Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: July 11, 2025
There was a stir in the guardhouse, and two or three men of the absurd garrison my mother kept there shuffled in the doorway, whilst a burly fellow in leather with a sword girt on him thrust his way through and hurried forward, limping slightly. In the dark, lowering face I recognized my old friend Rinolfo, and I marvelled to see him thus accoutred.
I was Lord of Mondolfo, as I had said, and they should know and feel it from this hour all of them, not excepting my mother. But I reckoned without the hatred Rinolfo bore me. Instead of the prompt obedience that I had looked for, he had turned again to my mother. "Is it your wish, Madonna?" he inquired. "It is my wish that counts, you knave," I thundered and advanced upon him.
Not ten yards away she stood, a tall black figure against the grey background of the lichened wall, with Giojoso in attendance and Rinolfo slinking behind his father, leering. The sight of my mother startled me more than I can say. It filled me with a positive dread of things indefinable.
Giojoso fell to trembling; behind him, Rinolfo, the cause of all this garboil, stared with round big eyes; whilst my mother, all a-quiver, clutched at her bosom and looked at me fearfully, but spoke no word. I smiled upon them, towering there, conscious and glad of my height for the first time in my life. "Well?" I demanded of Giojoso. "For what do you wait?
We keep a garrison of a score of men at least sufficient to compel him to depart." "He will return again with more," said Rinolfo. "Does that concern you?" I snapped. "Let him return with what he pleases. To-day I enrol more forces from the countryside, take up the bridge and mount our cannon. This is my lair and fortress, and I'll defend it and myself as becomes my name and blood.
"God reward you your sweet thought for me. I shall pray for you, Madonnino." "Do, Luisina," said I. "I begin to think I need it." "Indeed, indeed!" said my mother very sombrely. And as she spoke, Luisina, as if her fears were reawakened, turned suddenly and went quickly along the terrace, past Rinolfo, who in that moment smiled viciously, and round the angle of the wall.
"Blasphemer, begone!" she cried again; and her voice was hoarse with suppressed anger. And then the door was suddenly flung open, and Rinolfo clanked in, very martial and important, his hand thrusting up his sword behind him. "Madonna," he announced, "the Captain of Justice from Piacenza is here." There was a moment's silence after Rinolfo had flung that announcement.
But he fronted me intrepidly. "I hold my office from my Lady the Countess. I obey none other here." "Body of God! Do you defy me?" I cried. "Am I Lord of Mondolfo, or am I a lackey in my own house? You'ld best obey me ere I break you, Ser Rinolfo. We shall see whether the men will take my orders," I added confidently. The faintest smile illumined his dark face.
Her petticoat, of dark red homespun, stopped short above her bare brown ankles, and her little feet were naked. Her brown hair, long and abundant, was still fastened at the nape of her slim neck, but fell loose beyond that, having been disturbed, no doubt, in her scuffle with Rinolfo. Her little mouth was deeply red and it held strong young teeth that were as white as milk.
O, into what a morass of sin has he not fallen, and every moment he goes deeper! Have I not said that he is possessed? We shall need the exorcist." "We shall indeed, madam mother, to clear your mind of foolishness," I answered hotly, for it stung me to the soul to be branded thus a liar, to have my word discredited by that of a lout such as Rinolfo. She rose a sombre pillar of indignation.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking