Rafael Sabatini

“ Cesare's eyes kindled with anger as he listened. “An example shall be made,” said he. “Can you afford me particulars that will help me to lay hands on the offenders?”
“No more than that they were men of Messer Ferante da Isola's condotta.”
The anger grew in the Duke's tone and glance. “Ferante again!” he exclaimed. “But this exceeds all bounds.” Then suddenly, his voice sharp as a knife's edge, “How know you they were Ferrante's?” he asked.
The question took Tito entirely unawares. The fool had not dreamed that a great man like Cesare would stoop to petty details of “how” and “why.” ”

“ Thus within six months of joining Cesare's army he found himself a full-blown captain with a condotta of horse under his control, admitted to the Duke's councils, and enjoying the confidence, and in some measure the friendship, of his master.
To have achieved so much in so little time augured well for the future. Ferrante felt that high destinies awaited him, and in this assurance he permitted himself the luxury of falling in love. ”

“ Her views regarding Messer Ferrante must be corrected.
“Fool,” said he contemptuously, “do you conceive that this adventurer is taken by your white face and baby eyes?”
“With what else, then, pray?” quoth she, her brows arched upwards.
“With the name of Genelleschi and the portion that is yours. What else have you that shall draw a needy adventurer?”
A flush overspread the pretty, foolish face. “Is it so?” she asked, turning to Girolamo. “Is it indeed so?” Her tone quivered a little.
Girolamo flung out his hands and shrugged. “Beyond all doubt,” he assured her. “We have sound knowledge.” ”

“ Part of his army routed, his most trusted follower proved a traitor, yet there he sat, his countenance smooth and inscrutable, his tone level and impassive as ever.
“That letter that Ferrante bore,” said Cesare, “bade de Lorqua march upon Tigliano and invest it. But it seems that the folk of San Ciascano had news of its contents, for Caserta lay in ambush at Tigliano awaiting the attack.“
Tito's heart leapt within him. With difficulty did he keep the joy he experienced from showing in his countenance. “You would not be advised, Highness!” he cried. ”

“ Cesare laughed grimly. “But for the circumstance that Caserta is fled, I think I should send you to him that he might recompense you fittingly for the false information you conveyed to him.”
A great terror took Genelleschi then, and with it—odd assortment—a fierce anger. He had been an unwitting tool—he and his—in the Borgia's cunning hands. But terror beat his anger down, and very soon he came to his knees before the pitiless Duke—the Duke whose justice was so swift and terrible; the Duke who never erred on mercy's side. ”

“ Tito, the elder, heard and frowned, read the letter and laughed between contempt and anger, then passed it to Girolamo, who swore unpleasant oaths and lastly bade Leocadia call their sister.
“Who is this man Ferrante?” inquired Girolamo, when the woman departed on her errand.
Tito, who was pacing the chamber, stopped short and snorted contemptuously. “A by-blow of the Sicilian Lord of Isola by a peasant woman—a base knave of no fortune, an adventurer, who likely seeks to use our house and an alliance with it as a means to his ends.” ”

“ When he wakes his adventure at the Palazzo Genelleschi will seem a dream to him. Besides, he'll be in haste to redeem the time he has lost, and he'll ride like the wind for Imola. He may be stirring again before dawn.”
“Start enough for me,” said Girolamo, and took the letter. “There will be a surprise in store for Messer Ramiro de Lorqua when he marches upon Tigliano. If Caserta knows anything of the art of war he should annihilate the Borgia captain.”
On that they parted, Girolamo to ride to San Ciascano, and Tito to dispose of Ferrante against his waking. ”

“ Girolamo acknowledged the plan to be shrewd, deplored certain elements of danger it contained, and finally expressed the opinion that Ferrante, charged with such a mission and in the very hour of setting out upon it, would not come, whatever his feelings for Cassandra. Tito scoffed at his brother's conception of a lover.
“Oh, he will come; he will come, never fear,” said Tito, “and in the fact that he will never dare confess that small breach of duty lies our own security from those minor dangers that seem so big to you.” ”

“ For that he was to await Cesare's further orders, meanwhile setting up a blockade.
“This,” said Tito, showing his fine teeth, “will be in the hands of the men of San Ciascano long before Messer Ferrante shall have reached de Lorqua at Imola. How Caserta will welcome the information! You must carry it yourself, Girolamo.”
Girolamo was cunningly replacing the seal. “Caserta should pay us a fine price for it.”
They laughed together. “A great night's work!” said Tito. “We have destroyed that upstart fool there, and we shall deal the Duke of Valentinois a blow that will stagger him.” ”

“ He is too tall and lean and ugly; and he is beardless, and I love a beard.”
“Tchah!” snapped Tito peevishly. “Attend to me. You are to write him as I bid you; what you may think is another matter, with which we have no concern. You shall say that we—Girolamo and I—are from home, and bid him come to you this evening at sunset. Ah—and by the garden gate; that will have a more furtive, romantic air, which, doubtless, will impress the Sicilian dog, eh, Girolamo?” ”

“ There was need for action on his part; he must take his measures; in some way he must contrive that Ferrante's letter should miscarry; it but remained to devise the means, to determine upon a plan. Thus, and again compelled by sheer force of circumstances in very self-defence to carry through this matter to which he had so rashly set his mind, did Tito Genelleschi become an active traitor to Cesare Borgia. Ferrante must fail; Cesare Borgia must pay the price of having said to Tito Genelleschi, “I do not believe you.” ”

“ Even as she spoke, two burly Swiss swung into view, turning a corner of the street. They were singing lustily but tunelessly; for they were very drunk. Ferrante looked at them, and from them to the dame, a thought mockingly, for there was fear writ large on her broad face—fear lest he should take her at her word, and leave them.
“Woman,” said he, “you are a barque tossing between Scylla and Charybdis.” Then he stooped to add confidentially: “Courtesy, believe me, makes a good pilot.” And with that he led them past the noisy Swiss, and on with no more word spoken. ”

“ Thus abruptly questioned, Tito as abruptly replied, and in doing so answered not only his brother's words but his own perplexity.
“The contents of that letter,” said he, “must be made known to the defenders of San Ciascano, that the plans of Valentinois may be wrecked, and that thus he may be persuaded that Ferrante is a traitor.”
Girolamo looked at him, his lips pursed, his eyes scared.
“Yes,” he said slowly, “that of course is what you would wish. It is daring to the point of madness. Fortunately it is also impossible.”
“Say you so? Ha! “It was a snort of anger. ”

“ With eyes that laughed in mingled scorn and amusement, the Duke considered white-faced, uncomprehending Genelleschi for some moments.
“You see, sir,” he explained at last, “Ferrante bore two letters; the contents of the one were intended for Caserta to lure him thus to his ruin with false information; the contents of the other—which Ferrante bore in his boot, where you did not think of looking—were for de Lorqua alone. As I bade him, so did he act, and proved his loyalty. ”

“ And by eccentricities of spelling, and vagaries of handwriting, she achieved a document at last which should afford Messer Ferrante some considerable mental exercise. So said Tito when he scowlingly surveyed the scrawl. He dispatched it none the less to the captain's quarters by a young maid of the house, and then made known to Girolamo the remainder of his plot, and to Cassandra just so much as it imported her to know, schooling her carefully in what was required of her. ”

“ Ferrante knows that Caserta and the defenders of San Ciascano would pay handsomely to learn the contents. This letter shall go by Ferrante's hand to-night. That shall be the test.”
“But, Highness,” cried Tito, with cunning concern, “if he should betray you! Have you counted the cost to yourself?”
“I know the cost, sir,” was Cesare's answer, his face inscrutable. “Thus do I justify myself for testing him.” And with that he gave Genelleschi his dismissal. ”

“ Note that, Agabito,” the Duke commanded. Then he leaned forward, pondering for a brief moment. That Tito had lied to him he was assured beyond all doubt; but it remained for him to discover Tito's full aim and motive. Was it Ferrante he sought to harm? Cesare set himself to find an answer to that question.
“I deplore this matter, Messer Tito,” said he, with a very gracious courtesy. “It is not usual in my troops to give occasion for complaint. They are sternly schooled. But this Ferrante latterly—by the Host!—I know not what ails him!” ”

“ Ferrante addressed himself—cap in hand, and bowing with the grace of the perfect courtier—to the mistress. “Madonna, you may pursue your way; yet suffer that I pursue it with you. Lojano is unpleasantly full of soldiers, and my escort may not come amiss.”
It was the dame who answered—quickly, as if to forestall her mistress—and Ferrante, hungering to hear the lady's voice, was angered.
“Sir,” said she, “it is not far. Madonna's brothers shall thank your Excellency.” ”

“ Not a doubt but that her anger was no more than just controlled by prudence. She spoke, in an acid, vinegary voice: “I think, sir, we need not trouble you further. We shall be safe alone.”
“Say 'safer,'” mistress, since 'tis what is in your mind,” he snapped; then to the lady, “I trust, madonna,” said he, in a different tone, “that you do not share your woman's unworthy fears?”
Still he was not to hear her voice; again it was the dame who answered him. ”

“ Should I accuse a man on hearsay? Ah, no. I speak of what I have seen, Highness. On more occasions than one have I beheld this man of yours in a tavern of the borgo in the company of some gentlemen of Bologna who are well known to me. ”

“ Tito Genelleschi went home with very mingled sensations. Things had fallen out in a most amazing manner, and had exceeded by much any intentions of his own when he had sought audience of the Duke. He had the feeling of one who has been swept along by sheer chance, and force of circumstances, into committing himself to far more than he had ever dreamed ot at the outset. He was pervaded, too, by a grave misgiving—an uneasiness as to what steps Cesare might take against him when Ferrante emerged triumphant from the test, as Ferrante must ”

“ He overtook them swiftly, and not a moment too soon, it seemed.
Four men, two of whom he recognised as of his own condotta, were lurching down the street with arms linked, forming a human chain which now barred the women's progress. ”

“ I will consider also and set against your evil intentions that you have rendered a good service to my friend Ferrante da Isola, in curing him of his love sickness. A man so afflicted makes an indifferent soldier.”
Still paralysed with terror—a terror that increased under the utterances of that mocking voice, under the contempt of those beautiful eyes—Tito still kept his knees, with hands upheld. The sight began to weary Cesare ”