For I was anew upon
the edge of a resolve to have done with all human interests and to seek the
peace and seclusion of the cloister.
And then I bethought me of Gervasio. I would go to him for guidance, as I
had done aforetime. I would ride on the morrow to seek him out in the
convent near Piacenza to which he had withdrawn.
I was disturbed at last by the coming of a page to my chamber with the
announcement that my lord was already at supper.
I had thoughts of excusing myself, but in the end I went.
The repast was spread, as usual, in the banqueting-hall of the castle; and
about the splendid table was Pier Luigi's company, amounting to nigh upon a
score in all. The Duke himself sat on Monna Bianca's right, whilst on her
left was Cosimo.
Heeding little whether I was observed or not, I sank to a vacant place,
midway down the board, between one of the Duke's pretty young gentlemen and
one of the ladies of that curious train--a bold-eyed Roman woman, whose
name, I remember, was Valeria Cesarini, but who matters nothing in these
pages. Almost facing me sat Giuliana, but I was hardly conscious of her,
or conscious, indeed, of any save Monna Bianca.
Once or twice Bianca's glance met mine, but it fell away again upon the
instant. She was very pale, and there were wistful lines about her lips;
yet her mood was singular.
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