lyasadog.IwillnotendureitbyGod!Iwillnot.'Heclenchedhisfistsashespoke,tremblingwithrage.
'Andyouknowhowhehasservedme,'saidChecco.'Ihavelenthimsomuchthathehasnotthefacetoaskformoreandhowdoyouthinkhehasrewardedme?BecauseIhavenotpaidcertainduesIowetheTreasury,hesentasherifftodemandthem,andwhenIsaidIwouldnotpaythematthatmoment,hesentforme,andhimselfaskedforthemoney.'
'Whatdidyoudo?'
'Iremindedhimofthemoneyheowedme,andheinformedmethataprivatedebthadnothingtodowithadebttotheState,andsaidthatImustpayorthelawshouldtakeitscourse.'
'Hemustbemad,'saidMatteo.
'Heismad,madwithpride,madinhisextravagance.'
'Itellyou,'saidLodovico,'itcannotbeendured.'
'Andtheytellmethathehassaidmytonguemustbesilenced,'addedChecco.'TheotherdayhewastalkingtoGiuseppeAlbicina,andhesaid"LetCheccobewarehemaygotoofarandfindthehandofthemasternotsogentleasthehandofthefriend!"'
'I,too,haveheardhimsaythingswhichsoundedlikethreats,'saidAlessandro.
'Wehaveallheardit,'addedLodovico.'Whenhistemperovercomeshim,hecaresnotwhathesays,andonediscoversthenwhatheandhissilentwifehavebeenplottingbetweenthem.'
'Now,sir,'interruptedChecco,speakingtome,'youseehowthingsstand:weareonthinground,andthefireisragingbeneathus.Youmustpromisenottoseekfurtherquarrelwiththiscountrymanofyours,thisErcolePiacentini.HeisoneofGirolamo'schiefestfavourites,andhewouldnotbeartoseehimtouchedifyouhappenedtokillhim,theCountwouldtaketheopportunitytohaveusallarrested,andweshouldsufferthefateofthePazziatFlorence.Willyoupromise?'
'Ipromise,'Ianswered,smiling,'todefermysatisfactiontoafitteropportunity.'
'Now,gentlemen,'saidChecco,'wecanseparate.'
WebadeoneanotherGood-nightAlessandro,ashewasgoing,saidtoMatteo,'Youmustbringyourfriendtomysisterto-morrowshewillbegladtoseeyouboth.'
Wesaidweshouldbeenchanted,andAlessandroandLodovicoPansecchileftus.
MatteolookedatCheccomeditatively.
'Cousin,'hesa