shedarednotharmthelegateofthePope,heclothedhimselfinallhiscourageandhismostgorgeousrobes,andproceededtothecathedral.
Whenshesawhimshelifteduptwofingersandsaidsolemnly,—
'ThepeaceofGodbeuponyou!'
Then,beforehecouldrecoverhimself,shewenton,—
'Sir,ithasalwaysbeenmyhopethatIshouldsomedaymeetthegentlemanwhosefamehasreachedmeasthemosttalented,mostbeautifulandmostvirtuousofhisday.'
'Madam—'heinterrupted.
'Sir,Ibeseechyoubravelytobearyourevilfortunes.Doyounotknowthatfortuneisuncertain?Ifthecityhasbeentakenfromyou,itisthewillofGod,andasaChristianyoumustwithresignationsubmityourselftoHisdecrees.'
Itwasthebeginningofherrevenge,andonecouldseehowsweetitwas.ThecourtiersweresniggeringatCaterina'sspeech,andSavellowasthepictureofdiscomfort.
'MesserSavello,'sheproceeded,'onapreviousmeetingyoumademesomeveryexcellentadmonitionsonthewillofGodnow,notwithstandingyourorder,Iamgoingtobesoboldastogiveyousomeequallyexcellentlessonsonthesamesubject.Ifyouwilltakeyourplacebymyside,youwillhaveeveryopportunityofexaminingthewaysoftheAlmighty,which,asyoumayrememberyouremarked,areinscrutable.'
Savellobowedandadvancedtotheplacepointedouttohim.