"A hundred thanks, excellency."
"Mind you, there must be no brawling, no trouble."
"Excellency."
"Well, good night, and remember what I say. Here, you might remove this wine-cup as you go."
"Good-night, signore," and Jacopo, lifting the goblet, went out. The night being fairly warm, I kept my door open, and as he passed into the portico, I saw him drain the contents of the goblet with a gulp, and heard him draw his lips together with a smack of approval, and march off to his quarters, chuckling at something or other.
The following afternoon I rode out with Bayard and half-a-dozen others. It was a hawking party, and there was a long gallop to our point of operation, which was to begin a little way beyond Ponte Molle. In a short time we started a noble heron, and Bayard flinging his peregrine into the air, we rode after the birds. It was a glorious ride, and Castor and Pollux far outstripped the others, so much so that when we drew rein beside the stricken heron, and Bayard slipped the hood on to his hawk, our companions were not in sight. This, however, troubled us little, and turning rein we made backwards. On our way back I seized the opportunity to mention to Bayard that St. Armande had volunteered to aid me in my task, and that I had accepted his offer.
"It will do him good," he said; "he seems a noble youth, who has been tied too long to apron-strings."
"Do you think so?" I said; "he strikes me as being effeminate to a degree--and yet I cannot help liking him."
"He has a wonderful pure mind," said Bayard; "the boy, for he is no less, is as innocent as a child."
"The Vatican will not improve him then, especially if he plays for gold crowns with Colonna."