tforconsent,andBartolomeohandedthefrightenedchildrentothecouncillors.Ashoutofjoybrokefromthepeopleandtheymarchedoffwiththeirprizeintriumph....
IsoughtCheccoandfoundhimalone.Asheheardtheshoutsofthepeople,asobcamefromhiminthemiseryofhishumiliation.
ButJacopoRonchiandthetwosonsofBartolomeoweresentouttodiscoverwhatwasgoingon.Wecouldnotthinkwhathaddriventhecounciltotheirstepbutwefeltsuretheymusthavegoodreasonsforactingsocourageously.Wefeltalsothatwehadlostallpower,allhope.Thewheelhadturned,andnowwewereatthebottom.Afterseveralhours,AlessandroMoratinicamebackandsaid,—
'Thecouncilhasbeenmeetingagain,andithasbeenreceivingmessengersbutthatisallIknow.Everyonelooksuponmewithanevileyeandbecomessilentatmyapproach.Iaskquestionsandtheysaytheyknownothing,haveseennothing,heardnothing.'
'Brutes!'saidMatteo.
'Andforthesepeopleweriskedourlivesandfortunes!'saidBartolomeo.
Checcolookedathimcuriouslyand,likehim,Ithoughtofourdisinterestedness!Alessandro,havinggivenhisnews,filledaglasswithwineandsatdown.Weallkeptsilence.Thetimewenton,andtheafternoonbegantoclosethehoursseemedinterminable.AtlastJacopoRonchicamepanting.
'Ihavediscoveredeverything,'hesaid.'ThecouncilhasresolvedtosurrenderthetowntotheDuke,whopromises,inreturnforthechildren,toforgiveeverythingandallowthemtorulethemselves,withhalfthecouncilappointedbyhim.'
Wesprangupwithacry.
'Iwillnotallowit,'saidChecco.
'Iftheconspiratorsmakeanydisturbance,theyaretobeoutlawedandapricesetupontheirheads.'
'Howfarhavethenegotiationsgone?'Iasked.
'ThemessengershavebeensenttotheDukenow.'
'Inthatcasethereisnotimetolose,'Isaid.
'Whatdoyoumean?'saidChecco.
'Wemustescape.'
'Escape!'
'OrweshallbetakenaliveandyouknowwhattoexpectfromCaterinaandLodovico.Donotthinkoftheirpromisesofpardon.'