nsel me to
strangle some of the over-inquisitive rascals that surround me."

"Over-inquisitive?" echoed Lampugnani boldly. "Body of God! It
were enough to wake the curiosity of an ecstatic hermit to have a
mud-splashed courier from Citta di Castello at Cesena three times within
one little week."

Ramiro looked at him, and by his glance it was plain to see that the
words had jarred his temper. Whatever it was that Vitelli wrote to
Ramiro, this gentleman was not minded to divulge it.

"If you have supped, Lampugnani," said the Governor slowly, his eyes
upon his offending officer, "perhaps you will find some duty to perform
ere you seek your bed."

Lampugnani turned crimson, and for a moment seemed to hesitate. Then he
rose. He was a man of choleric aspect, and that he served under Ramiro
del' Orca was as much a danger to the Governor as to himself. He had not
the air of one whom it was wise to threaten in however veiled a manner.

"Shall I fetch you this fellow's hat ere I sleep?" he inquired, with
contemptuous insolence.

Not a word did Ramiro answer him, but his glance fastened upon
Lampugnani with an expression before which that impudent ruffian lowered
his own bold eyes. Thus for a moment; then with an awkward laugh to
cover the intimidation that he felt, Lampugnani walked heavily from the
room and banged the door after him.

There was about it all a strangeness that set my wits to work in a
mighty busy fashion. That work suffered interruption by the harsh voice
of Ramiro.

"Are you resolved, Boccadoro?" he growled at me. "Have you decided for
the motley or the cord?"

Instantly I fell into the part I was to play.

"Did I choose the latter," said I, with an assumption of sudden airiness
and such a grimace as was part and parcel of my old-time trade, "then
were I truly worthy of the former, for I should have proved myself,
indeed, a fool. Yet if I choose the former, I pray that you'll not
follow the same course of reasoning, and hold me worthy of the latter."

When he had understood its subtleties; for his wits were of a quality
that would have disgraced a calf, he roared at the conceit, and
seemingly thrown into a better humour by the promise of more such
entertainment, he bade my guards release me, and urged me to assume the
motley without more delay.

What time I was obeying him my mind was returning to that matter of
Lampugnani's words, and it is not difficult to understand how I should
arrive at th