United States or Bahrain ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"So much protesting where no doubt has been expressed," said Fra Gervasio, "in itself casts a doubt upon your good faith. Are you not Cosimo d'Anguissola my lord's cousin and heir?" "I am," said he, "yet that has no part in this, sir friar." "Then let it have part. Let it have the part it should have. Will you bear one of your own name and blood to the gallows?
"We seek Messer Cosimo d'Anguissola," I answered. He looked beyond me at the troop that lined the street, and his face became troubled. "Why, what is amiss?" quoth he. "Fool, I shall tell that to your master. Conduct me to him. The matter presses." "Nay, then but have you not heard? My lord was wed to-day. You would not have my lord disturbed at such a time?" He seemed to leer.
Shall your name be dragged in the foul mire of scandal? The wife of Cosimo d'Anguissola a runagate with her husband's cousin? Shall the world say that?" She moaned, and covered her face with her hands. Then she controlled herself again, and looked at me almost fiercely. "Do you care so much for what men say?" "I am thinking of you." "Then think of me to better purpose, my Agostino.
"Thus is Giovanni d'Anguissola at last avenged!" he said to me in a deep voice that thrilled me. "I would that he were here to know," I answered. And again Galeotto's eyes grew wistful as they looked at me. We won out of the town at last, and when we came to the high ground beyond the river, we saw in the plain below phalanx upon phalanx of a great army. It was Ferrante Gonzaga's Imperial force.
Assuredly it would have suffered it but for the influence exerted on my mother's and my own behalf by her brother, the powerful Cardinal of San Paulo in Carcere, seconded by that guelphic cousin of my father's, Cosimo d'Anguissola, who, after me, was heir to Mondolfo, and had, therefore, good reason not to see it confiscated to the Holy See.
Tcha!" he interrupted, tapping her shoulder sharply. "I had no thought for letters. There is my Lord Gambara, and there is Messer Cosimo d'Anguissola, and there is Messer Caro. There is even Pordenone, the painter." His lips writhed over their names. "You have friends enough, I think. Leave, then, Ser Agostino here. Do not dispute him with God to whom he has been vowed."
"If you are Agostino d'Anguissola, there is a charge of sacrilege against you, for which you are required to answer before the courts of the Holy Office in Rome." "Sacrilege?"
Similarly I was no more than conscious of being forced to face the Duke by words that Cavalcanti was uttering. He was presenting me. "This, my lord, is Agostino d'Anguissola." I saw, as through a haze, the swarthy, pustuled visage frown down upon me.
"The tribunal will need, then, to await some other opportunity," said Cavalcanti suddenly. "Messer d'Anguissola is my guest; and my guests are not so rudely plucked forth from Pagliano." The Duke drew away, and leaned upon the arm of Cosimo, watching. Behind me in the gallery I heard a rustle of feminine gowns; but I did not turn to look. My eyes were upon the stern sable figure of the familiar.
And they added that by wedding her to Cosimo d'Anguissola was the way to execute that plan, for Cosimo, Lord of Mondolfo already, should receive Carmina as a wedding-gift from the Duke." "Was such indeed your intention?" I asked scarce above a whisper, overawed as men are when they perceive precisely what their folly and wickedness have cost them.
Word Of The Day