But I seldom spoke to her, and then it was upon the most trivial
matters; whilst although the summer was now full fragrantly unfolded, yet I
never dared to intrude into that garden of hers to which I had been bidden,
ever restrained by the overwhelming memory of the past.
So poignant was this memory that at times I caught myself wondering
whether, after all, I had not been mistaken in lending an ear so readily to
the arguments of Fra Gervasio, whether Fra Gervasio himself had not been
mistaken in assuming that my place was in the world, and whether I had not
done best to have carried out my original intention of seeking refuge in
some monastery in the lowly position of a lay brother.
Meanwhile the Lord of Pagliano used me in the most affectionate and
fatherly manner. But not even this sufficed to encourage me where his
daughter was concerned, and I seemed to observe also that Bianca herself,
if she did not actually avoid my society, was certainly at no pains to seek
it.
What the end would have been but for the terrible intervention there was in
our affairs, I have often surmised without result.
It happened that one day, about a week after Galeotto had left us there
rode up to the gates of Pagliano a very magnificent company, and there was
great braying of horns, stamping of horses and rattle of arms.
Pages:
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346