And when presently Giuliana smote her hands
together in ecstatic pleasure at one of those same lines and bade him
repeat it to her, he swore roundly by all the gods that are mentioned in
Virgil that he would dedicate the work to her upon its completion.
At this the surliness became general once more and my Lord Gambara ventured
the opinion--and there was a note of promise, almost of threat, in his
sleek tones-- that the Duke would shortly be needing Messer Caro's presence
in Parma; whereupon Messer Caro cursed the Duke roundly and with all a
poet's volubility of invective.
They stayed late, each intent, no doubt, upon outstaying the others. But
since none would give way they were forced in the end to depart together.
And whilst Messer Fifanti, as became a host, was seeing them to their
horses, I was left alone with Giuliana.
"Why do you suffer those men?" I asked her bluntly. Her delicate brows
were raised in surprise. "Why, what now? They are very pleasant
gentlemen, Agostino."
"Too pleasant," said I, and rising I crossed to the window whence I could
watch them getting to horse, all save Caro, who had come afoot. "Too
pleasant by much. That prelate out of Hell, now..."
"Sh!" she hissed at me, smiling, her hand raised. "Should he hear you, he
might send you to the cage for sacrilege.
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