Love-at-Arms | Page 3

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This etext was produced by John Stuart Middleton

Love-at-Arms Being a narrative excerpted from the chronicles of Urbino during the dominion of the High and Mighty Messer Guidobaldo da Montefeltro
by Raphael Sabatini

"Le donne, i cavalier', l'arme, gli amori, Le cortesie, l'audace imprese io canto."
ARIOSTO

CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I.
VOX POPULI
II. ON A MOUNTAIN PATH
III. SACKCLOTH AND MOTLEY
IV. MONNA VALENTINA
V. GIAN MARIA
VI. THE AMOROUS DUKE
VII. GONZAGA THE INSIDIOUS
VIII. AMONG THE DREGS OF WINE
IX. THE "TRATTA DI CORDE"
X. THE BRAYING OF AN ASS
XI. WANDERING KNIGHTS
XII. THE FOOL'S INQUISITIVENESS
XIII. GIAN MARIA MAKES A VOW
XIV. FORTEMANI DRINKS WATER
XV. THE MERCY OF FRANCESCO
XVI. GONZAGA UNMASKS
XVII. THE ENEMY
XVIII. TREACHERY
XIX. PLOT AND COUNTERPLOT
XX. THE LOVERS
XXI. THE PENITENT
XXII. A REVELATION
XXIII. IN THE ARMOURY TOWER
XXIV. THE INTERRUPTED MASS
XXV. THE CAPITULATION OF ROCCALEONE
CHAPTER I
VOX POPULI
From the valley, borne aloft on the wings of the evening breeze, rose faintly the tolling of an Angelus bell, and in a goat-herd's hut on the heights above stood six men with heads uncovered and bowed, obeying its summons to evening prayer. A brass lamp, equipped with three beaks, swung from the grimy ceiling, and, with more smoke than flame, shed an indifferent light, and yet a more indifferent smell, throughout the darkening hovel. But it sufficed at least to reveal in the accoutrements and trappings of that company a richness that was the more striking by contrast with the surrounding squalor.
As the last stroke of the Ave Maria faded on the wind that murmured plaintively through the larches of the hillside, they piously crossed themselves, and leisurely resuming their head-gear, they looked at one another with questioning glances. Yet before any could voice the inquiry that was in the minds of all, a knock fell upon the rotten timbers of the door.
"At last!" exclaimed old Fabrizio da Lodi, in a voice charged with relief, whilst a younger man of good shape and gay garments strode to the door in obedience to Fabrizio's glance, and set it wide.
Across the threshold stepped a tall figure under a wide, featherless hat, and wrapped in a cloak which he loosened as he entered, revealing the very plainest of raiment beneath. A leather hacketon was tightened at the waist by a girdle of hammered steel, from which depended on his left a long sword with ringed, steel quillons, whilst from behind his right hip peeped the hilt of a stout Pistoja dagger. His hose of red cloth vanished into boots of untanned leather, laced in front and turned down at the knees, and completed in him