The guard took hold of the dead men by the head and by the feet, and one after another, in single file, they bore them off down the dark street. We three moved on, the crowd gradually melted away, and everything again became dark and silent.
We walked home side by side without speaking. We came to the Palazzo Orsi, entered, walked upstairs, one after the other, into Checco's study, lights were brought, the door closed carefully, and Checco turned round to us.
Neither I nor Matteo spoke. Checco clenched his fist, and his eyes flashed as he hissed out,--
We all knew the attempt was the Count's....
'By God! I am glad you are safe,' said Matteo.
'What a fool I was to be taken in by his protestations! I ought to have known that he would never forget the injury I had done him.'
'Except for the soldier,' I remarked. 'He should not have chosen anyone who could be recognised.'
'Probably he was the leader. But how well he managed everything, keeping us after the others, and nearly persuading Filippo and me to go home before you. Caterina was in the plot.'
'I wonder he did not defer the attempt when he found you would not be alone,' I said to Checco.
'He knows I am never alone, and such an opportunity would not easily occur again. Perhaps he thought they could avoid you two, or even murder you as well.'
'Yes, I have been thinking about them. The only explanation I have is that he placed them there to cover their flight if they succeeded, and if they failed or could not escape, to kill them.'
'As, in fact, they did. I thought I saw Ercole make a sign to the soldier who stabbed the only living one.'
'Possibly. The idea was evidently to destroy all witnesses and all opportunity for inquiry.'
'Well,' said Matteo, 'it will show others that it is dangerous to do dirty work for the Riario.'
'And now, what is to happen?' said Matteo.
'Do you still refuse to do to Girolamo as he has tried to do to you?'
'I see no reason now for not taking the law into my own hands.'
'Assassination!' Then, after a pause, 'It is the only way open to me. Do you remember Lorenzo's words? They have been with me every day, and I have considered them very, very deeply: "Let Checco know that it is only the fool who proposes to himself an end, when he cannot or will not attain it; but the man who deserves the name of man marches straight to the goal with clearness of mind and strength of will. He looks at things as they are, putting aside all vain appearances, and when his intelligence has shown him the means to his end, he is a fool if he refuses them, and he is a wise man if he uses them steadily and unhesitatingly." I know the end, and I will attain it. I know the means, and I will use them steadily, without hesitation.'