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And so, in the reality, he turns his back upon the crowd and strolls away, not caring whither he goes until, by a mere accident, he finds himself upon the height of Sant' Onofrio, or standing before the great fountains of the Acqua Paola, or perhaps upon the drive which leads through the old Villa Corsini along the crest of the Janiculum.
There she sate herself, whilst I thanked her for her concern on my behalf, and answered that I was doing well enough, and should be abroad again in a day or two. "Brave lad," she murmured, patting my hand, which lay upon the coverlet, as though she had been my sister and I anything but a Fool, "count me ever your friend hereafter, for what you have done for Madonna Paola.
It was a pretty situation this for the Lord Giovanni, and here were fine opportunities for some brave acting under the eyes of his adored Madonna Paola. How would he bear himself now? I wondered. He promised mighty well once the first shock of the news was overcome.
He obeyed me so well that when the bridge had been let down, he preceded me with a couple of his men and gently but firmly pressed back those that would have approached among the first of whom were Madonna Paola and her brother. "Way!" he shouted. "Make way for the High and Mighty Lord of Pesaro!"
It was two days later that the Lord Giovanni set out for Rome, obedient to the command he had received. But before his departure on the eve of it, to be precise there arrived at Pesaro a very wonderful and handsome gentleman. This was the brother of Madonna Paola, the High and Mighty Lord Filippo di Santafior.
So clear, so true, so rich it was, but wanting a ring to it, the little thrill that goes to the heart. He sings very differently now. Maestro Ercole De Pretis lives in the Via Paola, close to the Ponte Sant' Angelo, in a most decent little house that is, of course, on a floor of a house, as we all do.
I had found some difficulty in answering the general; I found it still more trying to reply to the beautiful Donna Paola.
Cesare Borgia would avenge me, and Madonna Paola, at least, would be safe from this villain. If Mariani could reach Valentino at Faenza, I would answer for it that within four-and-twenty hours Messer Ramiro del' Orca would be the banner on that ghastly beam that he facetiously dubbed his flagstaff; and he would be the blackest, dirtiest banner that ever yet had fluttered there.
They drove me back foot by foot, fighting lustily, and performing it was said afterwards by the anxious ones that watched us from the Castle, among whom was Madonna Paola such deeds of strength and prowess as never romancer sang of in his wildest flight of fancy.
God! was there ever such a coward as this, such a weak-souled, water-hearted dastard? "But you may not be slain," I urged him. And then I sounded a fresh note. "Bethink you of Madonna Paola and of the brave things you promised her." He flushed a little, then paled again, then sat very still. Shame had touched him at last, yet its grip was not enough to make a man of him.
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