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〃You are numb with stupidity！〃 I declared。 〃You make yourselves known to the whole daylight world； and you think this Court of the Ruby Grail can endure forever？〃
〃You insult me；〃 said the Lord。 A bit of rosy color came divinely and beautifully into his cheeks。 〃I ask you with courtesy to be quiet。〃
〃Do I insult you？ My Lord； allow me to advise you。 You are helpless by day； I know you are。 You strike by night and only by night。 All signs and words point to it。 I remember your hordes fleeing my father's house。 I remember the warning； 'Look at the sky'。 My Lord； you have lived too long in your country forest。 You should have followed my father's example and sent off a few pupils to the philosophers and priests of the city of Florence。〃
〃Don't mock me anymore；〃 he said imploringly with the same well…bred restraint。 〃You are causing anger in me； Vittorio； and I have no room for it。〃
〃Your time is short； old Demon；〃 I said。 〃So make merry in your antiquated castle while you can。〃
Ursula cried out under her breath； but I wouldn't be stopped。
〃You may have bought off the old generation of idiots who run the town right now；〃 I said； 〃but if you don't think the worlds of Florence and Venice and Milan are not moving in on you more fiercely than you can ever prevent； you are dreaming。 It's not men such as my father who are a threat to you； my Lord。 It's the scholar with his books； it's the university astrologers and alchemists who'll move in on you； it's the modern age of which you know nothing； and they will hunt you down； like some old beast of legend； and drag you out of this lair in the heat of the sun and cut off your heads； all of you …〃
〃Kill him！〃 There came a female voice from those who watched。 〃Destroy him now；〃 said a man。 〃He isn't fit for the coop！〃 screamed another。
〃He's unworthy to be kept in the coop for a moment； or even to be sacrificed。〃
Then a whole chorus let loose with demands for my death。
〃No；〃 cried Ursula； throwing out her arms to the Lord。 〃Florian； I beg you！〃
〃Torture； torture； torture；〃 they began to chant； first two and three and then four。
〃My Lord；〃 said the Elder； but I could scarce hear his voice； 〃he's only a boy。 Let us put him in the coop with the rest of the flock。 In a night or two he won't remember his name。 He'll be as tame and plump as the others。〃
〃Kill him now；〃 screamed one voice over all。 And： 〃Be done with him；〃 cried others； their demands rising ever louder in volume。 There came a piercing shout seconded at once： 〃Tear him limb from limb。 Now。 Do it。〃
〃Yes； yes； yes！〃 It was like the beat of battle drums。
7
THE COOP
GODRIC； the Elder； shouted loudly for silence； right at the moment that numerous rather glacial hands had I tightened on my arms。
Now； once in Florence I had seen a man torn apart by a mob。 I'd been far too close for my own desire to the spectacle； and had been nearly trampled in the efforts of those who； like me； wanted to get away。
So it was no fantasy to me that such could happen。 I was as resigned to it as I was to any other form of death； believing； I think； as powerfully in my anger and my rectitude as I did in death。
But Godric ordered the blood drinkers back； and the entire pallid…faced pany withdrew with a courtly grace that bordered upon the coy and the cloying； heads bowed or turned to one side； as if a moment before they had not been party to a rabble。
I kept my eyes fixed on the Lord； whose face now showed such a heat that it appeared near human； the blood pulsating in his thin cheeks； and his mouth as dark as a dried blood scar； for all its pleasing shape。 His dark golden hair seemed almost brown； and his blue eyes were filled with pondering and concern。
〃I say that he be put in with the others；〃 said Godric； the bald Elder。
At once； Ursula's sobs broke forth； as though she could not restrain herself any longer。 I looked over to see her； her head bowed； her hands struggling to pletely shield her face； and； through the creases of her long fingers； droplets of blood falling as though her tears were made of it。
〃Don't cry；〃 I said； not even thinking about the wisdom of it。 〃Ursula； you have done all you can。 I am impossible。〃
Godric turned and looked at me with one thickly creased raised eyebrow。 This time I was close enough to see that his bald white head did have such hairs to it； scant eyebrows of gray as thick and ugly as old splinters。
Ursula brought up a rose…colored napkin from the fold of her long high…waisted French gown； a pale pink tissue of a thing stitched on the edges with green leaves and pink flowers； and on this she wiped her lovely red tears and looked at me； as if she were crushed with longing。
〃My predicament is impossible；〃 I said to her。 〃You've done all you can to save me。 If I could； I would put my arms around you to protect you from this pain。 But this beast here is holding me hostage。〃 There were outraged gasps and murmurs from the still dark…garbed pany； and in a blur I allowed myself to see the thin； gaunt； bone…white faces that lined the long board on either side of the Lord； to glance at some of the Ladies who were so Frenchified in their old headdresses and wimples of rose red that they had not a single hair visible。 There seemed both a Prankish absurdity and delicacy to them； and of course they were all demons。 The bald Elder； Godric； only chuckled。 〃Demons；〃 I said； 〃such a collection。〃
〃The coop； my Lord；〃 said Godric； the bald one。 〃With the others； and then I may make my suggestions to you in private； and with Ursula we shall talk。 She grieves unduly。〃
〃I do！〃 she cried。 〃Please； Florian； if only because I have never asked anything of this sort； and you know it。〃
〃Yes； Ursula；〃 said the Lord； in the softest voice which had issued from his lips yet。 〃I know that； my loveliest flower。 But this boy is recalcitrant； and his family； when from time to time they had the advantage over those of us who wandered from here to hunt； destroyed those unfortunate members of our tribe。 It happened more than once。〃
〃Marvelous！〃 I cried out。 〃How brave； how wondrous； what a gift you give me。〃 The Lord was astonished and annoyed。
But Ursula hurried forward； in a flurry of dark shadowy velvet skirts； and leaned over the polished table to be close to him。 I could see only her hair in its long thick braids； twined exquisitely with red velvet ribbons； and the shape of her gorgeous arms； so perfectly narrow and plump at the same time； enchanted me against my own will。
〃To the coop； please； my Lord；〃 she begged； 〃and let me have him at least for so many nights as I need to reconcile my heart to this。 Let him be admitted tonight for the Midnight Mass； and let him wonder。〃
I made no answer to this。 I merely memorized it。
Two of the pany； clean…shaven men in court dress； suddenly appeared at my side； to assist Godric； it seemed； in having me taken off。
Before I knew what was to befall me； a soft binding of cloth was put over my eyes。 I was sightless。 〃No； let me see！〃 I cried out。
〃The coop then； it is； very well；〃 came the Lord's voice； and I felt myself being taken away from the room； fast； as if the feet of those who escorted me scarce