XXVI
After a while the formal embassy sent to Cesena came back with themessage that the Protonotary Savello had been filled with doubts as towhether he should accept the town or no; but seeing the Forlivesi firmin their desire to come under the papal rule, and being convinced thattheir pious wish had been inspired by the most High Ruler of Kings, hehad not ventured to contradict the manifest will of Heaven, andtherefore would come and take possession of the city in person.
Checco smiled a little as he heard of the worthy man's doubts and thearguments used by the ambassadors to persuade him; but he fully agreedwith Monsignor Savello's decision, thinking the reasons very cogent....
The protonotary was received with all due honour. Savello was amiddle-sized, stout man, with a great round belly and a fat red face,double-chinned and bull-necked. He had huge ears and tiny eyes, likepig's eyes, but they were very sharp and shrewd. His eyebrows were paleand thin, so that with the enormous expanse of shaven cheek his facehad a look of almost indecent nakedness. His hair was scanty and hiscrown quite bald and shiny. He was gorgeously dressed in violet. Afterthe greetings and necessary courtesies, he was informed of the state ofthings in Forli. He was vexed to find the citadel still in the hands ofthe Castellan, who had been summoned with great courtesy to surrender tothe papal envoy, but without any courtesy at all had very stoutlydeclined. Savello said he would speak to the Countess and make her orderthe Castellan to open his gates. I was sent forward to inform Caterinaof the last occurrences and of the protonotary's desire for aninterview.
The Countess had received apartments in the Orsi Palace, and it was inone of these rooms that the good Savello was ushered.
He stopped on the threshold, and lifting up his arm stretched out twofingers, and in his thick, fat voice, said,--
'The peace of God be upon you!'
Caterina bowed and crossed herself. He went up to her and took her handin his.
'Madam, it has always been my hope that I should some day meet the ladywhose fame has reached me as the most talented, most beautiful, and mostvirtuous of her time. But I did not think that the day of our meetingwould be one of such bitterness and woe!'
He expressed himself in measured tones, grave and slow, and very fit tothe occasion.
'Ah, lady, you do not know the grief I felt when I was made acquaintedwith your terrible loss. I knew your dear husband in Rome, and I alwaysfelt for him a most profound affection and esteem.'
'You are very kind!' she said.
'I can understand that you should be overwhelmed with grief, and I trustyou do not think my visit importunate. I have come to offer you suchconsolation as is in my power; for is it not the most blessed work thatour Divine Master has imposed upon us, to comfort the afflicted?'
'I was under the impression that you had come to take over the city onbehalf of the Pope.'
'Ah, lady, I see that you are angry with me for taking the city fromyou; but do not think I do it of myself. Ah, no; I am a slave, I am buta servant of his Holiness. For my part, I would have acted farotherwise, not only for your own merits, great as they are, but also forthe merits of the Duke, your brother.'
His unction was most devout. He clasped his hand to his heart and lookedup to Heaven so earnestly that the pupils of his eyes disappearedbeneath the lids, and one could only see the whites. In this attitude hewas an impressive picture of morality.
'I beseech you, madam, bravely to bear your evil fortunes. Do we notknow that fortune is uncertain? If the city has been taken from you itis the will of God, and as a Christian you must, with resignation,submit yourself to His decrees. Remember that the ways of the Almightyare inscrutable. The soul of the sinner is purified by suffering. Wemust all pass through the fire. Perhaps these misfortunes will be themeans of saving your soul alive. And now that this city has returned tothe fold of the Master--for is not the Holy Father the Vicar ofChrist--be assured that the loss you have suffered will be made good toyou in the love of his Holiness, and that eventually you will receivethe reward of the sinner who has repented, and sit amongst the electsinging hymns of praise to the glory of the Master of all things.'
He paused to take breath. I saw Caterina's fingers convulsively closeround the arm of her chair; she was restraining herself with difficulty.
'But the greatest grief of all is the loss of your husband, Girolamo.Ah, how beautiful is the grief of a widow! But it was the will of God.And what has he to complain of now? Let us think of him clad in robes oflight, with a golden harp in his hands. Ah, lady, he is an angel inheaven, and we are miserable sinners upon earth. How greatly to beenvied is his lot! He was a humble, pious man, and he has his reward.Ah--'
But she could hold back no longer. She burst forth like a fury.
'Oh, how can you stand before me, uttering these hypocrisies? How dareyou say these things to me, when you are enjoying the fruits of hisdeath and my misfortune? Hypocrite! You are the vulture feeding with thecrows, and you come and whine and pray and talk to me of the will ofGod!'
She clasped her hands and lifted them passionately towards heaven.
'Oh, I hope that my turn will come, and then I will show you what is thewill of God. Let them take care!'
'You are incensed, dear lady, and you know not what you say. You willregret that you have accepted my consolations with disdain. But Iforgive you with a Christian spirit.'
'I do not want your forgiveness. I despise you.'
She uttered the words like the hiss of a serpent. Savello's eyessparkled a little, and his thin lips were drawn rather thinner thanbefore, but he only sighed, and said gently,--
'You are beside yourself. You should turn to the Consoler of Sorrow.Watch and pray!'
'What is it you want with me?' she said, taking no notice of his remark.
Savello hesitated, looking at her. She beat her foot impatiently.
'Quick!' she said. 'Tell me, and let me remain in peace. I am sick ofyou.'
'I came to offer you consolation, and to bid you be of good faith.'
'Do you think I am a fool? If you have no further business with me--go!'
The priest now had some difficulty in containing himself; his eyesbetrayed him.
'I am a man of peace, and I desire to spill no blood. Therefore I wishedto propose that you should come with me and summon the Castellan to giveup the citadel, which may be the means of avoiding much bloodshed, andalso of gaining the thanks of the Holy Father.'
'I will not help you. Shall I aid you to conquer my own town?'
'You must remember that you are in our hands, fair lady,' he answeredmeekly.
'Well?'
'I am a man of peace, but I might not be able to prevent the people fromrevenging themselves on you for your refusal. It will be impossible tohide from them that you are the cause of the holding back of thecitadel.'
'I can well understand that you would hesitate at nothing.'
'It is not I, dear lady--'
'Ah, no; you are the servant of the Pope! It is the will of God!'
'You would be wise to do as we request.'
There was a look of such ferocity in his face that one saw he wouldindeed hesitate at nothing. Caterina thought a little....
'Very well,' she said, to my intense surprise, 'I will do my best.'
'You will gain the gratitude of the Holy Father and my own thanks.'
'I put an equal value upon both.'
'And now, madam, I will leave you. Take comfort, and apply yourself topious exercises. In prayer you will find a consolation for all yourwoes.'
He raised his hand as before, and, with the outstretched fingers,repeated the blessing.