unt of money by the transaction, was now resting
pleasantly on his laurels, and in no immediate hurry to further
business. For if Messer Griffo liked fighting, as is said to be the way
of those islanders, he did not like fighting only, but recognized
frankly and fully that life has other joys to offer to a valiant
gentleman. His long sojourn in our land had so civilized and humanized
him that he could appreciate, after a fashion, the delicate pleasures
that are known to us and that are denied to those that abide in his
frozen, fog-bound, rain-whipped island--the delights of fine eating,
fine drinking, fine living, fine loving. Honestly, I must record that he
took to all these delectations very gayly and naturally, for all the
world as if he had the grace to be born, I will not say a Florentine,
but say a man of Padua, of Bologna, or Ferrara. In a word, he had all
the semblance of a very fine gentleman, and when he was not about his
proper business of cutting throats at so much a day, he moved at his
ease with a very proper demeanor.

When Messer Simone began to hatch his little conspiracy of the Company
of Death, he bethought him of Messer Griffo, that was then at liberty
and living at ease, and he sent to the Free Companion a message,
entreating him to visit Florence and be his guest for a season, as he
had certain matters of moment to communicate to him. Now if this Griffo
liked idling very well, he did not like it to the degree that would
permit him to push on one side a promising piece of business. This is, I
believe, the way of his country-people, that are said to be traders
before all, though thereafter they are sailors and soldiers. When the
message of Messer Simone reached him, he appreciated very instantly the
value of Messer Simone's acquaintance, and the probability of good pay
and good pickings if he found reason to enter the Bardi's service. So
with no more unwillingness than was reasonable, considering that he was
passing the time very happily in his house with pretty women and jolly
pot-companions, he made answer to the message that he would wait upon
Messer Simone very shortly in the fair city of Florence. In no very long
time after he kept his word, and came to Florence to have speech with
Messer Simone and drink his wine and consider what propositions he might
have to make.

It was, perhaps, unfortunate for Simone dei Bardi that while there were
many points of resemblance between himself and the Free