*

The Sunday following, 26th April, happened to be the name-day of the
Cardinal, and he expressed a wish to hear High Mass in Santa Maria del
Fiore. Lorenzo announced his intention of personally conducting his
eminence to the Duomo, and requested him to honour the Domina Clarice
and himself by attending a State dinner at the Medici Palace, in the Via
Larga, at the conclusion of the ceremony.

This was much to the mind of the confederates, for, surely, there would
be a favourable opportunity for the execution of the plot. In secret
session it was arranged that, at the moment of the Elevation of the
Host, Giovanni Battista da' Montesicco should stab Lorenzo, whilst
Francesco de' Pazzi and Bernardo Bandino should fall upon Giuliano.

The Condottiere, however, firmly refused to commit the double crime of
sacrilege and murder, and, point-blank, declined all further share in
the conspiracy. Here was an entirely unlooked-for situation, and an
alternative plan was not easy to arrange. Francesco de' Pazzi seemed
inclined to step into the breach, but detestation of Lorenzo checked his
ardour--he would not soil his hands with the blood of such a
contemptible tyrant, a menial should administer the blow! There was no
lack of volunteers ready to take Montesicco's place, but excessive
caution was requisite that no prominent Florentine conspirator should be
chosen, lest suspicion should be aroused.

Finally the two clerical members of the conspiracy, Frati Antonio and
Stefano, were entrusted with the grim duty. The appointment was quite
the best that could be made, because, at the Cathedral, Lorenzo and his
immediate entourage would be placed with the clergy, within the choir,
whereas to the Pazzi and the other confederates places would be assigned
outside the screen, among the unofficial congregation.

Everything was in order, the great bell of the Duomo was sounding its
invitation, and the sacred building was packed with worshippers and
spectators. In full state Lorenzo, accompanied by Domina Clarice and
their Court, led Cardinal Sansoni to his chair of estate by the high
altar.

If, as he himself affirmed, Lorenzo was deprived of the pleasure of
smell, he had compensation in the greater acuteness of the other four
senses, and it must have struck his keen eyes, as he passed to his
place, that there seemed to be an unusually large muster of adherents of
the Pazzi and Salviati. Probably he reflected that they were there armed