WEwenttothefortressinsolemnprocession,thepeople,aswepassed,minglingshoutsofpraiseforCheccowithyellsofderisionforCaterina.Shewalkedonwithherstatelyindifference,andwhentheprotonotaryaddressedher,repelledhimwithdisdain.
TheCastellanwassummoned,andtheCountessaddressedhiminthewordswhichSavellohadsuggested,—
'AsHeavenhastakentheCountfromme,andalsothecity,Ibegyou,bytheconfidenceIshowedinchoosingyouasCastellan,tosurrenderthisfortresstotheministersofHisHolinessthePope.'
Therewasalighttingeofironyinhervoice,andherlipsshowedtheshadowofasmile.
TheCastellanrepliedgravely,—
'BytheconfidenceyoushowedinchoosingmeasCastellan,IrefusetosurrenderthisfortresstotheministersofhisHolinessthePope.AndasHeavenhastakentheCountfromyou,andalsothecity,itmaytakethecitadeltoo,but,byGod!madam,nopoweronearthshall.'
CaterinaturnedtoSavello,—
'WhatshallIdo?'
'Insist.'
Shesolemnlyrepeatedherrequest,andhesolemnlymadehisreply.
'Itisnogood,'shesaid,'Iknowhimtoowell.HethinksIamspeakingundercompulsion.HedoesnotknowthatIamactingofmyownwill,forthegreatloveIbearthePopeandtheChurch.'
'Wemusthavethecitadel,'saidSavello,emphatically.'Ifwedonotgetit,Icannotanswerforyoursafety.'
Shelookedathimthenanideaseemedtooccurtoher.
'PerhapsifIwentinandspoketohimhewouldconsenttosurrender.'
'Wecannotallowyououtofourpower,'saidChecco.
'Youwouldhavemychildrenashostages.'
'Thatistrue,'musedSavello'Ithinkwecanlethergo.'
Checcodisapproved,butthepriestoverruledhim,andtheCastellanwassummonedagain,andorderedtoadmittheCountess.Savellowarnedher,—
'Rememberthatweholdyourchildren,andshallnothesitatetohangthembeforeyoureyesif—'
'IknowyourChristianspirit,Monsignor,'sheinterrupted.
Butwhenshewasinsidesheturnedtous,andfromtherampartsaddresseduswithmockinglaughter.Thefurywhichhadbeenboilingwithinherburstout.Shehurledatuswordsoffoulabuse,sothatonemighthavethoughtherafishwifeshethreateneduswithdeath,andeverykindoftorture,