NEXTdaytherewasasecretmeetingofthecouncil,ofwhichneitherChecconorhisfriendsknewanything.ButitleakedoutthattheyhadbeendiscussingtermswhichLodovicohadoffered.AndtheDuke'sproposalwasthatRiario'schildrenshouldbesurrenderedtohimandthetownruledbyacommission,appointedpartlybyhim,partlybytheForlivesi.Aboutmid-dayaservantcameandtoldusthatNiccoloTornielliandtheothermembersofthecouncilwerebelow,seekingadmission.Checcowentdown,andassoonashesawhimNiccolosaid,—
'Checco,wehavedecidedthatitwillbebetterforustohavechargeofthechildrenofCountGirolamoandthereforewehavecometosummonyoutogivethemintoourhands.'
Checco'sanswerwasshortandpointed.
'Ifthatisallyoucamefor,Niccolo,youcango.'...
AtthisAntonioSassibrokein,—
'Weshallnotgowithoutthechildren.'
'IimaginethatdependsonmeandIintendtokeepthechildren.'
'Takecare,Checcorememberthatyouarenotourmaster.'
'Andwhoareyou,Antonio,Ishouldliketoknow?'
'IamamemberofthecouncilofForli,justasyouarenomore,noless.'
'No,'saidChecco,furiously'Iwilltellyouwhomyouare.YouarethemiserablecurwhopanderedtothetyrantandhelpedhimtooppressthepeoplewhichIliberatedandthepeoplespatuponyou!YouarethemiserablecurwhofawneduponmewhenIhadkilledthetyrant,andinyourslavishadulationyouproposedtomakemerulerinhissteadandIspatuponyou!AndnowyouareafraidagainandyouaretryingtomakepeacewiththeDukebybetrayingme,anditisfromyouthatcomethepropositionstogivemeuptoLodovico.Thatiswhatyouare!Lookatyourselfandbeproud!'
Antoniowasabouttogiveaheatedanswer,butNiccolointerruptedhim.
'Bequiet,Antonio!Now,Checco,letushavethechildren.'
'Iwillnot,Itellyou!Isavedtheirlives,andtheyareminebyright.TheyareminebecauseIkilledtheCountbecauseItookthemprisonersbecauseIholdthemandbecausetheyarenecessaryformysafety.'
'Theyarenecessaryforoursafe