WEwenthomerathertroubled.Savellowaswalkingalone,veryangry,withaheavyfrownbetweenhiseyes,refusingtospeak....Checcowassilentandangrytoo,halfblaminghimselfforwhathehaddone,halfglad,andBartolomeoMoratiniwasbyhisside,talkingtohim.MatteoandIwerebehindwiththechildren.Bartolomeofellbackandjoinedus.
'IhavebeentryingtopersuadeCheccotoapologisetoSavello,buthewillnot.'
'NeitherwouldI,'saidMatteo.
'Iftheyquarrel,itwillbetheworseforthetown.'
'IfIwereChecco,Iwouldsaythatthetownmightgotothedevil,butIwouldnotapologisetothatdamnedpriest.'
WhenwereachedthePalazzoOrsiaservantcameouttomeetus,andtoldCheccothatamessengerwaswaitingwithimportantnews.CheccoturnedtoSavello,andsaidgloomily,—
'Willyoucome?Itmayneedsomeconsultation.'
Theprotonotarydidnotanswer,butwalkedsulkilyintothehouse.Afterafewminutes,Checcocametous,andsaid,—
'TheDukeofMilanismarchingagainstForliwithfivethousandmen.'
Noonespoke,buttheexpressionontheprotonotary'sfacegrewdarker.
'Itisfortunatewehavepreservedthechildren,'saidBartolomeo.'Theywillbemoreusefultousalivethandead.'
Savellolookedathimandthen,asiftryingtomendthebreach,butratheragainsthiswill,saidungraciously,—
'Perhapsyouwereright,Checco,inwhatyoudid.Ididnotseeatthemomentthepoliticalwisdomofyouract.'
Hecouldnothelpthesneer.Checcoflushedalittle,butonalookfromBartolomeoanswered,—
'IamsorryifIwastooquickoftongue.Theexcitementofthemomentandmytempermademescarcelyresponsible.'
Checcolookedasifitwereaverybitterpillhehadbeenforcedtoswallowbutthewordshadareasonableeffect,andthecloudsbegantoclearaway.Anearnestdiscussionwascommencedonthefuturemovements.Thefirstthingwastosendf