Here Baldassare rose and leaned over from behind.
"I went up the Guinigi Tower with the party," he ventured to say. "There were four of us. The Cavaliere Trenta told me in the street just before that it was all right, and that the lady had agreed to marry Count Marescotti. There can be no secret about it now that every one knows it. Count Marescotti raved so about the Signorina Enrica, that he nearly jumped over the parapet."
"Better for her if you had helped him over," muttered Orazio, with a sarcastic stare. "The sonnet would not then have been written."
But Baldassare, conscious that he had intelligence that would make him welcome, stood his ground. "You do not seem to know what has happened," he continued.
"More news!" cried Malatesta. "Gracious heavens! Wave after wave it comes!—a mighty sea. I hear the distant roar—it dashes high!—It breaks!—Speak, oh, speak, Adonis!"
"The Marchesa Guinigi has left Lucca suddenly."
"Who cares? Do you, Pietrino?" asked Franchi of Orsetti, with a contemptuous glance at Baldassare.
"Let him speak," cried Malatesta; "Baldassare is an oracle."
"The marchesa left Lucca suddenly," persisted Baldassare, not daring to notice Orsetti's insolence. "She took her niece with her."
"Have it cried about the streets," interrupted Orazio, opening his eyes.