CHAPTER XX.
["A BROWN PAUL--A LITTLE COPPER."]
Such as they were, the troubles of the ancient and his crony Luigi could not have ended soon, for although at first they were surrounded by a jeering crowd, fresh things caught the minds of the people after a little time, and they were left to themselves. As the following day was a holiday in Todi, the inn-keeper probably let them lie bound until he had more leisure on his hands, which were in truth full enough, as the albergo hummed with custom. I never heard or saw anything more of either of the villains again. We had time yet at our disposal; but after an early supper, the horses being rested, we started, and going slowly, with a halt on the right bank of the Paglia, we crossed the Tiber near San Fortunato, and Perugia lay before us, bright in the sunshine. In order to throw any pursuit off the scent, for if by chance inquiries were made about us, they would be at the southern gates, we made a turn east, then struck north, and getting over the numberless trenches lying between us and our point, eventually entered the city by the Porta del Carmine. Here Jacopo, under my secret instructions, let the guard handle his wine-skin, buzzing out as if in the confidence of the cup, that we had come from Fabriano in the Marches and then gave them the day. We rode on, leaving the ward at the gate to finish the skin, and found very comfortable house-room in the Rubicon, an hotel kept by Messer Passaro, which lay behind the house of the Piccinino family, "close to the Duomo, the citadel, and the gallows," as the landlord, who thought himself a merry wag, informed me whilst he received us at his door. I took the best room available for myself, and saw to the wants of my followers and the horses, who were as well as when they started. I left them in comfort, bidding Bande Nere make ready to accompany me out at noontide. Dinner I ordered at twelve, inviting the landlord to crack a flask of his best thereafter with me. He accepted with effusion; my object in doing this being to try and get as much information out of him as possible, as I saw he had a loose tongue and a gossiping heart, and I was resolved to leave no stone unturned in my search for Angiola. It wanted two hours or more for dinner, and having bathed and changed my attire, I sank me down in an arm-chair to enjoy an hour or so of repose.
After dinner mine host appeared, bearing with him a cob-webbed flask.
"It is a wine of France, excellency--Burgundy--and all my customers do not taste this, I can tell you."
"I am favoured, indeed, Messer Passaro; take a seat, and help yourself."
"The condescension of your excellency!" and with a bow he settled himself on the extreme edge of a chair.
We poured out our measures, and on testing the wine I found it most excellent; as for Passaro, he pushed himself back into his seat and let the liquid down his throat in drops, his eyes closed in an ecstacy. When he opened them, which he did after a time, he gasped out:
"Is not that glorious, signore? Have you ever lipped the brand?"
"I confess it is wine for the gods," I said. "Is there much in your cellar."
"Store of it, excellency; I was not butler to His Eminence of Strigonia for ten years for nothing."
"His eminence is a fine judge of wines."
"Cospitto! And your excellency's forgiveness for swearing. He is the finest judge in the world. There is no brand he could not name, nay, tell you the year of vintage, were he blindfold and a drop but touched his palate. Corpo di Bacco! But he is a true prince of the Church."
"Ah! you are a sly dog, Messer Passaro," and I filled him his glass; "I warrant me you could tell many a tale of the cardinal. But come now, has not the Baglioni as fine a taste in wines, and a better one for a neat ankle?"
"Hush!" he said, looking around him as he put down his empty glass, "in your ear, excellency--the Count Carlo has big teeth and bites hard. Let your tongue be still when his name comes up in Perugia."
"Thanks, friend, but Count Carlo owes me no grudge, or else I should not be here."
"Your worship has come to join him then?"
"As you see, Messer Passaro," and I filled his glass again, "I am a soldier and love to serve a soldier. Besides things will be on foot soon, for what with the French at Passignano, war cannot be delayed long."
"True, and a light has been put to the torch too."
"Hurrah! Another glass, man; we soldiers are sick of this truce. Our purses run dry in peace. But tell me."
"You must know, signore, that all the country east of Castiglione to the Tiber, and lying between the Nestore and Casale, is a fief of the Castellani, and the Count--ha! ha! It was glorious!" and he slapped his thigh--"ha! ha!"
Nothing irritates me so much as to hear a man laughing aimlessly, and it was in a sharp tone that I said, "go on."
"A moment, excellency," and he held up a fat hand, "ha! ha! I had it all from Messer Lambro, my cousin, and groom of the chambers to Count Carlo. Well, all the fief I spoke of is inherited by the Lady Angiola, the daughter of old Count Adriano. The family is Ghibelline, and have taken the French side, and seeing that Tremouille was between us and Casale, my lady must needs go down to visit her estates. The Count, who is looking for a wife, buckles on his armour, mounts his mare, and with two hundred lances at his back, gallops up the left bank of the Tiber, fords the stream, swoops down on the dovecote at Rossino, and brings back a bride to Perugia; ha! ha! It is superb."
"Ha! ha! Messer Passaro--diavolo! Are they married yet?"
"Not yet--ah! The wine is wine for the gods as your worship says--not married yet, for my lady is half beside herself they say, and the Count, receiving a sudden message from Cesare, has had to leave Perugia for a few days."
"Cospitto! How he must curse the Borgia for putting off his happiness! And she is handsome, eh?"
"For the matter of that, excellency, one does not squint at a sour face set in a golden coif. But they do say the lady is very beautiful."
"You have not seen her then?"
"Corpo di Bacco! She is under lock and key, and not for the likes of me to look upon."
"In the citadel I suppose--a gloomy cage for a fair bird."
"Maybe, but I have let my tongue wag too freely, signore, and must be going."
"Safe enough with me, Messer Passaro, for I am on the right side--adieu!"
I made no further attempt to detain him, and he waddled off with the best part of the now empty flask under his belt. I was sure he knew but little more, and what I had got out of him did not amount to much. At any rate I had discovered that Baglioni was out of Perugia, and that she was still here. This was better than nothing; but worse than nothing if I could not discover the place of her imprisonment. I threw myself back in my chair, and racked my brains to no purpose. There was nothing definite for me to get hold of, no clue of any kind. I thought of getting the landlord to invite the Count's valet to drink a bottle or so of his Burgundy with me, but the mere whisper of such a thing would excite suspicion of a further object, and the slightest suspicion would ruin the business. Bande Nere appearing at this time, in accordance with my orders, I resolved to hang about the Palazzo Publico, and see if I could pick up any information there. On second thoughts I resolved to go alone, and dismissing Bande Nere, sallied forth by myself. I went by way of the Piazza del Duomo, and here I stopped in an idle manner, and was for a moment struck by the entrance to the palace, which lies here. Over the gate was a splendid bronze of a lion and a griffin, set above a series of chains and bars of gates, trophies of an old victory gained over the Sienese. A crowd of beggars surrounded me, but I was in no mood for charity, and drove them off with a rough oath. One of the number, however, remained. He was lame in both feet, supported himself on crutches, and wore a huge patch over one of his eyes.
"That is right, excellency--drive them off--the scum, the goats--pestering every noble gentleman. It is only to the deserving your excellency will give--a paul, excellency--a brown copper for the poor cripple--a million thanks, excellency--may this copper be increased to you a thousandfold in gold."
"Begone, fool!" I said, and walked on; but he hobbled along at a great rate beside me.
"But a favour, excellency. If your worship would but come with me, I would show you a wonderful sight. A bird-cage, excellency; would your lordship be pleased to buy a bird--"
I turned round in my anger, and raised my hand to cuff the rascal's ears, cripple though he was, when he suddenly added: "Or free a bird, excellency--there is someone coming--a paul, quick--thanks, excellency--may your lordship die a prince."
As he spoke a couple of gentlemen and their servants pushed by us, and I gave them the road, the beggar hopping nimbly to my side. My heart was beating rapidly, and all my blood tingling. Was I on the edge of a discovery?
"No more riddles," I said, "who are you?"
"It is not safe to talk here, signore," he answered. "Follow me." He started off across the square, hobbling along on his crutches and wailing out, "A copper for the poor cripple--a brown paul--a little copper?"
"By God!" I exclaimed to myself as I followed behind, "what does this mean?" I had to find out for myself, however, and followed the man, who stumped along at a rare pace, notwithstanding the ups and downs of the side-streets by which we went. He never once looked behind him, but kept up his cry of "a copper for the poor cripple--a brown paul--a little copper," and once or twice, when I lost him in the crowd, the cry served as a signal to me telling me where he went. Finally he turned to the left, and on reaching the Via della Conca, made straight for the gate. Here a toll was collected, and paying his paul he went straight out of the town. I kept him in view now easily, and could have caught him up as I liked, for the speed at which he had hobbled along had no doubt breathed him. At last he left the road, and toiling somewhat painfully over the very uneven ground, vanished behind a spur of the hills on which Perugia is situated. I now put on my best walking pace, and in a minute or two turned the elbow of the spur myself, and found the mendicant seated on a stone mopping his brow, his crutches lying beside him. He stood up with the greatest ease as I approached.
"Well, fellow," I said, "what does all this mean? Beware, if you have attempted to trick me."
"Does not your excellency know me?"
"Never saw you before."
"I am Gian, excellency."
"Gian! Gian! That throws no light on the subject."
"The cavaliere remembers the garden of St. Michael in Florence?"
I was not likely to forget the place where I had received Angiola from Luigi, but I could not connect the man before me with the circumstance. "I remember perfectly, but I do not know you. Drop this foolery and speak plainly."
"I am speaking plainly, signore. I was not sure if it was you myself until now. I am Gian, the Lady Angiola's servant, and his excellency the secretary has sent me to you."
"But how did you hear I was in Perugia: his excellency did not himself know I was coming here until a half-hour before I started, and I have ridden hard?"
"The pigeon, your worship: it flew to Florence with a letter to the Lady Marietta. She sent another one on to the convent of St. Jerome, and the result is I am here. I was to seek out your worship, and inform you where my lady is confined."
"Basta! It was well conceived by his excellency. But where is she--in the citadel?"
"No, excellency; but in the Casino Baglioni, behind Santa Agnese."
"How did you find out?"
"I was brought here prisoner, excellency, and was allowed to be in attendance on her ladyship, together with Madonna Laura, her maid. I escaped back to Florence with a letter from the Lady Angiola a day or so after. It was by her orders I went."
"Then she may not be there now."
"I have made sure of that, excellency--but Madonna Laura----" he stopped.
"The maid--what of her--no doubt with her mistress?"
"Alas, no, excellency! She was killed by Pluto."
"Pluto!"
"Yes, your worship. A black bear that the cavaliere Paolo, who holds the house, has as a pet," and he commenced to weep.
I felt for the faithful fellow's grief, but said nothing, and after a little he composed himself.
"Come, Gian," I said, laying my hand on his shoulder, "be a man, and we will have an eye for an eye."
He ground his teeth but made no reply, I and went on--
"How far is the house from here?"
"Close," he said. "We can reach it by the Porto San Angelo."
"Come, then."
"There is no need for the crutches now," he remarked, as he tucked them under his arm. "I will use them when we come to the gate. Will your excellency follow?"
As we walked northward over the hills, I continued my questions:
"Who is the Cavaliere Paolo?"
"A cousin of Count Carlo Baglioni, your worship. A man in middle life--my age--and a perfect devil."
"I doubt not, the breed is a bad one. Has he many men with him?"
"About six, excellency, and then, of course, there is the guard at the Porta San Angelo always at hand."
"Now listen to me, for we may not have time to talk further of this. When you have shown me the house we must separate. Go to the Albergo of the Rubicon--you know it?"
"Alas! no, excellency."
"It is behind the Palazzo Piccinino; you cannot miss it. Go there, and await me a few steps from the doors--you follow?"
"Yes, your worship."
We had now crossed the Vici dell' Elce, but passing the gate of that name, went onwards, and after a stiff climb reached the Porta San Angelo. Here my companion, betaking himself once more to his crutches and keeping ahead of me, turned southwards along the road which lined the walls towards Santa Agnese. Shortly before reaching the church, we came to a small but solid-looking building, half fortress, half dwelling-house, and Gian, stopping dead in front of it, turned round and began his whine:
"A copper for the poor cripple--a brown copper. The house, signore," speaking the last words under his breath as I came up.
"Do you know the room?" I asked pretending to fumble for a coin.
"In the tower behind," he answered rapidly, "may the saints bless your lordship," and he limped away.
In order to gain time to look about, I put back my purse leisurely, and then, with the same object, proceeded to rearrange and retie the bows on my doublet. The face of the house was a little way back from the wall which it overlooked. The massive doorway was shut, and the windows on each side of it, as well as those set above, heavily grated. I was too near the house to see the tower behind, and it looked so deserted that it was hardly possible for six men to be on guard there.
"An odd sort of bower to place one's lady-love in," I said, half aloud, to myself; but then Baglioni's wooing was a rough one. There was obviously nothing to be got by staring at the front of the house, and I turned to my left, pausing between two dead walls, until I obtained a view of the tower behind. The windows of the topmost room were all closed and strongly barred, and it seemed deserted. I glanced lower down, and to my joy saw that the room below was evidently occupied, and once I caught a glimpse of a figure moving within. It was a brief glimpse; but the eyes of love are sharp, and I knew it was Angiola. I made up my mind at once, and stepping back quickly to the front of the house, hammered loudly at the door with the knocker. After a moment's silence, I heard the firm tread of a soldier. A small barrier was let down, a bearded face looked up, and a rough voice asked--
"Who knocks?"
"Diavolo!" I exclaimed. "You are polite. Is the Cavaliere Paolo within?"
"He is not," replied the man shortly.
"Expected soon?"
"Cannot say."
"If you do not answer more civilly it will be bad for you. Tell him when he comes that the Cavaliere di Savelli"--I gave my proper name--"has arrived from Rome on an urgent affair, and will call on him to-morrow; forget, and it will be the worse for you."
The man seemed a little surprised, and altered his tone at once.
"I will give your message, signore."
"Beware how you fail--harkee--is there a road to the Via Appia behind this house?"
"Yes, signore, straight on, after taking the passage."
I did not even thank him, but turned on my heel, and walked off whistling a catch. I went down the passage between the two walls, and after some considerable stumblings up and down the vile roads, reached the Via Appia and turned southwards to my hostel. I had formed the somewhat daring plan of trying to force the house in broad daylight, choosing my time an hour or so after dinner, and if done boldly this would probably be successful, as my own force was nearly equal to that of the garrison including Pluto.
As I was approaching the Rubicon, I heard a voice at my side.
"A copper, signore--a brown paul."
"Gian."
"Excellency."
"Drop the beggar, and attend--can you ride?"
"Yes, excellency."
"Very well!"
I said no more and went on in silence, but a little distance from the hostel I bade Gian stop, and entering the yard, sought out Jacopo.
"Has the landlord any horses for sale?"
"Two, your excellency."
"Good ones?"
"Fairly so, excellency--about twenty crowns a piece with saddle included."
"Then buy one--and here--a few steps to the right of the entrance you will find a cripple, he is one of my men, do not speak, but attend--go out quietly--get him decently clothed, and bring him back here, the horse will be for him. You can get clothes to fit him anywhere, for the shops do not shut until late; get him a sword too, there are some good and cheap weapons in Perugia."
"It shall be done, excellency."
"Then be off at once."
I went on, and had a look at the horses. Bande Nere was with them, seated on a rough wooden bench cleaning his corselet, which already shone like silver. He rose to the salute as I came up.
"How are the horses, Bande Nere?"
"As well as possible, signore, they are all in high mettle."
With a parting pat to Castor, I sought my chamber, reaching it a little after the supper hour. I kept up an outward composure, but my mind within me was aflame with excitement. I ordered another flask of the Burgundy and forced myself to eat and drink a little. Then I betook myself to the arm-chair, and my thoughts. So impatient was I, that the idea came on me to make the attempt there and then, and it was with difficulty I persuaded myself to abandon such a plan, which could have only ended in disaster. Finally, I was about to retire for want of something better to do, when Jacopo came in, followed by Gian.
The latter was entirely transformed, except for the patch which he still wore over his eye, and I was able to recall him now as the old servant who had come somewhat fiercely up to me in the garden of St. Michael. He had the art which I found so difficult, of completely disguising himself when he chose. Jacopo had performed his task well, and bidding them keep their tongues closed, I dismissed them with a good night.