t even the scandal of her day so much as suggests that
she was connected--directly or even indirectly--with a single case of
poisoning. No doubt that popular conception owes its being entirely to
Victor Hugo's drama.

Away from Rome and settled in Ferrara from the twenty-second year of her
age, to become anon its duchess, her life is well known and admits of
no argument. The archives of the State she ruled show her devout,
god-fearing, and beloved in life, and deeply mourned in death by a
sorrowing husband and a sorrowing people. Not a breath of scandal
touches her from the moment that she quits the scandalous environment of
the Papal Court.

Cesare continued at the Vatican after her departure. His duchess was to
have come to Rome in that Easter of 1502, and it had been disposed that
the ladies and gentlemen who had gone as escort of honour with Lucrezia
should proceed--after leaving her in Ferrara--to Lombardy, to do the
like office by Charlotte d'Albret, and, meeting her there, accompany her
to Rome. She was coming with her brother, the Cardinal Amanieu d'Albret,
and bringing with her Cesare's little daughter, Louise de Valentinois,
now two years of age. But the duchess fell ill at the last moment, and
was unable to undertake the journey, of which Cardinal d'Albret brought
word to Rome, where he arrived on February 7.

Ten days later Cesare set out with his father for Piombino, for which
purpose six galleons awaited them at Civita Vecchia under the command
of Lodovico Mosca, the captain of the Pontifical navy. On these the
Pope and his son embarked, upon their visit to the scene of the latest
addition to Cesare's ever-growing dominions.

They landed at Piombino on February 21, and made a solemn entrance into
the town, the Pope carried in state in the Sedia Gestatoria, under
a canopy, attended by six cardinals and six singers from the Sixtine
Chapel, whilst Cesare was accompanied by a number of his gentlemen.

They abode four days in Piombino, whence they crossed to Elba, for the
purpose of disposing for the erection there of two fortresses--a matter
most probably entrusted to Leonardo da Vinci, who continued in the ducal
train as architect and engineer.

On March 1 they took ship to return to Rome; but they were detained
at sea for five days by a tempest which seems to have imperilled
the vessels. The Pope was on board the captain's galley with his
cardinals-in-waiting and servants, and when these were reduced b