nkIcare?YoucantellhimthatIconsiderhiscaptainaveryimpertinentruffian.Now,letmego.'
'YoushallnotpasstillIchoose.'
'ByGod!man,'Isaid,absolutelybesidemyself,'itseemsIcannottouchyouhere,butifeverwemeetinCittàdiCastello—'
'Iwillgiveyouanysatisfactionyouwish,'heansweredhotly.
'Satisfaction!Iwouldnotsoilmyswordbycrossingitwithyours.IwasgoingtosaythatifeverwemeetinCastelloIwillhaveyouwhippedbymylacqueysinthepublicplace.'
Ifeltaferociouspleasureinthrowingthewordsofcontemptinhisface.
'Comeon,'saidMatteo'wecannotwasteourtimehere.'
Weputthespurstoourhorses.Thesoldierslookedtotheircaptaintoseewhethertheyshouldstopus,buthegavenoorder,andwepassedthrough.Whenwegotoutside,Matteosaidtome,—
'Girolamomustbeplanningsomething,orErcolewouldnothavedaredtodothat.'
'Itisonlytheimpotentangerofafoolishman,'Ianswered.'TheCountwillprobablybeveryangrywithhimwhenhehearsofit.'
Werodeafewmiles,andthenMatteoturnedback.WhenIfoundmyselfaloneIheavedagreatsighofrelief.Iwasfreeforawhileatleast....AnotherepisodeinmylifewasfinishedIcouldforgetit,andlookforwardtonewthings.
AsIrodeon,theMarchwindgotintomybloodandsentitwhirlingmadlythroughmyveins.Thesunwasshiningbrightlyandcoveredeverythingwithsmilesthefruittreeswereallinflower—apples,pears,almonds—thedaintybudscoveredthebrancheswithasnowofpinkandwhite.Thegroundbeneaththemwasbespatteredwithnarcissiandanemones,theveryolivetreeslookedgay.Alltheworldlaughedwithjoyatthebrightspringmorning,andIlaughedlouderthantherest.Idrewinlongbreathsofthekeenair,anditmademedrunk,sothatIsetthespurstomyhorseandgallopedwildlyalongthesilentroad.
IhadmadeupmymindtoforgetGiulia,andIsucceeded,forthechangingscenestookmeawayfrommyself,andIwasintentontheworldatlarge.ButIcouldnotcommandmydr