Cavalcanti himself would not take her, confessing to some weakness. For
all that he insisted that his wound was not serious, yet he had lost much
blood through having neglected in his rage to stanch it. So it was to
Falcone that fell the charge of that sweet burden.
The last thing I remember was Cavalcanti's laugh, as, from the high ground
we had mounted, he stopped to survey a ruddy glare above the city of
Piacenza, where, in a vomit of sparks, Cosimo's fine palace was being
consumed.
Then we rode down into the valley again; and as we went the thud of hooves
grew more and more distant, and I slept in the saddle as I rode, a man-at-
arms on either side of me, so that I remember no more of the doings of that
strenuous night.
CHAPTER XI
THE PENANCE
I awakened in the chamber that had been mine at Pagliano before my arrest
by order of the Holy Office, and I was told upon awakening that I had slept
a night and a day and that it was eventide once more.
I rose, bathed, and put on a robe of furs, and then Galeotto came to visit
me.
He had arrived at dawn, and he too had slept for some ten hours since his
arrival, yet despite of it his air was haggard, his glance overcast and
heavy.
I greeted him joyously, conscious that we had done well. But he remained
gloomy and unresponsive.
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