Thus Cavalcanti found them a hour later when he returned. He brought a
parchment, to which was appended a great seal bearing the Pontifical arms.
He thrust it into Galeotto's hand.
"There," he said, "is the discharge of the debt which through my weakness
and folly I have incurred."
Galeotto looked at the parchment, then at Cavalcanti, and then at the
parchment once more. It was a papal bull of plenary pardon and indemnity
to me.
"How came you by this?" he asked, astonished.
"Is not Farnese the Pope's son?" quoth Cavalcanti scornfully.
"But upon what terms was it conceded? If it involves your honour, your
life, or your liberty, here's to make an end of it." And he held it across
in his hands as if to tear it, looking up at the Lord of Pagliano.
"It involves none of these," the latter answered steadily. "You had best
set out at once. The Holy Office can be swift to act."
CHAPTER VIII
THE THIRD DEGREE
I was haled from my dungeon by my gaoler accompanied by two figures that
looked immensely tall in their black monkish gowns, their heads and faces
covered by vizored cowls in which two holes were cut for their eyes. Seen
by the ruddy glare of the torch which the gaoler carried to that
subterranean place of darkness, those black, silent figures, their very
hands tucked away into the widemouthed sleeves of their habits, looked
spectral and lurid--horrific messengers of death.
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