NEXTdayIinsistedongettingup.Andreahelpedmetodress,andwewentouttogether.
'Noonewouldmistakeyouforagentlemanto-day,'helaughed.
Myclotheswereshabbyenoughinthefirstinstance,andinthescuffleofthepreviousdaytheyhadreceivedusagewhichdidnotimprovethemmoreover,Ihadatwodays'beard,andmyheadmuffledupinbandages,sothatIcouldwellimaginethatmyappearancewasnotattractive.ButIwastoosoreathearttosmileathisremark,ormakeretort.Icouldnothelpthinkingoftheterriblescenewhichawaitedus.
Wefoundthepiazzacrowded.OppositetheRiarioPalacewaserectedastageonwhichwereseats,butthesewereempty.Theskywasblue,thesunshonemerrilyonthepeople,andtheairwassoftandwarm.Naturewasfullofpeaceandgoodwillbutinmen'sheartswaslustofblood....AflourishoftrumpetsannouncedtheapproachofCaterinaandhersuite.Amidringingcheerssheenteredthesquare,accompaniedbyherhalf-brother,theDukeofMilan,andbytheProtonotarySavello.Theytooktheirseatsontheplatform,theDukeonherright,Savelloonherleft.Sheturnedtothepriestandtalkedmostamiablytohimhesmiledandbowed,buthisagitationwasshownbythetwitchingofhishandsfidgetingwiththelappetofhiscloak.
Abeatingofdrumswasheard,followedbyasuddensilence.Aguardofsoldiersenteredthepiazza,trampingsteadilywithheavyfootstepsthentwostepsbehindthemasinglefigure,withoutadoublet,hatless,hisshirtalltorn,hishandstiedbehindhisback.ItwasMarcoScorsacana.Thefoulmobbrokeoutintoayellatthesightofhimhewalkedslowly,butwithhisheadproudlyerect,payingnoheedtothehootingandhissingwhichranginhisears.Oneachsidewalkedabarefootedmonk,bearingacrucifix....Hewasfollowedbyanothertroopofsoldiers,andafterthemcameanotherbare-headedfigure,hishandsalsotiedbehindhisbackbuthekepthisheadbentoverhischestandhiseyesfixedontheground,shrinkingattheyellsofderision.PoorPietro!He,too,wasaccompaniedbythesolemnmonkstheprocessionwasfinishedbythedrummers,beatingtheirdrumsincessantly,maddeningly.
Theya