For never yet had I been so addressed in my
lordship of Mondolfo. To all there I was just the Madonnino. But to
Falcone, in that supreme hour of his need, I was become his lord.
"My lord," he said, then. "Is it your wish that I should go?"
I drew back, still wrought upon by my surprise; and then my mother's voice
came cold and acid.
"The Madonnino's wish is not concerned in this, Mester Falcone. It is I
who order your departure."
Falcone did not answer her; he affected not to hear her, and continued to
address himself to me.
"You are the master here, my lord," he urged. "You are the law in
Mondolfo. You carry life and death in your right hand, and against your
will no man or woman in your lordship can prevail."
He spoke the truth, a mighty truth which had stood like a mountain before
me all these months, yet which I had not seen.
"I shall go or remain as you decree, my lord," he added; and then, almost
in a snarl of defiance, "I obey none other," he concluded, "nor pope nor
devil."
"Agostino, I am waiting for you," came my mother's voice from the doorway
Something had me by the throat. It was Temptation, and old Falcone was the
tempter. More than that was he--though how much more I did not dream, nor
with what authority he acted there.
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