It was Malvicini's.
He had torn down a curtain-rope, and had attached an end of it to one of
the dead man's legs. Thus he dragged the body forward towards the window.
The other end of the rope he now knotted very firmly to a mullion. Then he
took the body up in his arms, whilst Galeotto stood aside to make way for
him, and staggering under his ghastly burden, Malvicini reached the window,
and heaved it over the sill.
It fell the length of the rope and there was arrested with a jerk to hang
head downwards, spread-eagle against the brown wall; and the diamond
buttons in his green velvet doublet sparkled merrily in the sunshine.
At that sight a great silence swept across the multitude, and availing
himself of this, Galeotto again addressed those Piacentini.
"To your homes," he cried to them, "and arm yourselves to defend the State
from your enemies if the need should arise. There hangs the Duke--dead.
He has been slain to liberate our country from unjust oppression."
Still, it seemed, they did not hear him; for though to us they appeared to
be almost silent, yet there was a rustle and stir amongst them, which must
have deafened each to what was being announced.
They renewed their cries of "Duca!" of "Spaniards!" and "To arms!"
"A curse on your 'Spaniards!'" cried Malvicini.
Pages:
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466