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Updated: June 15, 2025
Francesco Monsignori, the son of Alberto, was born at Verona in the year 1455; and when he was well grown he was advised by his father, who had always delighted in painting, although he had not practised it save for his own pleasure, to give his attention to design.
'I am too busy to wait so long, objected the young man. 'My dear good woman, do you know who I am? 'Perfectly, sir. You are Don Alberto Altieri, His Eminence's nephew. 'Well, then, you need not make so much trouble about letting me in, my dear, for this is my own house, and a lady may surely see her landlord on a matter of business!
There was nothing very remarkable about Alberto except that charm of his. He was dark, he had straight black hair, and tolerably regular features, like many young Romans; he was neither tall nor short, nor exceptionally well made, and of the three young gentlemen who accompanied the ex-Queen on her sight-seeing excursion, he was the least ostentatiously dressed.
He sprang to his feet, and there was a flash of light in his eyes, and his hands trembled; for he was behind her, and the temptation to catch her in his arms was almost too strong for him. At that moment the door opened without any warning knock. 'The master is coming up the stairs, said Pina quietly, and instantly she disappeared again. Don Alberto started, but Ortensia was calm.
He understood instantly how she had mistaken his action, and what the question had been which he had not heard. 'No, no! he cried energetically. 'He is alive and well! He insisted on going back to the palace to wait for Don Alberto when he came home from the Lateran to catch you in your rooms! Instead, the villain tracked you here and got in.
At the mere thought she often turned very pale and bent nearly double, as if she felt bodily pain. For of all things, she feared that most. Sooner than suffer it again she would betray Ortensia into Alberto Altieri's hands, as she had almost forced her into Stradella's arms in order to be revenged on Pignaver himself. 'I have been thinking, she said after a long pause.
He was very angry, and at each phrase his hand unconsciously tightened its hold on Ortensia's waist, as if to emphasise what he was saying; and though he said little enough, she felt that his blood was up, and that it would be ill for Don Alberto to meet him in his present mood.
'I am grateful to your ladyship, said Don Alberto in the same jesting tone, 'but, with your leave, I distinguish, as they taught me to say in the schools when I was nearly entrapped into a fallacy by a clever antagonist! 'But I am neither your antagonist nor clever, objected Ortensia, fencing gaily; 'therefore you need not make any fine distinctions!
'If you think I will give you any money in hand for such a silly offer, you take me for a fool, retorted Don Alberto. 'I ask nothing in advance. How much will you give me in cash for the lady when I hand her over to you? I am in earnest. Name your price. 'What is yours? 'A thousand gold florins and the Pope's pardon, said Tommaso boldly.
Ten minutes after the hunchback had left the palace Don Alberto knocked at the door of the small apartment halfway down the grand staircase. Pina opened almost immediately, not suspecting anything, but started in surprise when she saw who the visitor was. 'I desire to speak with the Lady Ortensia, said Don Alberto suavely.
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