THEfirstthingIhaddoneonreturningtothePalazzoOrsiwastostripmyselfofmypurpleandfinelinen,shavemybeardandmoustache,cutmyhairshort,putontheclothesofaserving-man,andlookatmyselfinamirror.IfIhadmetinthestreettheimageIsawIshouldhavepassedonwithoutrecognisingit.StillIwasnotdissatisfiedwithmyself,andIsmiledasIthoughtthatitwouldnotbetooextraordinaryifalady'swenchlostherhearttosuchaserving-man.
IwenttotheoldOrso'sapartments,andfoundeverythingquietIlaydownonacouchoutsidethedoorsandtriedtosleepbutmythoughtstroubledme.Mymindwaswiththesadhorsemengallopingthroughthenight,andIwonderedwhatthemorrowhadinstoreforthemandme.Iknewapricewouldbesetuponmyhead,andIhadtoremainhereinthemidstofmyenemiesastheonlyprotectionofanoldmanofeighty-five.
InalittlewhileIheardthebellswhichtoldthetownthattheconspiratorshadfled,andatlastIfellintoarestlesssleep.AtsixIwasawakenedbyahurryandbustleinthehouse....TheservantstoldoneanotherthatCheccohadgone,andtheCountesswouldcomeoutofthefortressinalittlewhileandthenGodonlyknewwhatwouldhappen.Theycoweredabout,whispering,takingnonoticeofthenewserving-manwhohadappearedinthenight.TheysaidthatthePalacewouldbegivenovertothevengeanceofthepeople,thattheservantswouldsufferinsteadofthemasterandsoononeofthemgavethesignalhesaidhewouldnotstay,andsincehiswageshadnotbeenpaidhewouldtakethemwithhim.Hefilledhispocketswithsuchvaluablesashecouldfind,andgoingdownabackstaircaseslidoutofalittlesidedoorandwaslostinthelabyrinthofstreets.Theotherswerequicktofollowhisexample,andthePalacewassubjectedtoalootinginminiaturetheoldstewardstoodby,wringinghishands,buttheypaidnoattentiontohim,thinkingonlyoftheirsafetyandtheirpockets.Beforethesunhadhadtimetoclearawaytheearlymists,theyhadallfledandbesidestheoldman,thehousecontainedonlythewhite-hairedsteward,aboyoftwenty,hisnephew,andmyselfandCheccohadbeensuchasweetandgen