"There was none that I know of," said he, "Certainly none from Urbino."
"You keep a marvellous watch," said the fool drily. "I tell you that a
company of men-at-arms some twenty strong went last night from Urbino to
Roccaleone."
"To Roccaleone?" echoed the captain, with a musing air, more attentively
than before, as if the repetition of that name had suggested something to
his mind. "Why, it is the castle of Monna Valentina."
"True, sapient sir. But what of the company, and why was it travelling
so, by night?"
"How know you it proceeded from Urbino?" quoth the captain earnestly.
"Because at its head I recognised the roaring warrior Ercole Fortemani,
in the middle rode Romeo Gonzaga, in the rear came Fra Domenico,
Madonna's confessor--men of Urbino all."
The officer's face grew purple at the news.
"Were there any women in the party?" he cried.
"I saw none," replied the fool, in whom this sudden eagerness of the
captain's awakened caution and reflection.
"But there were four litters," put in Francesco, whose nature was less
suspicious and alert than the wise fool's.
Too late Peppe scowled caution at him. The captain swore a great oath.
"It is she," he cried, with assurance. "And this company was travelling
to Roccaleone, you say. How know you that?"
"We heard it from the friar," answered Francesco readily.
"Then, by the Virgin! we have them. Ol?!" He turned from them, and ran
shouting into the gatehouse, to re-emerge a moment later with half-dozen
soldiers at his heels.
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