omurmursofderision.TheChristiansentimentclearlygainedlittlebelieffromthem,andtheyputdowntheCount'sacttofear.Itwasclear,theysaid,thathefoundCheccotoostrongforhim,anddarednothing.Itwasadiscoverythatthemantheyhadsofearedwaswillingtoturntheothercheekwhentheonewassmitten,andtoalltheirformerhatetheyaddedanewhatethathehadcausedthemterrorwithoutbeingterrible.Theyhatedhimnowfortheirownpusillanimity.Themockingsongsgainedforce,andGirolamobegantobeknownasCornuto,theManofHorns.
Borneonthiswaveofcontemptcameanotherincident,whichagainshowedtheCount'sweakness.OntheSundayfollowinghismeetingwithChecco,itwasknownthatGirolamomeanttohearmassatthechurchofSanStefano,andJacopoRonchi,commanderofatroop,stationedhimself,withtwoothersoldiers,toawaithim.WhentheCountappeared,accompaniedbyhiswifeandchildrenandhissuite,Jacopopressedforwardand,throwinghimselfonhisknees,presentedapetition,inwhichheaskedforthearrearsofpayofhimselfandhisfellows.TheCounttookitwithoutspeaking,andpursuedhisway.ThenJacopotookholdofhislegstostophim,andsaid,—
'ForHeaven'ssake,mylord,givemeahearing.Iandtheseothershavereceivednothingformonths,andwearestarving.'
'Letmego,'saidtheCount,'yourclaimshallbeattendedto.'
'Donotdismissme,mylord.Ihavepresentedthreepetitionsbefore,andtononeofthemhaveyoupaidattention.NowIamgettingdesperate,andcanwaitnolonger.Lookatmytatteredclothes.Givememymoney!'
'Letmego,Itellyou,'saidGirolamo,furiously,andhegavehimasweepingblow,sothatthemanfellonhisbacktotheground.'Howdareyoucomeandinsultmehereinthepublicplace!ByGod!Icannotkeepmypatiencemuchlonger.'
Hebroughtoutthesewordswithsuchviolenceofpassionthatitseemedasifinthemexplodedtheangerwhichhadbeengatheringupthroughthistimeofhumiliation.Then,turningfuriouslyonthepeople,healmostscreamed,—
'Makeway!'
Theydarednotfacehisanger,andwithwhitefaces,shrunkback,leavingapathforhimandhispartytowalkthrough.