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pearances of the Blessed Virgin Mary in this district。 What nonsense。
I had e； I declared； to visit the churches and schools and whatever old teachers the town might shelter； and to take back what I could purchase with good gold Florentine coin to my master in Florence。
〃Yes； but your name； your name！〃 the soldier insisted as he opened the small lower gate only a crack； his lantern held high to inspect me。 I knew I made a good picture on my horse。
〃De' Bardi；〃 I declared。 〃Antonio De' Bardi； kinsman of Cosimo；〃 I said with fierce nerve； naming the family of Cosimo's wife because it was the only name that came into my head。 〃Look； kindly man； take this payment for me； have a good supper with your wife as my guests； here； I know it's late； I'm so tired！〃
The gate was opened。 I had to dismount to lead my horse with lowered head through it and into the echoing stone piazza right inside。
〃What in the name of God；〃 asked the Watchman； 〃were you doing in these woods after dark alone？ Do you know the dangers？ And so young？ What is the Bardi these days that they let their secretaries go riding all over unescorted？〃 He pocketed the money。 〃Look at you； a mere child！ Somebody could murder you for your buttons。 What's the matter with you？〃
This was an immense piazza； and I could see more than one street leading off。 Good luck。 But what if the demons were here too？ I had no clue as to where such things might roost or hide！ But I went on talking。
〃It's all my fault。 I got lost。 Tell on me and you'll get me in trouble；〃 I said。 〃Show me to the Albergo。 I'm so tired。 Here； take this； no； you must。〃 I gave him more money 〃I got lost。 I didn't listen。 I'm about to faint。 I need wine and supper and a bed。 Here； good man； no； no； no； take more； I insist。 The Bardi would not have it otherwise。〃
He ran out of pockets for the money； but managed somehow to stuff it in his shirt and then led me by torchlight to the Inn； banging on the door； and a sweet…faced old woman came down； grateful for the coins I thrust into her hand at once； to show me to a room。
〃High up and looking out over the valley；〃 I said； 〃if you please； and some supper； it can be stone cold； I don't care。〃
〃You're not going to find any books in this town；〃 said the Watchman； standing about as I beat it up the stairs after the woman。 〃All the young people go off； it's a peaceable place； just happy little shopkeepers。 Young men today run off to universities。 But this is a beautiful place to live； simply beautiful。〃
〃How many churches do you have？〃 I asked the old woman when we'd reached the room。 I told her that I must keep the lighted candle for the night。
〃Two Dominican； one Carmelite；〃 said the Watchman； slouching in the little door； 〃and the beautiful old Franciscan church； which is where I go。 Nothing bad ever happens here。〃
The old woman shook her head and told him to be quiet。 She set the candle down and gestured that it could stay。
The Watchman went on chattering as I sat on the bed； staring at nothing； until she'd brought a plate of cold mutton and bread； and a pitcher of wine。 〃Our schools are strict；〃 the man went on。 Again the old woman told him to hush up。
〃Nobody dares to make trouble in this place；〃 he said； and then both of them were gone。
I fell on my plate like an animal。 All I wanted was strength。 In my grief I couldn't even think of pleasure。 I looked out on a tiny bit of high star…sprinkled sky for a little while； praying desperately to every saint and angel whose name I knew for help； and then I locked up the window tight。 I bolted the door。
And making sure that the candle was well sheltered in the corner； and plenty big enough to last until dawn； I fell into the lumpy little bed； too exhausted to remove boots or sword or daggers or anything else。 I thought I'd fall into a deep sleep； but I lay rigid； full of hatred； and hurt； and swollen broken soul； staring into the dark； my mouth full of death as if I'd eaten it。
I could hear distantly the sounds of my horse being tended to downstairs； and some lonely steps on the deserted stone street。 I was safe； at least that much was so。
Finally sleep came。 It came totally and pletely and sweetly； the net of nerves which had held me suspended and maddened simply dissolved； and I sank down into a dreamless darkness。
I was conscious of that sweet point where nothing for the moment matters except to sleep； to replenish and to fear yet no dreams； and then nothing。
A noise brought me around。 I was immediately awake。 The candle had gone out。 I had my hand on my sword before my eyes opened。 I lay on the narrow bed； back to the wall； facing the room and in a seemingly sourceless light。 I could just make out the bolted door； but I couldn't see the window above me unless I turned my head to look up； and I knew； positively knew； that this window； heavily barred； had been broken open。 The little light which fell on the wall came from the sky outside。 It was a fragile； weak light； slipping down against the wall of the town and giving my little chamber the attitude of a prison cell。
I felt the cool fresh air e down around my neck and felt it on my cheek。 I clutched the sword tight； listening； waiting。 There were small creaking sounds。 The bed had moved ever so slightly； as if from a pressure。
I couldn't focus my eyes。 Darkness suddenly obscured everything； and out of this darkness there rose a shape before me； a figure bending over me； a woman looking right into my face as her hair fell down on me。 It was Ursula。
Her face was not an inch from mine。 Her hand； very cool and smooth； closed over my own； on the hilt of my sword； with a deadly force； and she let her eyelashes stroke my cheek and then kissed my forehead。
I was enveloped in sweetness； no matter how hot my rebellion。 A sordid flood of sensation penetrated to my very entrails。 〃Strega！〃 I cursed her。
〃I didn't kill them； Vittorio。〃 Her voice was imploring but with dignity and a curious sonorous strength； though it was only a small voice； very young in tone and feminine in timbre。
〃You were taking them；〃 I said to her。 I tried in a violent spasm to free myself。 But her hand held me powerfully fast； and when I tried to free my left arm from under me； she caught my wrist and held me there too； and then she kissed me。
There came that magnificent perfume from her which I had breathed in before； and the stroking of her hair on my face and neck sent shameless chills through me。
I tried to turn my head； and she let her lips touch my cheek gently； almost respectfully。
I felt the length of her body against me； the definite swell of her breasts beneath costly fabric； and the smooth length of her thigh beside me in the bed； and her tongue touched my lips。 She licked at my lips。
I was immobilized by the chills that went through me； humiliating me and kindling the passion inside me。 〃Get away； strega；〃 I whispered。
Filled with rage； I couldn't stop the slow smolder that had caught hold in my loins； I couldn't stop the rapturous sensations that were passing over my shoulders and down my back； and even through my legs。
Her eyes glowed above me； the flicker of her lids more a sensation than a spectacle I