"What folly is this?" he cried. "Giovanni d'Anguissola died at Perugia
eight years ago."
"That is what is generally believed, and what Giovanni d'Anguissola has
left all to believe, even to his own priest-ridden wife, even to his own
son, sitting there, lest had the world known the truth whilst Pier Luigi
lived such a confiscation as this should, indeed, have been perpetrated.
"But he did not die at Perugia. At Perugia, Ser Cosimo, he took this scar
which for thirteen years has served him for a mask." And he pointed to his
own face.
I came to my feet, scarce believing what I heard. Galeotto was Giovanni
d'Anguissola--my father! And my heart had never told me so!
In a flash I saw things that hitherto had been obscure, things that should
have guided me to the truth had I but heeded their indications.
How, for instance, had I assumed that the Anguissola whom he had mentioned
as one of the heads of the conspiracy against Pier Luigi could have been
myself?
I stood swaying there, whilst his voice boomed out again.
"Now that I have sworn fealty to the Emperor in my true name, upon the
hands of my Lord Gonzaga here; now that the Imperial aegis protects me from
Pope and Pope's bastards; now that I have accomplished my life's work, and
broken the Pontifical sway in this Piacenza, I can stand forth again and
resume the state that is my own.
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