ty,too,andwe,thecouncilofForli,summonyou,Checcod'Orsi,tosurrenderthem.'
'AndI,Checcod'Orsi,refuse!'
'Thenweshalltakethembyforce.'
NiccoloandAntoniosteppedforward.Checcowhippedouthissword.
'ByGod,IswearIwillkillthefirstmanwhocrossesthisthreshold!'
Graduallythepeoplehadcollected,tillbehindthecouncillorstherewasaformidablecrowd.Theywatchedwitheagernessthedispute,hailingwithjoytheopportunityofhumiliatingtheiroldhero.TheyhadbrokenoutinmockinglaughterwhileCheccowasrailingatAntonio,nowtheyshouted,—
'Thechildren!Surrenderthechildren!'
'Iwillnot,Itellyou!'
Theybegantohootandhiss,callingCheccofoulnames,accusinghimofcausingalltheirtroubles,naminghimtyrantandusurper.Checcostoodlookingatthem,tremblingwithrage.Niccolosteppedforwardoncemore.
'Givethemup,Checco,oritwillbetheworseforyou.'
'AdvanceonestepfurtherandIwillkillyou!'
Thepeoplegrewsuddenlyexasperatedashowerofstonesfellonus,andone,strikingChecco,causedalongstreakofbloodtoflowdownhisforehead.
'Giveusthechildren!Giveusthechildren!'
'Wewillcalltheguard,'saidAntonio.
'Thechildren!'shoutedthemob.'Hewillkillthem.Takethemfromhim.'
Therewasarushfrombehindthecouncillorsandtheirsupportersweredrivenforwardtheyweremetbyourdrawnswordsinanothermomentitwouldhavebeentoolate,andagainsttwohundredweshouldhavebeenhelpless.SuddenlyBartolomeoappearedattheheadofthegreatstaircasewiththeboys.
'Stop!'hecried.'Herearethechildren.Stop!'
Checcoturnedroundtohim.
'Iwillnothavethemgivenup.Takethemaway!'
'Ihaveneveraskedyouanythingbefore,Checco,'saidBartolomeo'IhavealwaysdoneasyoucommandedbutthistimeIimploreyoutogiveway.'
Ijoinedmywordstohis.
'Youmustgiveway.Weshallallbemassacred.'
Checcostoodforamomentundecided,then,withoutspeaking,heturnedintoaroomlookingonthecourt.Wetooki