ANDsomylifewentonforalittlewhile,filledwithpleasureandamusement.Iwascontentedwithmylot,andhadnowishforchange.Thetimewentby,andwereachedthefirstweekinApril.GirolamohadorganisedagreatballtocelebratethecompletionofhisPalace.Hehadstartedlivinginitassoonastherewerewallsandroof,buthehadspentyearsonthedecorations,takingintohisservicethebestartistshecouldfindinItalyandnowatlasteverythingwasfinished.TheOrsihadbeeninvitedwithpeculiarcordiality,andonthenightwebetookourselvestothePalace.
Wewalkedupthestatelystaircase,amasterpieceofarchitecture,andfoundourselvesintheenormoushallwhichGirolamohaddesignedespeciallyforgorgeousfunctions.Itwasablazewithlight.Atthefurtherend,onalowstage,leduptobythreebroadsteps,underada?s,onhigh-backed,goldenchairs,satGirolamoandCaterinaSforza.Behindthem,inasemicircle,andonthestepsateachside,weretheladiesofCaterina'ssuite,andanumberofgentlemenattheback,standinglikestatues,arowofmen-at-arms.
'Itisalmostregal!'saidChecco,pursinguphislips.
'ItisnotsopoorathingtobetheLordofForli,'answeredMatteo.Fueltothefire!
Weapproached,andGirolamo,ashesawus,roseandcamedownthesteps.
'Hail,myChecco!'hesaid,takingbothhishands.'Tillyouhadcometheassemblywasnotcomplete.'
MatteoandIwenttotheCountess.Shehadsurpassedherselfthisnight.Herdresswasofclothofsilver,shimmeringandsparkling.Inherhairwerediamondsshininglikefirefliesinthenightherarms,herneck,herfingersglitteredwithcostlygems.Ihadneverseenherlooksobeautiful,norsomagnificent.Letthemsaywhattheyliked,CheccoandMatteoandtherestofthem,butshewasborntobeaqueen.HowstrangethatthisoffspringoftheroughCondottiereandthelewdwomanshouldhaveamajestysuchasoneimaginesofamightyempressdescendedfromcountlesskings.
Shetookthetroubletobeparticularlygracioustous.Meshecomplimentedonsomeversesshehadseen,andwasveryflatteringinreferencetoapastoralplaywhichIhadarranged.Shecouldnotcongra