ISEEMEDtohavesleptabarehalf-hourwhenIwasawakenedbyagreatnoisedownstairs.Igotup,andlookingoutofthewindowsawacrowdgatheredinthestreetbelowtheyweretalkingandgesticulatingfuriously.ThenIrememberedtheoccurrenceofthenight,andIsawthatthenewshadspreadandthesewerecitizenscometogatherdetails.Iwentdownstairsandfoundthecourtyardthronged.ImmediatelyIwassurroundedbyanxiouspeopleaskingfornews.VerycontraryreportshadcirculatedsomesaidthatCheccohadbeenkilledoutright,othersthathehadescaped,whilemostassertedthathewaswounded.AllaskedforChecco.
'Ifheisunhurt,whydoeshenotshowhimself?'theyasked.
Aservantassuredthemthathewasdressing,andwouldbewiththematonce....Suddenlytherewasashout.Checcohadappearedatthetopofthestairs.Theyrushedtowardshim,surroundinghimwithcriesofjoytheyseizedhishand,theyclungtohislegs,someofthemtouchedhimallovertoseethathewasindeedunwounded,otherskissedthelappetsofhiscoat....BartolomeoMoratinienteredthecourtwithhissons,andthepeopleshrunkbackashecameforwardandembracedChecco.
'ThankGodyouaresaved!'hesaid.'ItwillbeanevildayforForliwhenanythinghappenstoyou.'
Thepeopleansweredinshouts.Butatthatmomentanothersoundwasheardwithout—alongandheavymurmur.Thepeoplesurroundingthedoorwaylookedoutandturnedinastonishmenttotheirneighbours,pointingtothestreetthemurmurspread.Whatwasit?
'Makeway!Makeway!'
Astridentvoicecalledoutthewords,andusherspushedthepeopleaside.Alittletroopofmenappearedintheentrance,andastheysankbacktheresteppedforwardtheCount.TheCount!Checcostarted,butimmediatelyrecoveringhimselfadvancedtomeethisvisitor.Girolamowalkeduptohim,andtakinghiminhisarmskissedhimonthecheeks,andsaid,—
'MyChecco!MyChecco!'
Wewhoknewandtheotherswhosuspectedlookedonwithastonishment.
'AssoonasIheardtheterriblenewsIrushedto