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My mother couldn't be persuaded to do her old slow dances； however。
It must have been very late when an unexpected visitor was announced。 No one had left the main hall； except Bartola and Matteo； who had been taken off to bed by me earlier and left in the care of our old nurse； Simonetta。
The Captain of my father's Guard came into the hall； clicked his heels and bowed to my father and said：
〃My Lord； it seems there is a man of great rank e to the house； and he will not be received in the light； or so he says； and demands that you e out to him。〃
Everyone at the table was at once alert； and my mother went white with anger and umbrage。
No one ever used the word 〃demand〃 to my father。
Also it was plain to me that our Captain of the Guard； a rather prepossessing old soldier who'd seen many battles with the wandering mercenaries； was himself overvigilant and a little shaken。
My father rose to his feet。 He did not speak or move； however。
〃Would you do that； my Lord； or should I send this Signore away？〃 the Captain asked。
〃Tell him that he is most wele to e into my house as my guest；〃 said my father； 〃that we extend to him in the name of Christ Our Lord our full hospitality。〃
His very voice seemed to have a calming effect on the whole table； except perhaps for my mother； who seemed not to know what to do。
The Captain looked almost slyly at my father； as if to convey the secret message that this would never do； but he went off to deliver the invitation。
My father did not sit down。 He stood staring off； and then he cocked his head； as though listening。 He turned and snapped his fingers； drawing to attention the two guards slumbering at the ends of the hall。
〃Go through the house； see to everything；〃 he said in a soft voice。 〃I think I hear birds which have entered the house。 It's the warm air； and there are many open windows。〃
These two went off； and immediately two other soldiers appeared to take their place。 That in itself was not usual； for it meant that there were many men on duty。
The Captain came back alone； and once more bowed。
〃My Lord； he will not e into the light； he says； but that you must e out to him； and he has little time to wait on you。〃
This was the first time I had ever seen my father really angry。 Even when he whipped me or a peasant boy； he was rather lazy about it。 Now the fine lineaments of his face； so given to reassurance by their very proportions； became absolutely wrathful。 〃How dare he？〃 he whispered。
Yet he strode around the table； came in front of it and marched off with the Captain of the Guard hastening behind him。
I was out of my chair at once and after him。 I heard my mother cry out softly； 〃Vittorio； e back。〃
But I stole down the stairs after my father； and into the courtyard； and only when he himself turned around and pressed my chest hard with his hand did I halt。
〃Stay there； my son；〃 he said with his old kindly warmth。 〃I shall see to it。〃
I had a good vantage point； right at the door of the tower； and there across the courtyard； at the gates in the full light of the torches； I saw this strange Signore who would not e into the light of the hall； for he did not seem to mind this outdoor illumination。 The huge gates of the arched entrance were locked and bolted for the night。 Only the small man…sized gate was opened； and it was there that he stood； with the blazing crackling fire on either side of him； glorying in it； it seemed to me； in his splendid raiment of dark； wine…red velvet。
From head to toe he was dressed in this rich color； hardly the current style； but every detail of him； from his bejeweled doublet and blown…up sleeves of satin and velvet stripes； was this same hue； as though carefully dyed in the best fullers in Florence。
Even the gems sewn into his collar and hanging about his neck on a heavy golden chain were wine red … most likely rubies or even sapphires。
His hair was thick and black； hanging sleekly onto his shoulders； but I couldn't see his face； no； not at all； for the velvet hat he wore overshadowed it； and I caught but a glimpse of very white skin； the line of his jaw and a bit of his neck； for nothing else was visible。 He wore a broadsword of immense size； with an antique scabbard； and casually over one shoulder was a cloak of the same wine…dark velvet trimmed in what seemed to my distant eyes to be ornate gilt symbols。
I strained； trying to make them out； this border of signs； and I thought I could see a star and crescent moon worked into his fancy adornments； but I was really too far away。 The man's height was impressive。
My father stopped quite far short of him； yet when he spoke his voice was soft and I couldn't hear it； and out of the mysterious man； who still revealed nothing now of his face but his smiling mouth and white teeth； there came a silky utterance that seemed both surly and charming。
〃Get away from my house in the name of God and Our Holy Redeemer！〃 my father cried out suddenly。 And with a quick gesture； he stepped forward and powerfully thrust this splendid figure right out of the gate。 I was amazed。
But from the hollow mouth of darkness beyond the opening there came only a low satin laughter； a mocking laughter； and this it seemed was echoed by others； and I heard a powerful thundering of hooves； as though several horsemen had menced at once to ride off。
My father himself slammed the gate。 And turned and made the Sign of the Cross； and pressed his hands together in prayer。
〃Dear Lord God； how dare they！〃 he said； looking up。
It was only now； as he stormed back towards me and towards the tower itself； that I realized the Captain of the Guard was paralyzed with seeming terror。
My father's eye caught mine as soon as he came into the light from the stairs； and I gestured to the Captain。 My father spun round。
〃Batten down my house；〃 my father called out。 〃Search it from top to bottom and batten it down and call out the soldiery and fill the night with torches； do you hear？ I will have men in every tower and on the walls。 Do it at once。 It will give peace and calm to my people！〃 We had not yet reached the supper room when an old priest living with us then； a learned Dominican named Fra Diamonte； came down with his white hair all mussed； and his cassock half unbuttoned； and his prayer book in his hand。
〃What is it； my Lord？〃 he asked。 〃What in the name of God has happened？〃
〃Father； trust in God and e and pray with me in the chapel；〃 said my father to him。 He then pointed to another guard who was fast approaching。 〃Light up the chapel； all its candles； for I want to pray。 Do it now； and have the boys e down and play for me some sacred music。〃
He then took my hand and that of the priest。 〃It's nothing； really； you must both of you know that。 It's all superstitious foolishness； but any excuse which makes a worldly man like me turn to his God is a good one。 e on； Vittorio； you and Fra Diamonte and I will pray； but for your mother put on a good face。〃
I was much calmer； but the prospect of being up all night in the lighted chapel was both wele and alarming。
I went off to get my prayer books； my Mass books and books of other devotions； fine vellum books from