g, who had laid her commands upon
her trusty Free Companion for her own ends. When the battered Aretines
had scurried back within the shelter of their walls, we would have been
ready and willing enough, we of the Company of Death, to stay and
besiege them. But Messer Griffo would not have it so, and Messer Griffo
was our captain. His orders were that as soon as we were breathed after
our battle--for I like to call it a battle--and had eaten and drunk of
the food and wine with which the mercenaries were plentifully provided,
we should ride back to Florence as briskly as might be, and uplift the
hearts of our fellow-citizens with our joyful tidings of triumph. Which
is why we got back to Florence on the morning of our engagement, as
Monna Vittoria wished, but not so early as Monna Vittoria would have
wished if she had known what was happening in our absence--known what
you are about to know.

XXI

MALEOTTI BEARS FALSE WITNESS

On that summer morning which saw us riding homeward, all flushed and
triumphant over our little victory, all Florence was early astir.
Florence was ever a matutinal city, and her citizens liked to be abroad
betimes to get at grips with their work, which they did well, and earn
leisure for their pleasures, which they enjoyed as thoroughly. But on
this especial morning the town seemed to open its eyes earlier than
usual, and shake itself clear of sleep more swiftly, and to bestir
itself with an activity unfamiliar even to a town of so active a
character. The cause for this unwonted bustle was not easy to ascertain
with precision. Somehow or other rumors, vague, fantastic,
contradictory, perplexing, irritating, bewildering, had blown hither and
thither as it were along the eaves and through chinks of windows and
under doorways, as an autumn wind carries the dried dead leaves. These
were rumors of some event of moment to the Republic that either had
happened, or was about to happen, or was happening at that very instant
of time. What this event of moment might precisely be, few, indeed,
could say, though all could make a guess and all availed themselves of
the power, and many and varied were the guesses that men made, and very
confident was every man that his particular guess was the only right and
true one.

It is, indeed, strange how often, when some subtle move of statecraft is
being made whereof secrecy is the very vital essence, though those that
be in that secret keep their lips truly