"Fear not, my Lord Cardinal," said his groom; and he threw himself into the saddle. The Florentines also mounted their horses.
At this moment, Piero Strozzi stepped forward, saying, "This, from my father," with a meaning smile; and gave him a billet.
This Piero was son of Felippo, and had something of the same cold, sly look.
The billet only contained these words: "All goes well." The Cardinal read it with a gay smile, and tossed it back to Strozzi.
"Good news to start with," said he to his companions, as they rode out of the yard.
"The sun can scarce be hotter in Africa than it is here to-day, I think," said Donati, one of the fuorusciti.
"Not a whit too hot for me; I enjoy it," said the Cardinal. "And the road is in our favour, for it is all down-hill."
"Facile descensus," said Capponi. "What a vibrating haze!"
"We shall enjoy the shade and the coolness at Fondi," said Ippolito. "You know I have undertaken to show you the fairest lady in Italy."