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Updated: May 9, 2025
Gonzaga bowed, and with a vicious glance at the strangers and an angry "Follow me!" to Beltrame and the others, he departed with the men-at-arms at his heels. Valentina remained with Fanfulla and Peppe, whilst Fra Domenico dressed Francesco's wound, and, presently, when the task was accomplished, they departed, leaving Fanfulla amid the Count alone.
Valentina smiled, Peppe laughed outright, whilst even Beltrame and his followers grinned, all of which added not a little to Gonzaga's choler. But scant though his wisdom might be, it was yet enough to dictate prudence. "The presence of Madonna here restrains me," he answered, with elaborate dignity. "But should we meet again, I shall make bold to show you what manhood means."
Under the mask of the polite request Gonzaga detected the mocking, contemptuous note, and it gave fuel to his anger. "I am no page, fool," he answered, then clapping his hands together, he raised his voice to shout "Ola, Beltrame! To me!" "What would you do?" cried the lady, rising to confront him. "Carry this ruffian in bonds to Urbino, as is my duty."
For all that we do not doubt Messer Gonzaga's keen discrimination in judging 'twixt a rogue and an honest man, I do promise you, as surely as though I were Fate herself, that if you obey him now and tie up that gentleman, you will yourself be tied up for it, later on, in a yet uglier fashion." Beltrame looked alarmed, Gonzaga incredulous.
"In my uncle's name, I bid you leave this gentleman where he lies. He is a wounded knight whom I have been pleased to tend a matter which seems to have aroused Messer Gonzaga's anger against him." Beltrame paused, and looked from Valentina to Gonzaga, undecided. "Madonna," said Gonzaga, with assumed humility, "your word is law with us.
"Sir, you may wound your pretty hands in grasping me," replied the Count, in chill indifference. "Ah! You would threaten me with violence, vassal?" cried the other, retreating some paces farther as he spoke. "Beltrame!" he called again. "Are you never coming?" A voice answered him from the thicket, and with a clank of steel a half-dozen men flung themselves into the glade.
The Harlequin Cecchini composed the most ancient treatise on this subject, and was ennobled by the Emperor Matthias; and Nicholas Barbieri, for his excellent acting called the Beltrame, a Milanese simpleton, in his treatise on comedy, tells us that he was honoured by the conversation of Louis XIII., and rewarded with fortune. A sketch of Harlequin's original part is worth recording.
But I would have you consider that, what I bid Beltrame do is in the interest of his Highness, whose territory is infested by these vagabonding robbers. It is a fact that may not have reached you in your convent retreat, no more than has sufficient knowledge reached you yet in your incomparable innocence to distinguish between rogues and honest men. Beltrame, do my bidding."
"Out, fool," cried Gonzaga, cutting at him with his riding-switch, "we need not your capers." "No, but you need my wisdom," retorted Ser Peppe, as he leapt beyond Gonzaga's reach. "Hear me, Beltrame!
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