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Updated: June 28, 2025
And now between him and Lanciotto there stood no more than the broad bulk of Ercole Fortemani, his back to the Count; for, as yet, he had not realised the interruption. Francesco dropped his whip, and setting one hand at the captain's girdle, and the other at his dirty neck, he hoisted him up with a strength incredible, and hurled him from his path and into the slimy water of the tank.
Three sentries only had been left to guard the tents, and of these Fortemani and a couple of his men had made prisoners whilst the others were removing the bridge by which the invaders had entered. And now beneath the open postern by the drawbridge gaped a surging torrent that no man would have the hardihood to attempt to swim.
"The matter stands thus: If I can repair to certain friends of mine with the information that an affair is afoot, the particulars of which I may not give them, but in which I am to lead them myself, sharing such risk as there may be, I do not doubt but that by this time to-morrow I can have a score of them enrolled such is their confidence in Ercole Fortemani.
"Captain Fortemani," she cried, almost angrily, "will you restrain your prisoner? I wish to pass." Ercole, with visible reluctance, laid a hand on Francesco's shoulder; but it was unnecessary. Before her words, the Count recoiled as if he had been struck. He stood clear of her path with a gasp at once of unbelief and angry resignation.
As on the previous day, Valentina answered the summons, attended by Francesco, Fortemani and Gonzaga the latter uninvited yet not denied, and following sullenly in her train, in a last, despairing attempt to assert himself one of her captains. Francesco had put on his harness, and came arrayed from head to foot in resplendent steel, to do worthy honour to the occasion.
He is not the only one known to me," Peppino added, "There was Ercole Fortemani, a great, dirty, blustering ruffian whom I never saw in aught but rags, riding at their heads in garments of most unwonted wholeness; and there was Romeo Gonzaga, whom I never knew to stir by night save to an assignation. Strange things must be happening in Urbino."
With a wondering glance at the courtier's white, twitching face, the unfortunate young man went down on all fours to do his bidding. After all poor fellow! he was hardly intelligent as Fortemani opined. "There is nothing, Excellency," he said. "The plaster is cracked. But Ah!" In a panic of haste Gonzaga had whipped the dagger from its sheath and sunk it into the middle of Aventano's broad back.
Swayed by his will and by an intuition that told her that to whatever end he might be working, he was working wisely, Valentina gave Fortemani the assurance Francesco begged, and Gonzaga was forced grudgingly to follow her example. Fortemani bowed low, his face pale and his limbs trembling as not even fear had made them tremble.
"Nay, I hold Messer Gonzaga's an ill counsel. Show mercy to Fortemani now, where he expects none, and you will have made a faithful servant of him. I know his kind." "Ser Francesco speaks without the knowledge that we have, Madonna," was Gonzaga's rude comment. "An example must be made if we would have respect and orderliness from these men."
"Who are you that come thus accoutred into God's House to interrupt the holy Mass?" cried the bass voice of the friar. "Patience, good father," answered Francesco calmly, "The occasion is our justification." "What does this mean, Fortemani?" demanded Valentina imperiously, her eyes angrily set upon her captain, utterly ignoring the Count. "Do you betray me too?"
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