rifhecouldforgivetheinjurywhichhehasreceivedfromChecco,hecanneverforgivetheinjurywhichhehimselfhasdonehim.Andnexttimehewillnotfail.'
'Iamterriblyconcerned,'Isaid.'YouknowthegreataffectionIhaveforboththeOrsi.'
Hestoppedandwarmlyshookmyhand.
'IcannotletCheccothrowawayhislifeinthisway,'Isaid.
'Whatcanbedone?'
'Onlyonething,andyousuggestedit....Girolamomustbekilled.'
'Ah,butCheccowillneverconsenttothat.'
'Iamafraidnot,'Isaidgravely.'Youknowthedelicacyofhisconscience.'
'YesandthoughIthinkitexcessive,Iadmirehimforit.InthesedaysitisraretofindamansohonestanduprightandconscientiousasChecco.But,MesserFilippo,onemustyieldtotheideasoftheageonelivesin.'
'I,too,amconvincedofhisnoble-mindedness,butitwillruinhim.'
'Iamafraidso,'sighedtheoldman,strokinghisbeard.
'Buthemustbesavedinspiteofhimself.HemustbebroughttoseethenecessityofkillingtheCount.'IspokeasemphaticallyasIcould.
'Hewillneverconsent.'
'Hemustconsentandyouarethemantomakehimdoso.HewouldnotlistentoanythingthatMatteoorIsaid,butforyouhehasthegreatestrespect.Iamsureifanyonecaninfluencehimitisyou.'
'Ihavesomepoweroverhim,Ibelieve.'
'Willyoutry?Don'tlethimsuspectthatMatteoorIhavehadanythingtodowithit,orhewillnotlisten.Itmustcomesolelyfromyou.'
'Iwilldomybest.'
'Ah,thatisgoodofyou.Butdon'tbediscouragedbyhisrefusalsbeinsistent,foroursake.Andonethingmore,youknowhisunselfishnesshewouldnotmovehishandtosavehimself,butifyoushowedhimthatitisforthegoodofothers,hecouldnotrefuse.Lethimthinkthesafetyofusalldependsonhim.Heisamanyoucanonlymovebyhisfeelingforothers.'
'Ibelieveyou,'heanswered.'ButIwillgotohim,andIwillleavenoargumentunused.'
'Iamsurethatyoureffortswillberewarded.'
HereIshowedmyselfaperfectlywiseman,forIonlyprophesiedbecauseIknew.