That he, that sweet and charitable follower of his Master, should be
abused by her, should be dubbed blasphemer and have the cherished memory of
his mother defiled by her pietistic utterances, was something that inflamed
me horribly.
But he set a hand upon my shoulder.
"Come, Agostino," he said very gently. He was calm once more. "We will
go, as we are bidden, you and I."
And then, out of the sweetness of his nature, he forged all unwittingly the
very iron that should penetrate most surely into her soul.
"Forgive her, my son. Forgive her as you need forgiveness. She does not
understand the thing she does. Come, we will pray for her, that God in His
infinite mercy may teach her humility and true knowledge of Him."
I saw her start as if she had been stung.
"Blasphemer, begone!" she cried again; and her voice was hoarse with
suppressed anger.
And then the door was suddenly flung open, and Rinolfo clanked in, very
martial and important, his hand thrusting up his sword behind him.
"Madonna," he announced, "the Captain of Justice from Piacenza is here."
CHAPTER II
THE CAPTAIN OF JUSTICE
There was a moment's silence after Rinolfo had flung that announcement.
"The Captain of Justice?" quoth my mother at length, her voice startled.
"What does he seek?"
"The person of my Lord Agostino d'Anguissola," said Rinolfo steadily.
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