecametopaythetaxestheyceasedtheirpraisesofGirolamo.Firsttheymurmuredbeneaththeirbreath,thenoutloudandsoontheycursedhimandhiswife.TheCountheardofitandcamebackfromImola,thinking,byhispresence,topreservethetowninitsallegiance.Butthefooldidnotknowthatthesightofhimwouldredoubletheangerofthepopulace.Theysawhisgorgeouscostumes,thegoldandsilverdressesofhiswife,thejewels,thefeastingandriotry,andtheyknewthatitcameoutoftheirpocketsthefoodoftheirchildren,allthattheyhadtoiledandworkedfor,wasspentontheinsaneluxuryofthispapalfavouriteandhisbastardwife.'
'Andhowhashetreatedus?'criedLodovico,beatinghisfistviolentlydownonthetable.'IwasinthepayoftheDukeofCalabria,andhemademetemptingoffers,sothatIleftthearmiesofNaplestoenterthepapalserviceunderhim.Andnow,forfouryears,Ihavenotreceivedapennyofmysalary,andwhenIaskhim,heputsmeasidewithgentlewords,andnowhedoesnoteventroubletogivemethem.AfewdaysbackIstoppedhiminthepiazza,and,fallingonmyknees,beggedforwhatheowedme.Hethrewmeviolentlyaway,andsaidhecouldnotpayme—andthejewelonhisbreastwasworthtentimesthemoneyheowedme.Andnowhelooksatmewithfrowns,mewhohaveservedhimfaithful