d day of the New
Year, and he has announced to me his intention of passing through Cesena
on his way, there to investigate certain charges of maladministration
which have been preferred against you. These concern, in particular,
certain misappropriation of grain and stores, and an excessive severity
of rule, of which complaints have reached him. From this you will gather
that out of a spirit of self-defence, if not to earn the reward which
we have bound ourselves to pay you, it is expedient that you should not
fail us. The occasion of the Duke's visit to Cesena will be, of all, the
most propitious for our purpose. Have your arbalister posed, and may God
strengthen his arm and render true his aim to the end that Italy may
be rid of a tyrant. I commend myself to your Excellency, and I shall
anxiously await your news.

"VITELLOZZO VITELLI."

Here indeed were my hopes realised. A plot there was, and it aimed at
nothing less than the Duca Valentino's life. Let that letter be borne to
Cesare Borgia at Faenza, and I would warrant that within a dozen hours
of his receipt of it he would so dispose that all who had suffered by
the cruel tyranny of Ramiro del' Orca would be avenged, and those
who were still suffering would be relieved. In this letter lay my own
freedom and the salvation of Madonna Paula, and this letter it behoved
me at once to become possessed. It was a safer far alternative than that
dagger of his.

A moment I stood pondering the matter for the last time, then stepping
sideways and forward, so that I was again beside him, I put out my hand
and swiftly whipped the letter from the table. Then standing very still,
to prevent the slightest rustle, I remained a second or two observing
him. He snored on, undisturbed by my light-fingered action.

I drew away a pace or two, as lightly as I might, and folding the letter
I thrust it into my girdle. Then from my open doublet I drew the sheet
that Mariani had supplied me, and, advancing again, I placed it on the
table in a position almost identical with that which the original had
occupied, saving that it was removed a half-finger's breadth from his
hand, for I feared to allow it actually to touch him lest it should
arouse him.

Holding my breath, for now was I come to the most desperate part of my
undertaking, I caught up one of the tapers and set fire to a corner of
the sheet. That done, I left the candle lying on its side against
the paper, so as to convey the impr