"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."