GodtheytalkedofDivinevengeanceforthemurderoftheCount,andwhenCheccohurriedtothesceneofthefiretheydidnotcaretorestrainthemselvesanylonger,butbrokeoutintoyellsandhisses.Afterwards,whentheflameshadbeenextinguishedandCheccowaspassingthroughthepiazza,theysurroundedhim,hooting,andwouldnotlethimpass.
'Curs!'hehissed,lookingatthemfuriously,withclenchedfists.Then,asifunabletocontainhimselfhedrewhissword,shouting,—
'Letmepass!'
Theyshrankbackandhewenthisway.Butimmediatelyhehadgonethestormredoubled,andtheplacerangwiththeircries.
'ByGod,'saidChecco,'howwillinglyIwouldturnthecannononthemandmowthemdownlikegrass!'
Theywerethefirstwordshehadsaidofthechangeoffeeling....
Itwasthesamewithus,whenwewalkedthroughthestreets—MatteoandIandtheMoratini—theyhissedandgroanedatus.Andaweekbeforetheywouldhavelickedourbootsandkissedthegroundwetrodon!
Thebombardmentcontinued,outsideandin,anditwasreportedthroughthetownthatLodovicohadvowedtosacktheplaceandhangeverythirdcitizen.Theyknewhewasthemantokeephisword.Themurmursbegantogrowevenlouder,andvoiceswereheardsuggestingasurrender....Ithadoccurredtoallofthem,andwhenthemosttimid,driventoboldnessbytheirfear,spoketheword,theylookedatoneanotherguiltily.Theygatheredtogetherinlittleknots,talkinginundertones,suspicious,stoppingsuddenlyiftheysawnearanyonewhowasknowntobeinfavourofthepartyofLiberty.Theydiscussedhowtomaketermsforthemselvessomesuggestedgivingupthetownunconditionally,othersproposedanagreement.AtlasttheyspokeofappeasingtheDukebyhandingovertohimtheseventeenconspiratorswhohadplannedthemurderofGirolamo.Thethoughtfrightenedthematfirst,buttheysoonbecameusedtoit.TheysaidtheOrsihadreallyhadnothoughtofthecommongood,butitwasfortheirprivateendsthattheyhadkilledtheCountandbroughtthisevilonthetown.TheyrailedagainstCheccoformakingthemsufferforhisownambitiontheyhadlaudedhimtotheskiesforrefusingthesovereig