The Essential Somerset Maugham: 33 Books in One Edition - Уильям Сомерсет Моэм

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that Lodovico had vowed to sack the place and hang every third citizen. They knew he was the man to keep his word. The murmurs began to grow even louder, and voices were heard suggesting a surrender.... It had occurred to all of them, and when the most timid, driven to boldness by their fear, spoke the word, they looked at one another guiltily. They gathered together in little knots, talking in undertones, suspicious, stopping suddenly if they saw near anyone who was known to be in favour of the party of Liberty. They discussed how to make terms for themselves; some suggested giving up the town unconditionally, others proposed an agreement. At last they spoke of appeasing the Duke by handing over to him the seventeen conspirators who had planned the murder of Girolamo. The thought frightened them at first, but they soon became used to it. They said the Orsi had really had no thought of the common good, but it was for their private ends that they had killed the Count and brought this evil on the town. They railed against Checco for making them suffer for his own ambition; they had lauded him to the skies for refusing the sovereignty, but now they said he had only feigned, and that he intended to seize the city at the first good opportunity. And as to the others, they had helped for greed and petty malice. As they talked they grew more excited, and soon they said it would only be justice to hand over to the Duke the authors of their troubles.

      The day passed, and the second night, but there were no signs of the help from Rome.

      Another night passed by and still nothing came; the dawn, and the road was as empty as before.

      And the fourth night came and went and still there was nothing. Then a great discouragement fell upon the people; the army was on the way, but why did it not arrive? Suddenly here and there people were heard asking about the letter from the Pope. No one had seen the messenger. How had it come? And a horrible suspicion seized the people, so that they rushed to the Palazzo Orsi, asking for Savello. As soon as he appeared they broke out clamorously.

      'Show us the letter!'

      Savello refused! They insisted; they asked for the messenger who had brought it. Savello said he had been sent back. None of us had seen letter or messenger; the suspicion seized us too, and Checco asked,—

      'Is there a letter?'

      Savello looked at him for a moment, and answered,—

      'No!'

      'Oh God, why did you say there was?'

      'I felt sure the army was on the way. I wanted to give them confidence.'

      'You fool! Now they will believe nothing. You fool, you have muddled everything!'

      'It is you! You told me that the city was firm for the Pope.'

      'So it was till you came with your lies and your treacheries.'

      Savello closed his fist, and I thought he was going to strike Checco. A yell burst from the people.

      'The letter! the messenger!'

      Checco sprang to the window.

      'There is no letter! The protonotary has lied to you. No help is coming from Rome nor from Florence!'

      The people yelled again, and another cry arose,—

      'Surrender! Surrender!'

      'Surrender at your pleasure,' shouted Checco, 'but do not think that the Duke will forgive you for stripping the Count and insulting his body and sacking his Palace.'

      Savello was standing alone, struck dumb in his rage. Checco turned to him and smiled mockingly.

      XXX

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       Next day there was a secret meeting of the council, of which neither Checco nor his friends knew anything. But it leaked out that they had been discussing terms which Lodovico had offered. And the Duke's proposal was that Riario's children should be surrendered to him and the town ruled by a commission, appointed partly by him, partly by the Forlivesi. About mid-day a servant came and told us that Niccolo Tornielli and the other members of the council were below, seeking admission. Checco went down, and as soon as he saw him Niccolo said,—

      'Checco, we have decided that it will be better for us to have charge of the children of Count Girolamo; and therefore we have come to summon you to give them into our hands.'

      Checco's answer was short and pointed.

      'If that is all you came for, Niccolo, you can go.' ...

      At this Antonio Sassi broke in,—

      'We shall not go without the children.'

      'I imagine that depends on me; and I intend to keep the children.'

      'Take care, Checco; remember that you are not our master.'

      'And who are you, Antonio, I should like to know?'

      'I am a member of the council of Forli, just as you are; no more, no less.'

      'No,' said Checco, furiously; 'I will tell you whom you are. You are the miserable cur who pandered to the tyrant and helped him to oppress the people which I liberated; and the people spat upon you! You are the miserable cur who fawned upon me when I had killed the tyrant, and in your slavish adulation you proposed to make me ruler in his stead; and I spat upon you! And now you are afraid again and you are trying to make peace with the Duke by betraying me, and it is from you that come the propositions to give me up to Lodovico. That is what you are! Look at yourself and be proud!'

      Antonio was about to give a heated answer, but Niccolo interrupted him.

      'Be quiet, Antonio! Now, Checco, let us have the children.'

      'I will not, I tell you! I saved their lives, and they are mine by right. They are mine because I killed the Count; because I took them prisoners; because I hold them; and because they are necessary for my safety.'

      'They are necessary for our safety, too, and we, the council of Forli, summon you, Checco d'Orsi, to surrender them.'

      'And I, Checco d'Orsi, refuse!'

      'Then we shall take them by force.'

      Niccolo and Antonio stepped forward. Checco whipped out his sword.

      'By God, I swear I will kill the first man who crosses this threshold!'

      Gradually the people had collected, till behind the councillors there was a formidable crowd. They watched with eagerness the dispute, hailing with joy the opportunity of humiliating their old hero. They had broken out in mocking laughter while Checco was railing at Antonio, now they shouted,—

      'The children! Surrender the children!'

      'I will not, I tell you!'

      They began to hoot and hiss, calling Checco foul names, accusing him of causing all their troubles, naming him tyrant and usurper. Checco stood looking at them, trembling with rage. Niccolo stepped forward once more.

      'Give them up, Checco, or it will be the worse for you.'

      'Advance one step further and I will kill you!'

      The people grew suddenly exasperated; a shower of stones fell on us, and one, striking Checco, caused a long streak of blood to flow down his forehead.

      'Give us the children! Give us the children!'

      'We will call the guard,' said Antonio.

      'The children!' shouted the mob. 'He will kill them. Take them from him.'

      There was a rush from behind; the councillors and their supporters were driven forward; they were met by our drawn swords; in another moment it would have been too late, and against two hundred we should have been helpless. Suddenly Bartolomeo appeared at the head of the great staircase with the boys.

      'Stop!' he cried. 'Here are the children. Stop!'

      Checco turned round to him.

      'I will not have them given up. Take

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