“Forgive her, my son. Forgive her as you need forgiveness. She does not understand the thing she does. Come, we will pray for her, that God in His infinite mercy may teach her humility and true knowledge of Him.”
I saw her start as if she had been stung.
“Blasphemer, begone!” she cried again; and her voice was hoarse with suppressed anger.
And then the door was suddenly flung open, and Rinolfo clanked in, very martial and important, his hand thrusting up his sword behind him.
“Madonna,” he announced, “the Captain of Justice from Piacenza is here.”
There was a moment's silence after Rinolfo had flung that announcement.
“The Captain of Justice?” quoth my mother at length, her voice startled. “What does he seek?”
“The person of my Lord Agostino d'Anguissola,” said Rinolfo steadily.
She sighed very heavily. “A felon's end!” she murmured, and turned to me. “If thus you may expiate your sins,” she said, speaking more gently, “let the will of Heaven be done. Admit the captain, Ser Rinolfo.”
“Stay!” I cried, and rooted him there by the imperative note of my command.
Fra Gervasio was more than right when he said that mine was not a nature for the cloister. In that moment I might have realized it to the full by the readiness with which the thought of battle occurred to me, and more by the anticipatory glow that warmed me at the very thought of it. I was the very son of Giovanni d'Anguissola.
“What force attends the captain?” I inquired.
“He has six mounted men with him,” replied Rinolfo. “In that case,” I answered, “you will bid him begone in my name.”
“And if he should not go?” was Rinolfo's impudent question.
“You will tell him that I will drive him hence--him and his braves. We keep a garrison of a score of men at least--sufficient to compel him to depart.”
“He will return again with more,” said Rinolfo.
“Does that concern you?” I snapped. “Let him return with what he pleases. To-day I enrol more forces from the countryside, take up the bridge and mount our cannon. This is my lair and fortress, and I'll defend it and myself as becomes my name and blood. For I am the lord and master here, and the Lord of Mondolfo is not to be dragged away thus at the heels of a Captain of Justice. You have my orders, obey them. About it, sir.”