ut success, as Caesar's men kept a good guard on every side, and
offered a strong defence.

Then the Orsini, not being able to force the guard of the Castle Sant'
Angelo, hoped to succeed better with the duke by leaving Rome and then
returning by the Torione gate; but Caesar anticipated this move, and they
found the gate guarded and barricaded. None the less, they pursued their
design, seeking by open violence the vengeance that they had hoped to
obtain by craft; and, having surprised the approaches to the gate, set
fire to it: a passage gained, they made their way into the gardens of the
castle, where they found Caesar awaiting them at the head of his cavalry.

Face to face with danger, the duke had found his old strength: and he was
the first to rush upon his enemies, loudly challenging Orsino in the hope
of killing him should they meet; but either Orsino did not hear him or
dared not fight; and after an exciting contest, Caesar, who was
numerically two-thirds weaker than his enemy, saw his cavalry cut to
pieces; and after performing miracles of personal strength and courage,
was obliged to return to the Vatican. There he found the pope in mortal
agony: the Orsini, tired of contending against the old man's word of
honour pledged to the duke, had by the interposition of Pandolfo
Petrucci, gained the ear of the pope's surgeon, who placed a poisoned
plaster upon a wound in his leg.

The pope then was actually dying when Caesar, covered with dust and
blood, entered his room, pursued by his enemies, who knew no check till
they reached the palace walls, behind which the remnant of his army still
held their ground.

Pius III, who knew he was about to die, sat up in his bed, gave Caesar
the key of the corridor which led to the Castle of Sant' Angelo, and an
order addressed to the governor to admit him and his family, to defend
him to the last extremity, and to let him go wherever he thought fit; and
then fell fainting on his bed.

Caesar took his two daughters by the hand, and, followed by the little
dukes of Sermaneta and Nepi, took refuge in the last asylum open to him.

The same night the pope died: he had reigned only twenty-six days.

After his death, Caesar, who had cast himself fully dressed upon his bed,
heard his door open at two o'clock in the morning: not knowing what
anyone might want of him at such an hour, he raised himself on one elbow
and felt for the handle of his sword with his other hand; but at the