Bianca and Giordano hastened to his assistance, and supported his head; his mouth was open and distorted, as if he had been struck with apoplexy; his eyes were staring vacantly, his breast heaving.
"Call for Doctor Baccio, or Cappelli," said Bianca in great anxiety; "go—quick—for the love of Heaven!"
But Francesco grumbled:
"Call no one—water—ice—ice—a little air—air!"
They opened all the balcony windows; brought him water and ice, and he, dipping both his hands into it, applied them to his forehead; then he poured some elixir into a glass of ice-water, and drinking it, felt somewhat relieved. Bianca, who until then had assisted him with loving care, without saying a word, now ventured to ask gently:
"Do you wish to go to bed?"
"Yes,—have it cooled,—cool it yourself—let no one else enter here."
And Bianca, with her own hands, filled with ice two silver coolers, and the valet having carried them to the bed-room, she placed them between the sheets, drawing them up and down.
In about fifteen minutes Francesco, who had remained sitting in silence, rose suddenly, and said:
"Let us go."