And three salvoes were fired, to notify Ferrante
Gonzaga where he waited that the castle was in the hands of the
conspirators and Pier Luigi slain.
Meanwhile we had returned with Galeotto to the room where the Duke had
died, and where his body still lay, huddled as it had fallen. The windows
of this chamber were set in the outer wall of the fortress, immediately
above the gates and commanding a view of the square. We were six--
Confalonieri, Landi, the two Pallavicini, Galeotto, and myself, besides a
slight fellow named Malvicini, who had been an officer of light-horse in
the Duke's service, but who had taken a hand in betraying him.
In the square there was by now a seething, excited mob through which a
little army of perhaps a thousand men of the town militia with their
captain, da Terni, riding at their head, was forcing its way. And they
were shouting "Duca!" and crying out that the castle had been seized by
Spaniards--by which they meant the Emperor's troops.
Galeotto dragged a chair to the window, and standing upon it, showed
himself to the people.
"Disperse!" he shouted to them. "To your homes! The Duke is dead!"
But his voice could not surmount that raging din, above which continued to
ring the cry of "Duca! Duca!"
"Let me show them their Duca," said a voice.
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