ft the Sacred
Host. Near Lorenzo were Giovanni de' Tornabuoni, his uncle,--famous for
his wealth, influence at Rome, and his probity,--Antonio and Lorenzo de'
Cavalcanti, Lorenzo de' Tornabuoni, Marco de' Vespucci, and Filippo
degli Strozzi, Chamberlains of Honour, and other distinguished
Florentines and the foreign ambassadors.

No sooner had Giuliano reached the entrance to the choir and was about
to genuflect, than Francesco de' Pazzi, who had followed him closely,
whipped out his sword, at the very moment of the Elevation, and ran the
devout prince, through the back! At the same time Bandino leaped upon
him and stabbed him repeatedly in the breast!

It was all the work of an instant, and Giuliano fell over upon his side,
his crimson life's blood ebbing swiftly out of nineteen gaping wounds
and dyeing his scarlet robe deep purple. Francesco's frenzy was
diabolical, for he leaped upon the still quivering body of his victim,
and stabbed him again and again--wounding his own thigh in his fury!

Bandino next attacked Francesco Nori, a chief agent or manager of the
Medici bank, a man of renown and honour, who vainly threw himself
forward to shield his unhappy young patron, and he cut him down to the
ground. With a filthy execration, he raised the dripping weapon in the
air, prepared for yet another victim.

Meanwhile the two perjured priests, who, by the mock grace of their
Order were placed within the choir, had taken up positions immediately
behind Lorenzo, as though to render him assistance in the divine
service, suddenly attacked him with daggers, but unskilfully. Lorenzo
scrambled to his feet, and, casting his heavy mantle of State over his
shoulders, drew his sword in self-defence. Turning to see who his
opponents were, he received a scratch in the neck from Stefano's steel.
Then, from the raised dais, he descried the tumult at the choir gates,
whilst cries of "_Il Giuliano e morto_" reached his ears!

Desperadoes were struggling with the clergy and the acolytes by the
great lectern, and calling out his name for vengeance. One, more
murderous than the rest, was scaling the low sanctuary wall, holding his
gory dagger in the air, and making for the chairs of estate--it was
Bernardo Bandino. Commending the Domina Clarice to the care of his
uncle, Lorenzo passed hurriedly up the steps of the altar and gained the
New Sacristy, followed closely by the two Cavalcanti, who were battling
with the infuriated Bandino and