"It shall be dealt with on my return, and if what you say is proved true,
the Captain of Justice shall suffer with yourself for this treason--for
that is the offence. Take him away, and someone open me that gate."
There was an end to disobedience, and a moment or two later we stood
outside the town, on the bank of the river, which gurgled and flowed away
smoothly and mistily in the growing light, between the rows of stalwart
poplars that stood like sentinels to guard it.
"And now begone," said Gambara curtly to me, and wheeling my mule I rode
for the bridge of boats, crossed it, and set myself to breast the slopes
beyond.
Midway up I checked and looked back across the wide water. The light had
grown quite strong by now, and in the east there was a faint pink flush to
herald the approaching sun. Away beyond the river, moving southward, I
could just make out the Legate's little cavalcade. And then, for the first
time, a question leapt in my mind concerning the litter whose leathern
curtains had remained so closely drawn. Whom did it contain? Could it be
Giuliana? Had Cosimo spoken the truth when he said that she had gone to
Gambara for shelter?
A little while ago I had sighed for death and exulted in the chance of
expiation and of purging myself of the foulness of sin.
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