findyou,'saidtheCount.'Areyousafe—quitesafe?'
Heembracedhimagain.
'YoucannotthinkwhatagonyIsufferedwhenIheardyouwerewounded.HowgladIamitwasnottrue.Oh,GodinHeaven,IthankTheeformyChecco!'
'Youareverykind,mylord,'answeredourfriend.
'Butitissomeconsolationthatthemiscreantshavemettheendwhichtheydeserved.Wemusttakestepstofreethetownofallsuchdangerouspersons.Whatwillmensayofmyrulewhenitisknownthatthepeacefulcitizencannotwalkhomeatnightwithoutdangertohislife?Oh,Checco,Iblamemyselfbitterly.'
'Youhavenocause,mylord,but—woulditnotbewelltoexaminethementoseeiftheyareknowninForli?Perhapstheyhaveassociates.'
'Certainlytheideawasinmymind.Letthembelaidoutinthemarket-placesothatallmayseethem.'
'Pardon,sir,'saidoneofhissuite,'buttheywerelaidintheChurchofSanSpiritolastnight,andthismorningtheyhavedisappeared.'
MatteoandIlookedatoneanother.CheccokepthiseyesfixedontheCount.
'Disappeared!'criedthelatter,displayingeverysignofimpatience.'Whoisresponsibleforthis?Offerarewardforthediscoveryoftheirbodiesandofanyaccomplices.Iinsistontheirbeingdiscovered!'
Shortlyafterwardshetookhisleave,afterrepeatedlykissingChecco,andwarmlycongratulatingMatteoandmyselfontheassistancewehadgiventoourfriend.Tomehesaid,—
'Iregret,MesserFilippo,thatyouarenotaForlivese.Ishouldbeproudtohavesuchacitizen.'
BartolomeoMoratiniwasstillatthePalazzoOrsi,so,seizingmyopportunity,Itookhimbythearmandwalkedwithhimtothestatuegallery,wherewecouldtalkinpeace.
'Whatdoyouthinkofallthis?'Isaid.
Heshookhishead.
'Itisthebeginningoftheend.OfcourseitiscleartoallofusthattheassassinationwasorderedbytheCounthewillpersuadenobodyofhisinnocencebyhispretendedconcern.Allthetowniswhisperinghisname.
'Havingmadeafirstattemptandfailed,hewillnothesitatetomakeasecond,fo