Part 2 (2/2)

With the help of the ladder they must descend at midnight into the garden of the Belvedere, and climb by the rose espalier to the top of the garden wall. I would be on horseback on the other side and would receive them in my arms. Then with forged pa.s.sports I would take them to Milan.

A light in the window of the tower at eleven would signify her acquiescence in this plan.

But at the time appointed I saw no light, and though my men waited in the lofts of the stable where their horses stood ready saddled, and I paced the lane on the hither side of the garden wall until dawn, no fugitives joined me.

When I returned to my lodgings at daybreak I found a summons from the Pope awaiting me which bade me attend him at the Vatican at his morning levee. Presently, too, a man in Cesare's livery brought me the basket of fruit and the rope-ladder which I had sent to Caterina.

”My master bade me return this to you,” said the lackey, ”as you may find it useful for your own needs in future.”

I understood the cold sarcasm of the message. I was to be imprisoned, and I did not flatter myself that any opportunity for use of a rope-ladder would be left me. But in that supreme moment it was not my own doom that I thought upon but that of the unfortunate Lady of Forl.

As I prepared to obey the papal summons my landlady brought me a letter which had arrived during my absence, the long-expected instructions from Cardinal d'Amboise. They called me and my troop to Milan--the Pope would not dare controvert that command; and as my eye sought eagerly for an answer to my appeal for Caterina it caught at the bottom of the page this line:

”As for Caterina Sforza Riario de' Medici and her children----”

Trembling with excitement I turned the leaf but my hopes died within me as I read on:

”----that belligerent and unwomanly woman hath but received her just deserts. We are to be congratulated that her fortresses and her army fell into the power of our ally before it was possible for her to aid her uncle Lodovico Sforza, usurper of Milan, at present our prisoner.

”Our fortunes are now so a.s.sured either by conquest or alliance that all the leading families of northern Italy are on our side.

Even the Medici are with us. Sooner or later”----

Here I turned a page again.

”They must be returned to Florence, as the King desires the good will of the Medici.”

There was more to the effect that the Cardinal desired me to kiss for him the hands of his Holiness, and to a.s.sure both him and Cesare that--if their promise to the King of France were carried out--they would ever find in the French army a sure defence. But all this seemed of little moment to me since the letter contained no hope for Caterina.

I thrust it in my pouch and pursued my way to the Vatican, cudgelling my brains for some other means by which to save her.

Was there, I questioned, no motive within the complicated mechanism of Cesare's mind upon which I could play? Was there nothing which he held sacred, no terror in earth or h.e.l.l which could daunt his inexorable will?

Then suddenly I remembered the flaw in his armour, and that he who could neither be persuaded by friends.h.i.+p nor coerced by authority trembled before a baseless superst.i.tion--the dread of the evil eye.

I had still a card to play, and would continue the game resolutely to the end. It might be that I could arm his captive with the one weapon which he feared.

With this thought in my mind I came upon Cesare suddenly, in the ante-room of the Pope's audience chamber.

”Ah,” he exclaimed maliciously, ”you thought to antic.i.p.ate me in gaining my father's ear. I confess I had the same intention. Well, since chance will have it so, we will go in together.”

”One moment,” I replied; ”I am glad to have met you thus opportunely, for I have a word of warning for you.”

”Of warning?” he questioned.

”Yes,” I replied, ”in return for that you so kindly sent me with the rope-ladder this morning. You may need mine first. Let me beg you to pursue the Lady of Forl no further. If you do not instantly let her go free she may work you a terrible mischief--the only one you dread.”

The scornful smile which had curled his lip died out, and though he asked my meaning I knew he already had an inkling of it.

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