The Secret of her Influence 83 CATERINA SFORZA. Born, 1462. Died, 1509. CHAPTER I. PAGE Of Catherine's father, the Duke, and of his magnificent journey to Florence 90 CHAPTER II. A Franciscan Pope and a Franciscan Cardinal.—A notable illustration of the proverb concerning mendicants' rides.—The Nemesis of Despotism 102 CHAPTER III. Catherine's marriage.—"Petit Courrier des dames" for 1476.—Four years of prosperity.—Life in Rome in the fifteenth century.—A hunting party in the Campagna.—Guilty or not guilty.—Catherine and her husband leave Rome 121 CHAPTER IV. From Rome to Forlì with bag and baggage.—First presentation of a new lord and lady to their lieges.—Venice again shows a velvet paw to a second Riario.—Saffron-hill in brocade and ermine.—Sad conduct on the part of our lieges.—Life in Rome again.—"Orso! Orso!"—"Colonna! Colonna!"—A Pope's hate, and a Pope's Vengeance.—Sixtus finally loses the game 140 CHAPTER V. The Family is founded.—But finds it very difficult to stand on its Foundations.—Life in Rome during an Interregnum.—Magnificent Prince short of Cash.—Our Heroine's Claims to that Title.—A Night Ride to Forlì, and its results.—An Accident to which splendid Princes are liable 166 CHAPTER VI. Catherine in trouble.—"Libertà e Chiesà!" in Forlì.—The Cardinal Savelli.—The Countess and her Castellano perform a comedy before the lieges.—A veteran revolutionist.—No help coming from Rome.—Cardinal Legate in an awkward position.—All over with the Orsi.—Their last night in Forlì.—Catherine herself again.—Retribution.—An octogenarian conspirator's last day 182 CHAPTER VII. An unprotected Princess.—Match-making, and its penalties.—A ladies' man for a Castellano.—A woman's weakness, and a woman's political economy.—Wanted, by the city of Forlì, a Jew; any Israelite, possessing sufficient capital, will find this, &c. &c.—The new Pope, Alexander VI.—The value of a Jubilee.—Troublous times in Forlì.—Alliances made, and broken.—Catherine once more a widow 204 CHAPTER VIII. Guilty or not guilty again.—Mediæval Clanship.—A woman's vengeance.—Funeral honours.—Royal-mindedness.—Its costliness; and its mode of raising the wind.—Taxes spent in alms to ruined tax-payers.—Threatening times.—Giovanni de' Medici.—Catherine once more wife, mother, and widow 223 CHAPTER IX.