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