It
was he himself who urged me not to intervene, but to let them take him
hence, since there was no possible charge which the Holy Office could
prefer against him."
"No charge!" cried Galeotto, with a withering scorn. "Did villainy ever
want for invention? And this trap? Body of God, Ettore, am I to account
you a fool after all these years? What trap was there that could be sprung
upon you as things stood? Why, man, the game was in your hands entirely.
Here was this Farnese in your power. What better hostage than that could
you have held? You had but to whistle your war-dogs to heel and seize his
person, demanding of the Pope his father a plenary absolution and indemnity
for yourself and for Agostino from any prosecutions of the Holy Office ere
you surrendered him. And had they attempted to employ force against you,
you could have held them in check by threatening to hang the Duke unless
the parchments you demanded were signed and delivered to you. My God,
Ettore! Must I tell you this?"
Cavalcanti sank to a seat and took his head in his hands.
"You are right," he said. "I deserve all your reproaches. I have been a
fool. Worse--I have wanted for courage." And then, suddenly, he reared
his head again, and his glance kindled. "But it is not yet too late," he
cried, and started up.
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