The Shame of Motley

he mission that had brought me all the way from Pesaro, and I wondered how long it might be ere his Most Illustrious Excellency the Cardinal of Valencia might see fi

suffered on the shoals of Fate. True, I had been housed and fed, and the comforts of indolence had been mine; but, for the rest, I was still clothed in the livery of folly which I had worn on my arrival, and, wherever I

at me, out into the misty gardens and the chill January air, whose sting I could, perhaps, the better disregard by virtue of the heat of indignation that

tal Rome that Messer Gianluca found me. He greeted me courteously; I answered

he announced. And so despairing had been my mood of ever hearing such a summons that, for a mome

he bade me was the first step along the road to better fortune, that I permitted myself a moment

a tenth beatitude to the approval of our Holy Father: Blessed

been in haste, urged by such a spur as had I? Here, then, was the end of my shameful travesty. To-morrow a soldier's harness should replace the motley o

to expect, and it was with a soul full of joyous

reater age, just as his cardinalitial robes lent him the appearance of a height far above the middle stature that was his own. His face was pale and framed in a silky auburn beard; his nose was aquiline and strong; his eyes the keenest that I h

ting, "that you are willing to take s

uided me to Rome, Most Ex

as quickly as it had come. His thin lips part

very of the letter you brought me

rious," I answered

the table of wood-mo

seem to promise that I shall have in

al name is known, expect ought else o

musement in

y for three years?" he asked, and his lean forefinger p

hat very expression of my shame-the bells on my

my miserable story you would be merciful. Did you know

hameful life in which the best years of your manhood were being wasted. There! Just now I commended your truthfulness; but the truth that dwells in you is no more, it seems

ellency know

e Biancomonte of Biancomonte should play the Fool to Costanzo Sforza, Lord of Pesaro. Oh you wil

"Be flames everlasting the dwelling of my soul if

as they rested on me. Then the lids drooped demurely, and he dr

s delectation-you, a man with the knightly memory of your foully-wronged parent to cry hourly shame upon you. No doubt you lacked the opportunity to bring the t

one with. When he drove me forth with threats of hanging, from which you

ted quietly. Then suddenly rising, and speaking in a voi

dy I have wrought in my life by the pursuit of that phantom. I was trained to arms, my lo

ither thus?" he asked, sud

held that my errand would be safer

oft fall of his slippered feet and the swish of his silken purple. At last he paused before me and looked up into my fac

proved. "I will take a lesson from her in the matt

ad in token o

igent and faithful, my

iffed, "else shoul

e took up a package, fingered it a moment, then dro

is voice as smooth as silk, "and I desire that you shall carry it t

re at him. It seemed as if

oice there was now a suggestion of ste

ight a bolder man. How can I, who am banned by punishment of death, contri

l Italy says is the heritage of Boccadoro, the Prince of Fools.

m so, but in the terms which the sh

ay be-than because I dread to earn a broken neck by again adventuring into Pesaro. Would not some othe

I could trust," h

here are such secrets confided to that paper, that I would not for a kingdom, n

htly on my shoulder. He lowered his voice "You are the man, the one man in Italy, whose interests

r what interests had Boccadoro, the Fool, in c

n the ruin of the Lord of Pesaro. We are all but ripe to strike at him from Rome and when we strike he shall be so disfigured by the blow that all Italy shall ho

nd mouse,"

s, if y

nd of your sister!" I excl

e said?" he flashed, his head thrown b

ned to assure him

letter will inform her. It is the last thread, the last knot needed, before we can

nt my remaining days in motley, making sport for grooms and kitchen we

ol is stouter protection than the best hauberk ever tempered. When you have done your errand come yo

his, my lord," I promised gr

drous eyes of his rested again upon

by-word say that a fool makes li

iful piece of Venetian work in ultramarin

I knew how true he was to the notorious splendour of his race. "And this," said he, "is a talisman that may serve to help you out of any evil plight,

e sacred amethyst-two fingers crooked and two erect

e Apostolic benediction over my bowed head. The rushes of the floor were the only witnesses of the smi