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We crossed an antechamber whose heavy carpet muffled our footsteps, and we halted before tapestry curtains that masked a door, Here, curbing my fierce impatience, I paused. I signed to the five attendant soldiers to come no farther; then I consigned the courtier who had guided us to the care of Falcone, and I restrained Cavalcanti, who was shaking from head to foot.
True there was also Falcone to overhear, appreciate, and grin under cover of his great brown hand. "Does this mean that you are come to your senses on the score of a stipend, Ser Galeotto?" quoth the Duke. "I am not a trader out of the Giudecca to haggle over my wares," replied the burly condottiero. "But I nothing doubt that your magnificence and I will come to an understanding at the last."
And with Falcone at his heels he advanced, the horses relinquished to the grooms who had hastened forward. "Upon business that concerns me?" quoth the Duke, intrigued. "Why, yes," said Galeotto, who stood now face to face with Farnese at the foot of the steps up which the Duke's attendants were straggling.
"It is the hour," he said very pregnantly. "His sands are swiftly running out. To-morrow, Agostino, you ride with me to Piacenza. Falcone shall remain here to captain the men in case any attempt should be made upon Pagliano, which is not likely."
Coldly he returned the salutation, his prominent eyes regarding me from out of that florid, crafty countenance. On my left, but high up the room and immediately at right angles to the judges' tables, sat Galeotto, full-armed. He was flanked on the one side by Fra Gervasio, who greeted me with a melancholy smile, and on the other by Falcone, who sat rigid.
Our talks were naturally of my father, and it was through Falcone that I came to know something of the greatness of that noble-souled, valiant gentleman, whom the old servant painted for me as one who combined with the courage of the lion the wiliness of the fox.
The Duke, fleeing like a scared rat before the anger of Cavalcanti, scuttled down the room to a small door in the wall that held the fire-place. He tore it open and sprang through, Cavalcanti following recklessly. There was a snarl and a cry, and the Lord of Pagliano staggered back, clutching one hand to his breast, and through his fingers came an ooze of blood. Falcone ran to him.
And whether from force of example, whether from the memories that came to me so poignantly in that moment of a fine strong man with a brown, shaven face and a jovial, mighty voice, who had promised me that one day we should ride together, I fell a-weeping too. When the tale was done, my mother coldly gave orders that Falcone be cared for, and went to pray, taking me with her.
Fortunato answered him with the utmost coolness: "Your gun is empty, and there are no more cartridges in your belt." "I have my stiletto." "But can you run as fast as I can?" He gave a leap and put himself out of reach. "You are not the son of Mateo Falcone! Will you then let me be captured before your house?" The child appeared moved.
It is certain that he painted the portrait of the famous Masaniello more than once, and he is believed to have joined the Compagnia della Morte, of which Falcone, one of his masters, was the captain. Salvator made many enemies by his independence and his inclination to satire.
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