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I had an excellent night's rest, and was very ready for my chocolate at eight o'clock in the morning. Whilst I was sipping this, expecting every moment the arrival of my servant with my clothes, clean linen, letters, and a barber, I heard the key turn in the lock, and made sure that it was Federigo.
The only general of his day who can bear comparison with him for purity of public life and decency in conduct was Federigo di Montefeltro. Even here, the comparison redounds to Colleoni's credit; for he, unlike the Duke of Urbino, rose to eminence by his own exertion in a profession fraught with peril to men of ambition and energy.
He scarcely took any food, so that in four days he ate only a small quantity of bread, Federigo, observing his anxiety, said to him, "Cosmo, you are afraid of being poisoned, and are evidently hastening your end with hunger. You wrong me if you think I would be a party to such an atrocious act.
At the close of his life, when captain-general of the Italian league, he drew in war 165,000 ducats of annual stipend, 45,000 being his own share; in peace, 65,000 in all. As a Condottiere, Federigo was famous in this age of broken faith for his plain dealing and sincerity.
Now at this he gave me a troubled look and fell to pacing to and fro. "A hard man and cunning!" quoth he, as to himself. "The Church ah, the power of the Church! Yet must I get you safe away, but how how?" "Nay, Don Federigo, never trouble." "Trouble, Senor? Ah, think you I count that? My life is yours, Don Martino, and joyfully do I risk it "
At last she paused to unlock a door and presently her voice reached me, high and imperious as ever: "Greeting, Don Federigo! The ship's afire and 'tis an ill thing to burn, so do I bring you kinder death!" Creeping to the door of this lock-up, I saw she had set down the lanthorn and stood above the poor fettered captive, the pistol in her hand.
"'Tis an Indian poison I have met with ere this very sudden and deadly. Fra Alexo stands at the tribunal of his God!" and baring his head, Don Federigo glanced down at the dark, contorted shape and thence to the gloomy trees beyond, and beckoning, brought me to a boat moored under the bank hard by. "Senor Martino," said he, "'tis time you were gone, for if Don Alexo hath turned out the guard "
But he helped him on the strength of that comradeship which among these reprobates has its inviolable laws; and further than that, there was something akin to a personal friendship existing between them. Federigo was decidedly interesting.
'Federigo, says his biographer, Muzio, 'maintained a suite so numerous and distinguished as to rival any royal household. The chivalry of Italy flocked to Urbino in order to learn manners and the art of war from the most noble general of his day.
Still the other inmates of the house appeared to have great respect for her; and it was evident that she held the threads of whatever business they might have on hand. The señorita was out all the morning with the old mulatto woman, making purchases for the house, Federigo said, and informing herself as to what activity was being shown in their pursuit.
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