any times, did Bianca plead with Francesco for
his brother, and always with success, and many a substantial sum of
money was lodged in the Roman Medici bank at his disposal. Ferdinando
began to realise that the only way to his brother's purse was by
Bianca's favour, and he began to evince a distinctly amiable spirit in
his relations with her.

As marking the improvement in the situation, the Cardinal accepted an
invitation to a family gathering at Poggio a Caiano in the autumn of
1575. The Grand Duchess Giovanna quite properly was the hostess, but
Bianca Buonaventuri, who was installed in a Casino in the park, which
Francesco had given her, and called "Villetta Bini," was of the party,
the life and soul of all the entertainments.

During the festivities Bianca managed to be _tete-a-tete_ with her
brother-in-law in a secluded summer-house. The fascination of three
years before was again transcendent. "The Venetian is irresistible," he
said afterwards, "I cannot hate her, try how I will!" The truth was, he
was madly in love, and he owned it, but his love was, after all, like
the hot fumes of a lurid fire.

The year 1576 was a black one in the annals of the Medici. Two beautiful
and accomplished princesses of the ruling house were done to death by
jealous, unfaithful husbands.

Bianca Buonaventuri was stunned by the terrible end of her dear
sister-friends, Isabella de' Medici and Eleanora de Garzia de Toledo.
Would her turn come next? The three had been called "The Three Graces of
Florence," and certainly each had vied with the other in elegance and
fascination, but to Bianca the golden apple had been accorded
unanimously. Beauty and charm seemed to be magnets of destruction, and
Bianca was upon her guard!

So far as she herself was concerned, she knew that at any time she might
still fall a victim to a Venetian desperado, or to a Florentine
assassin, and under every friendly guise she feared a foe.

With respect to the Grand Duchess Giovanna and her detestation of
Bianca, a story may be told which has all the appearance at least of
probability. Giovanna expressed, not once, but often, her wish for
Bianca's death. This, indeed, in those days, and in Florence, the "City
of Assassins," was as good as a judicial sentence. The Grand Duchess,
moreover, it was reputed, followed up her words by action. "One day,"
the story goes, "in the month of March 1576, her carriage chanced to
meet that of Bianca's upon the Ponte SS. T