Scheraggio.

* * * * *

In less than a month after the murder of Sforza Almeni, Cosimo's
dearly-loved little daughter died in sudden convulsions, due, it was
reported, to the administration of poison. Eleanora was inconsolable,
and the Duke did all he could to comfort her. He organised fetes and
hunting-parties for her, and both at Castello and, even in Florence, he
drove with her quite openly, treating her as his lawful wife.

Early in the following year Eleanora was once more _enceinte_ and, on
13th May, she became the mother of another child, a boy, whom Cosimo
declared was a true likeness of his famous father, Giovanni "delle Bande
Nere," and consequently that name was given him. The Duke's happiness
knew no bounds, but the arrival of this second child, born out of
wedlock and in the face of the hot displeasure of Duke Francesco and
Duchess Giovanna, was the disenchantment of Cosimo's love-dream. The
_liaison_ could not continue, and, truth to tell, Cosimo himself was
the cause of its cessation. The lustful old man had seen another lovely
girl in Florence, and Eleanora's star became dimmed in the new
effulgence!

Eleanora's recovery and convalescence were not this time marked by the
devotion of her lover, he never so much as went near her, although she
was at Castello all the time and Giovanni was born there. The
disillusionment of them both was as immediate as it was dramatic. It was
reported that the Pope had written a remonstrance to Cosimo, and hinted
that the creation of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, which the Duke
earnestly coveted, was entirely out of the question until he had put
away his mistress, and had renounced the errors of his way.

It may have been court gossip, but one reason for Duke Cosimo's drastic
treatment of his _innamorata_, was the intimacy which had sprung up
between Eleanora and his own precocious and vivacious son, Piero. If the
father had fouled his couch, he could not allow his own son access
thereto as well.

Then it was that Duke Cosimo missed the intelligent services of
faithful, faithless Sforza Almeni--he would have done the dirty work of
extricating his master from his false position as well, or better, than
any one else. Eleanora and he had from the first been rivals for the
confidences of the Duke, and hated each other heartily. She had good
grounds doubtless for her contempt and distrust, by reason of the
heartless and mean insinuations affe