Removing his
cap, he drew from within the crown the letter, which he had placed there
to keep dry. This package he now handed to Gonzaga, who, with a final
word of instruction to the sentry touching the finding of raiment for the
messenger, stepped out to go his errand. But outside the door he paused,
and called the sentry to him again.
"Here is a ducat for you," he whispered. "Do my bidding and you shall
have more. Detain him in the tower till I return, and on no account let
him be seen or heard by anyone."
"Yes, Excellency," the man replied. "But what if the captain comes and
finds me absent from my post?"
"I will provide for that. I will tell Messer Fortemani that I have
employed you on a special matter, and ask him to replace you. You are
dispensed sentry duty for to-night."
The man bowed, and quietly withdrew to attend to his prisoner, for in
that light he now regarded Zaccaria.
Gonzaga sought Fortemani in the guard-room below, and did as he had
promised the sentry.
"But," snapped Ercole, reddening, "by whose authority have you done this?
By what right do you send sentinels on missions of your own? Christo
Santo! Is the castle to be invaded while you send my watchmen to fetch
your comfitbox or a book of verses?"
"You will remember----" began Romeo, with an air of overwhelming dignity.
"Devil take you and him that sent you!" broke in the bully. "The Messer
Provost shall hear of this."
"On no account," cried Gonzaga, now passing from anger to alarm, and
snatching the skirts of Fortemani's cloak as the captain was in the act
of going out to execute his threat.
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