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Updated: May 3, 2025
The man whom his cruel mockery crucified for their entertainment was Lazzaro Biancomonte, whom he revealed to them, relating in his own fashion the tale I have told you. "At that I rebelled, and I said such things to him in that hour, before all his Court, as a man may not say to a prince and live.
And there they left me to my ugly thoughts and my deeply despondent mood what time the Governor of Cesena supped with his officers in the hall of the Castle. Ramiro drank deep that night as was his habit, and being overladen with wine it entered his mind that in one of his dungeons lay Lazzaro Biancomonte, who, at one time, had been known as Boccadoro, the merriest Fool in Italy.
And while they were doing his bidding, he turned to me and ordered the executioner beside me to unbind my hands and set me at liberty. "I owe you a heavy debt, Messer Biancomonte," he said, without any warmth, even now that his voice was laden with a message of gratitude. "It shall be discharged.
At heart, I fear, you are a hypocrite, Messer Biancomonte; the worst form of hypocrite a hypocrite to your own self." "Did your Excellency know all!" I cried. "I know enough," he answered, with stern sorrow; "enough to make me marvel that the son of Ettore Biancomonte of Biancomonte should play the Fool to Costanzo Sforza, Lord of Pesaro.
Money I had in plenty, for when I pleased him the Lord Giovanni's vails were often handsome, and much of my earnings went to my poor mother, who would sooner have died starving than have bought herself bread with those ducats could she have guessed at what manner of trade Lazzaro Biancomonte had earned them.
"In recompense for the service you have rendered me this day," said he, and my heart thrilled at the words and at the thought of the joy which I was about to bear to my old mother, "I reinvest you in your lands of Biancomonte for so long as you are content to recognise in me your overlord, and to be loyal, true and faithful to my rule."
His fingers combed his auburn beard, and his beautiful eyes were full on mine. "That was a wise precaution of my sister's," he approved. "I will take a lesson from her in the matter. I have employment for you, Messer Biancomonte." I bowed my head in token of my gratitude. "You shall find me diligent and faithful, my lord," I promised him. "I know it," he sniffed, "else should I not employ you."
"Messer Biancomonte," said she coldly, "I have ever accounted you my friend, and disinterested the motives that inspired a heart seemingly noble to do service to a forlorn and helpless lady. It seems that I was wrong. That the indulging of a warped and malignant spirit was the inspiration you had to appear to befriend me."
But he elected to spare my life, yet on such terms as I could never have accepted had it not been for the consideration of my poor widowed mother, whom I had left in the hills of Biancomonte whilst I went forth to seek my fortune such was the tale I had told her. I was her sole support, her only hope in life; and my death must have been her own, if not from grief, why, then from very want.
That silvery streak was the River Foglia; that heap of buildings against the landscape's virgin white, the town of Pesaro. Madonna pointed to it with a sudden cry of gladness. "See Messer Biancomonte, how near we are. Courage, my friend; a little farther, and yonder we have rest and comfort for you." She had need, in truth, to cry me "Courage!" for I was weakening fast once more.
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