"
"What does he in that company, and who are they?" asked the Count,
turning to the fool as they rode out of their ambush.
"Ask me where the devil keeps his lures," quoth the fool, "and I'll make
some shift to answer you. But as for what does Fra Domenico in that
galley, it is more than I can hazard a guess on. He is not the only one
known to me," Peppino added, "There was Ercole Fortemani, a great, dirty,
blustering ruffian whom I never saw in aught but rags, riding at their
heads in garments of most unwonted wholeness; and there was Romeo
Gonzaga, whom I never knew to stir by night save to an assignation.
Strange things must be happening in Urbino."
"And the litters?" inquired Francesco, "Can you hazard no guess as to
their meaning?"
"None," said he, "saving that they may account for the presence of Messer
Gonzaga. For litters argue women."
"It seems, fool, that not even your wisdom shall avail us. But you heard
the friar say they were bound for Roccaleone?"
"Yes, I heard that. And by means of it we shall probably learn the rest
at the end of our journey."
And being a man of extremely inquisitive mind, the fool set his inquiries
on foot the moment they entered the gates of Urbino in the morning--for
they had reached the city over-late to gain admittance that same night,
and were forced to seek shelter in one of the houses by the river. It
was of the Captain of the Gate that he sought information.
"Can you tell me, Ser Capitan," he inquired, "what company was that that
travelled yesternight to Roccaleone?"
The captain looked at him a moment.
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