’Galeazzo’s room!’ he muttered; ’a red portent to greet him!’ and, turning to pursue his way—ran into a vice of arms and was in a moment a prisoner. The shock was so stunning, that he found himself bound and helpless before he could realise its import. And then he roared out like a lassoed bull:— ’Dogs! What’s this?’ The Provost Marshal answered him, waving aside his capturing sbirri. ’Her Grace’s warrant, Messer.’ Lanterns seemed to have sprung like funguses from the ground, grossly multiplying the strong company which surrounded him. He stared about him bewildered; then, all in an instant, drove forward like a battering-ram. There was a clash of pikes and mail; an arquebus exploded, luckily without disaster; and Carlo was down in a writhe of men, pounding with his heels. It brought him nothing but a full interest of bruises. Shortly he was on his feet again, torn and dishevelled; but this time with a thong about his ankles. He found wisdom of his helplessness to temporise. ’Save thee, Provost Marshal, I have an important errand toward. Spare me to it, and I’ll give my parole to deliver up my person to thee on my return.’ The dummy wagged aside the appeal, woodenly. ’I’ve my orders.’ Carlo lost his brief command of temper. ’Swine! To truss me like a thief?’ ’To hold thy person secure, Messer.’ ’With ropes, dog?’ ’I’ll unbind them, on that same parole.’ For all answer, Carlo dropped and rolled on the ground, bellowing curses and defiance. It was childish; but then, what was the great creature but a child? Despair divorced from reason finds its last resource in kicking; and strength of body was always this poor fellow’s convincing argument. The presumption that, by his own impulsive retort on Bernardo’s assailant, he had brought this cowardly retaliation on himself, made not the least of his anguish. Why could his thick head never learn the craftier ways of diplomacy? And here, in consequence, was he himself scotched, when most required for killing! He bounded like a madman. It took a dozen of them, hauling and swaying and tottering, to convey him up, and into, and so down again within, the tower of the dungeons. Jacopo had no orders other than for his safe durance and considerate keep; but no doubt that ’swine’ weighed a little on the human balance side of the incorruptible blockhead’s decision. There was a cell—one adjoining the ’Hermit’s’—very profound and safe indeed, though far less deadly in its appointments (so to speak, for the other had none) than its neighbour. And into this cell, by the Provost Marshal’s directions, they carried Master Carlo, still struggling and roaring; and, having despoiled him of his weapons, and—with some apprehension—uncorded him, there locked him in incontinent to the enjoyment of his own clamour, which, it may be said, he made the most of up to midnight.