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Updated: June 28, 2025
Francesco's father had left him in childhood to the care of his uncle, the Cardinal Hercules, who ruled Mantua with a firm and able hand, increasing the income of the state, spending less upon the ducal stud, and cutting down the number of mouths at the ducal table from eight hundred to three hundred and fifty-one.
At the very moment this was being done for her by proxy, her father was planning another alliance for his daughter. The husband he had selected, Don Gasparo, was also a young Spaniard, son of Don Juan Francesco of Procida, Count of Aversa. This family had probably removed to Naples with the house of Aragon. Don Juan Francesco's mother was Donna Leonora de Procida y Castelleta, Countess of Aversa.
But then, were there any girls better than Loretta, or as good? She helped her mother; she paid her share of the rent to Francesco's father; she gave to the poor box. That she was the sunshine of the Quarter every one knew who heard her sweet, cheery voice.
With Gonzaga the only shadow of doubt that remained to mar the perfect certainty of his success lay in his appreciation of Francesco's daring character and resourceful mind, and now as if the gods were eager to favour him to the very last degree a strange weapon to combat this was unexpectedly thrust into his hand.
How know you that?" "We heard it from the friar," answered Francesco readily. "Then, by the Virgin! we have them. Ola!" He turned from them, and ran shouting into the gatehouse, to re-emerge a moment later with half-dozen soldiers at his heels. "To the Palace," he commanded, and as his men surrounded Francesco's party, "Come, sir," he said to the Count.
The blood flamed in Francesco's cheeks, nor did it soften his chagrin to note the look which Valentina flashed down at him. Instantly he leapt to the ground, and flinging his reins to Lanciotto he went forward to the foot of that stone staircase, his broad hat slung back upon his shoulders, to meet that descending company. "Is this seemly, sir?" she questioned angrily.
That altar-piece was executed by Francesco with so much art and study, that not only the nude Christ is very beautiful, but all the other figures likewise are well disposed and coloured with relief and force; and although at first the picture was censured by Francesco's adversaries, nevertheless it won him a great name with men in general, and those who have painted others after him out of emulation have not surpassed him.
"Does it become you to brawl with my garrison the moment you are admitted?" The blood rose higher in Francesco's face, and now suffused his temples and reached his hair. Yet his voice was well restrained as he made answer: "Madonna, this knave was insolent." "An insolence that you no doubt provoked," put in Gonzaga, a dimple showing on his woman's cheek.
In the gleam the black figure of Andrea was visible stooping to the water. He was making the fishermen's sign of the Cross. The cross on Peppina's face was it an enemy of the Cross that carried with it San Francesco's blessing? Vere's imagination! She turned to go up to the house. "Is the Signorina in bed yet, Gaspare?" "No, Signora." "Where is she? Still out?" "Si, Signora."
Now there was then in Pistoia a young man, Ricciardo by name, of low origin but great wealth, who went always so trim and fine and foppish of person, that folk had bestowed upon him the name of Zima, by which he was generally known. Zima had long and to no purpose burned and yearned for love of Messer Francesco's very fair and no less virtuous wife.
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