sharp hunger in its train, I fell to with the
best will in all the world, and from broth to figs there were few words
between us.

At last, our goblets charged and the servants with-drawn, I repeated my
inquiry.

"The magic is not mine," said Galeotto. "It is Cavalcanti's. It was he
who obtained this bull."

And with that he set himself briefly to relate the matters that already
are contained here concerning that transaction, but the minuter details
of which I was later to extract from Falcone. And as he proceeded with
his narrative I felt myself growing cold again with apprehension, just
as I had grown cold that morning in the hands of the executioners. Until
at last, seeing me dead-white, Galeotto checked to inquire what ailed
me.

"What--what was the price that Cavalcanti paid for this?" I inquired in
answer.

"I could not glean it, nor did I stay to insist, for there was haste.
He assured me that the thing had been accomplished without hurt to his
honour, life, or liberty; and with that I was content, and spurred for
Rome."

"And you have never since thought what the price was that Cavalcanti
might have paid?"

He looked at me with troubled eyes. "I confess that in this matter the
satisfaction of coming to your salvation has made me selfish. I have had
thoughts for nothing else."

I groaned, and flung out my arms across the table. "He has paid such a
price," I said, "that a thousand times sooner would I that you had left
me where I was."

He leaned forward, frowning darkly. "What do you mean?" he cried.

And then I told him what I feared; told him how Farnese had sued
for Bianca's hand for Cosimo; how proudly and finally Cavalcanti had
refused; how the Duke had insisted that he would remain at Pagliano
until my lord changed his mind; how I had learned from Giuliana the
horrible motive that urged the Duke to press for that marriage.

Lastly--"And that is the price he consented to pay," I cried wildly.
"His daughter--that sweet virgin--was the price! And at this hour,
maybe, the price is paid and that detestable bargain consummated. O,
Galeotto! Galeotto! Why was I not left to rot in that dungeon of the
Inquisition--since I could have died happily, knowing naught of this?"

"By the Blood of God, boy! Do you imply that I had knowledge? Do you
suggest that I would have bought any life at such a price?"

"No, no!" I answered. "I know that you did not--that you could
not..." And then I leaped to my feet.