The seneschal
acted as quarterÂmaster to our lances, whilst Cavalcanti himself led us up
the great stone staircase with its carved balustrade of marble, from which
rose a file of pillars to support the groined ceiling. This last was
frescoed in dull red with the white horse-head at intervals. On our right,
on every third step, stood orange-trees in tubs, all flowering and shedding
the most fragrant perfume.
Thus we ascended to a spacious gallery, and through a succession of
magnificent rooms we came to the noble apartments that had been made ready
for us.
A couple of pages came to tend me, bringing perfumed water and macerated
herbs for my ablutions. These performed, they helped me into fresh
garments that awaited me--black hose of finest silk and velvet trunks of
the same sable hue, and for my body a fine close-fitting doublet of cloth
of gold, caught at the waist by a jewelled girdle from which hung a dagger
that was the merest toy.
When I was ready they went before me, to lead the way to what they called
the private dining-room, where supper awaited us. At the very mention of a
private dining-room I had a vision of whitewashed walls and high-set
windows and a floor strewn with rushes. Instead we came into the most
beautiful chamber that I had ever seen.
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