ere were dreadful tales of
evil deeds done in it, and reports that it was a gathering-place for
witches, goblins, and _diavoli_. The clanking of chains and peals of
horrid laughter rung from its chambers at midnight, blue and green fires
gleamed from its windows, and everybody all around had heard from
somebody else that the nightmares had there their special nest, from
which they sailed forth to afflict all Florence.

"Yet all this was a trick which was often played in those days, when
_gente non dabbene_ or evil folk and outlaws wanted to keep a house to
themselves, and there were no newspapers to publish every mystery. For
there were a great many who went in there, but few who ever came out, and
these were all young and pretty servant-maids. And the way it was
managed was this. When such girls were sent to the market to buy
provisions, they always met there or elsewhere an old woman who pretended
to be extremely pious, {43} who, by using many arts and making small
gifts, and above all by subtle flatteries, persuaded them that service
was only fit for _gentaccia_ or the dregs of the people, and that,
beautiful and graceful as they were, they needed only live like ladies
for a little time at ease, and they would soon be fit to marry some
Signore, and that she herself would thus maintain them, hoping they would
pay her well for it all when once married. And I need not say that the
trick generally succeeded.

"The house to which they were led was ugly and repulsive outside, but
within there were beautiful rooms of all kinds, magnificently furnished,
and the new-comers were promptly bathed, elegantly attired, and jewelled
from head to foot, and instead of serving, had maids given them as
attendants, and everything conceivable was done to make their life as
pleasant and demoralising among themselves as possible. But in due time
they found out that a certain Signore was lord of the house and of
themselves, and that he gradually led them into the strangest and most
terrible orgies, and finally into witchcraft, after which one disappeared
mysteriously after the other, none knew whither, but as there were always
fresh arrivals to take their places, nobody heeded it.

"However, this mournful disappearance of pretty servant-maids became at
last so frequent and was so mysterious, that it began to be much talked
about. Now there was a certain gentleman, a man himself of great
authority and intelligence, who had heard of t