tysurgedtotheendofthepiazzatoseewhatwashappening.ThenitwasseenthatCaterinawasapproaching.Sheenteredtheplace,andalleyeswerefixeduponher.Asusual,shewasmagnificentlyattiredherneckandhandsandarms,herwaistbandandheadgear,shonewithjewelsshewasaccompaniedbyseveralofherladiesandtwoorthreesoldiersasguard.Thecrowdseparatedtoletherpass,andshewalkedproudlybetweentheserriedrowsofpeople,herheadupliftedandhereyesfixedstraightinfront,asifshewereunawarethatanyonewaslookingather.Afewobsequiouslytookofftheirhats,butmostgavenogreetingallaroundherwassilence,afewmurmurs,anoathortwomutteredunderbreath,butthatwasall.Shewalkedsteadilyon,andenteredthePalacegates.Atonceathousandvoicesburstforth,andafterthedeadlystillnesstheairseemedfilledwithconfusedsounds.Cursesandimprecationswerehurledonherfromeverysidetheyrailedatherpride,theycalledherfoulnames....Sixyearsbefore,whenshehappenedtocrossthestreets,thepeoplehadhurriedforwardtolookather,withjoyintheirheartsandblessingsontheirlips.Theyvowedtheywoulddieforher,theywereinecstasiesathergraciousness.
IwenthomethinkingofallthesethingsandofDonnaGiulia.IwasratheramusedatmyunintentionalkissIwonderedifshewasthinkingofme....Shereallywasacharmingcreature,andIwasgladattheideaofseeingheragainonthemorrow.Ilikedhersimple,ferventpiety.Shewasinthehabitofgoingregularlytomass,andhappeningtoseeheroneday,Iwasstruckwithherdevoutair,fulloffaithshealsowenttoconfessionalfrequently.Itwasratherabsurdtothinkshewastheperversebeingpeoplepretended....
WhenIreachedthePalazzoOrsiIfoundthesameexcitementasoutsideinthepiazza,Girolamohadheardofthedisputeintheloggia,andhadsentforCheccotohearhisviewsonthesubjectofthetax.Theaudiencewasfixedforthefollowingmorningateleven,andasChecconeverwentanywherewithoutattendants,ScipioneMoratini,Giulia'ssecondbrother,andIwereappointedtoaccompanyhim.Mat