ghing.
'Ireallymust!'Iansweredgravely.
'Youreallymustn't,'repliedChecco.'Wecan'tspareyou,Filippo.'
'There'snogreathurryaboutyourgoinghome,'headded,whenIhadexplainedmyreasons,'andIfancythatsoonweshallwantyouhere.Agoodswordandabraveheartwillprobablybeofgoodusetous.'
'Everythingisasquietasacemetery,'Isaid,shruggingmyshoulders.
'Itisquietabovebutbelowtherearerumblingsandstrangemovements.Ifeelsurethiscalmonlypresagesastorm.ItisimpossibleforGirolamotogoonasheisnowhisdebtsareincreasingeveryday,andhisdifficultieswillsoonbeimpracticable.Hemustdosomething.Thereiscertaintobeadisturbanceatanyattempttoputonthetaxes,andthenHeavenonlyknowswhatwillhappen.'
Iwasbeginningtogetalittlevexedattheiropposition,andIansweredpetulantly,—
'No,Imustgo.'
'Stayanothermonththingsmustcometoaheadbeforethen.'
Amonthwouldhavebeenasbadasayear.
'Iamoutofhealth,'Ianswered'IfeelIwanttogetintoadifferentatmosphere.'
Checcothoughtforamoment.
'Verywell,'hesaid,'wecanarrangematterstosuitusboth.IwantsomeonetogotoFlorenceformetoconcludealittlebusinessmatterwithMesserLorenzode'Medici.Youwouldbeawayafortnightandifyouareoutofsortstherideacrosscountrywillputyouright.Willyougo?'
Ithoughtforamoment.Itwasnotaverylongabsence,butthenewsightswoulddistractme,andIwantedtoseeFlorenceagain.Onthewhole,Ithoughtitwouldsuffice,andthatIcouldcountonthecureofmyillbeforethetimewasup.
'Verywell,'Ianswered.
'Good!Andyouwillhaveapleasantcompanion.IhadtalkedtoScipioneMoratiniaboutititdidnotoccurtomethatyouwouldgo.Butitwillbeallthebettertohavetwoofyou.'
'IfIgo,'Isaid,'Ishallgoalone.'
Checcowasratherastonished.
'Why?'
'Scipioneboresme.IwanttobequietanddoasIlike.'
IwasquitedeterminedthatneitheroftheMoratinishouldcomewithme.TheywouldhaveremindedmetoomuchofwhatIwantedtoforget.
'Asyoulike,'saidChecco.'IcaneasilytellScipionethatIwanthimtodosomethingelseforme.'
'Thanks.'
'Whenwillyoustart?'
'Atonce.'
'Thencome,andIwillgiveyoutheinstructionsandnecessarypapers.'