But once my Lord Gambara supped with us, and he was light and trivial as
ever, an incarnation of frivolity and questionable jests, apparently
entirely unconscious of Fifanti's chill reserve and frequent sneers.
Indeed, I greatly marvelled that a man of my Lord Gambara's eminence and
Governor of Piacenza should so very amiably endure the boorishness of that
pedant.
Explanation was about to be afforded me.
On the third day, as we were dining, Giuliana announced that she was going
afoot into the town, and solicited my escort. It was an honour that never
before had been offered me. I reddened violently, but accepted it, and
soon thereafter we set out, just she and I together.
We went by way of the Fodesta Gate, and passed the old Castle of Sant'
Antonio, then in ruins--for Gambara was demolishing it and employing the
material to construct a barrack for the Pontifical troops that garrisoned
Piacenza. And presently we came upon the works of this new building, and
stepped out into mid-street to avoid the scaffoldings, and so pursued our
way into the city's main square--the Piazza del Commune, overshadowed by
the red-and-white bulk of the Communal Palace. This was a noble building,
rather in the Saracenic manner, borrowing a very warlike air from the
pointed battlements that crowned it.
Pages:
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156