And I think now," said Galeotto when it was done, "that you are just as
reckless in the manner of doing charity. For the future, Agostino, you
would do well to appoint an almoner."
I bit my lip in vexation; but soon I smiled again. Were such little things
to fret me? Did we not ride to Pagliano and to Bianca de' Cavalcanti? At
the very thought my pulses would quicken, and a sweetness of anticipation
would invade my soul, to be clouded at moments by an indefinable dread.
And thus we came to Pagliano in that month of May, when the lilac was in
bloom, as I have said, and after Fra Gervasio had left us, to return to his
convent at Piacenza.
We were received in the courtyard of that mighty fortress by that sturdy,
hawk-faced man who had recognized me in the hermitage on Monte Orsaro. But
he was no longer in armour. He wore a surcoat of yellow velvet, and his
eyes were very kindly and affectionate when they rested on Galeotto and
from Galeotto passed on to take survey of me.
"So this is our hermit!" quoth he, a note of some surprise in his crisp
tones. "Somewhat changed!"
"By a change that goes deeper than his pretty doublet," said Galeotto.
We dismounted, and grooms, in the Cavalcanti livery of scarlet with the
horse-head in white upon their breasts, led away our horses.
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