Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 2, 2025
Getting up from this tribute, he was faced by Cesare Borgia and his men; by Cesare who, used to such stratagems as this of late, had had the whole story out of Ludovic at Milan, and forestalled Nona by buying up the troop of "Centaurs" before ever he entered the city. Thus had Amilcare been sold by his own purchase, and thus Grifone griped in his own springe.
Before they went to bed he had a little guarded talk with his Duchess, half excusation of his absence which might have aggravated her alarms, half condemnation of Amilcare; the whole, consequently, a veiled eulogy of himself. Molly was very quiet at first, subdued and miserable, but sincerely grateful.
To see her thus, a mute, a block, maddened Amilcare. He clenched his fists. "Yes, Madam" his words bit the air "you shall charm this enemy of mine, if you please; this assassin, this ravener of other men's goods. You shall charm him in the way you best know you and your nation. Bentivoglio I excused you: he was not worth your pains. Borgia I shall not excuse you.
He said nothing, nor got any greeting; but he placed a little phial on the table, and waited. Amilcare looked at it, did not touch it. It was a very small phial, half full of a clear liquid. "You prepared it yourself, Grifone?" Grifone nodded pleasantly. "Then I may rest assured ?" "You may, my lord." "I will ask you to make all arrangements, Grifone.
You will never do here, nor should ever have come a lamb among our Lombard wolves. Had you no English lover, to kill Amilcare and prevent it?" Molly thought of Gregory Drax, who had been upon the North seas at the time. Gregory Drax used to lean over the garden gate chewing straws. This he did by the hour together, to the perfect satisfaction of himself and understanding of the neighbours.
Amilcare, riding like Castor, at one with his horse, went out at the head of his court to meet him. The Centaurs lined the way with a hedge of steel. Hat in hand, the Duke of Nona rode back with his guest to the garlanded gates. There, a fluttered choir, all virgins and all white, strewed flowers; from that point to the Piazza Grande one song came leaping on the heels of another.
You shall be called Principessa della Pace, who heal all sorrow and strife by the light of your face." "I humbly thank your Grace," said Molly, very grateful; but Amilcare dropped upon one knee. "Splendour," says he, "deign to visit our poor house in Nona, if you would learn what willing service is." "My friend, be sure of me," said the Borgia, and meant it. "Do you bid me come, Princess?"
Amilcare's tact must have deserted him, since he could let this simple slave turn critic. But the part, in any case, was difficult. Presently the Duke threw him a hasty phrase, a sort of pish, man! which cut him off in the midst of a period, and walked towards Molly in the doorway. Amilcare flew before on tenterhooks. Cesare came graciously on it was curious to see how his face had cleared.
But Grifone was at Borgo jigging his dolls and listening to Cicero, and Amilcare lost his head. He pooh-poohed the whole affair; Molly grew pale, stopped crying. Amilcare began to feel himself come, come, she was reasonable after all. He condescended to explain the fine uses of Italian statecraft, the wife's part, the husband's part. He was most explicit; Molly grew white, ended by fainting.
He worked best with a bludgeon which, as it did brute's work, might be brutishly handled. So far well he might trust Amilcare to wreck himself. Unfortunately, it seemed only too likely he might involve Molly in the mess. The ladies of Nona were gay and free too free. Molly recoiled visibly, more than once. The men were worse.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking