The dowry was to be 200,000 gold ducats, secured by liens on fiefs in Romagna, and an agreement was finally reached. In secret consistory, September 7th, all the cardinals present had consented to the remission of the Church’s tribute for the purpose of advancing the family interests and political ambitions of Alexander and Caesar Borgia. [Illustration: LUCRETIA BORGIA. _After Titian._ To face p. 183.] Valentino had returned to Rome about the middle of September, and the 23rd he received the envoys of the Duke of Ferrara, who found him lying on a bed, but dressed. October 6th they again had occasion to confer with him, and they brought the list of those who were to come to Rome to escort the bride to Ferrara. Valentino was especially gracious; the orators gave a detailed account of their interview, because, as they explained, it was a favour usually accorded only to cardinals. It seems to have been difficult to obtain an audience with Caesar; when the Ferrarese orators again tried to see him two days later they were refused; they complained to the Pope, who appeared greatly annoyed, and said: “Caesar turns night into day, and day into night; the ambassadors of Rimini have been in Rome more than two months without securing an audience.” They also reported that Alexander was much displeased with Caesar’s conduct, and that he remarked that he was not certain that his Excellency would be able to hold the conquered territory. The preparations for the wedding were interrupted for some days by the absence of the Pope and Caesar, who, accompanied by a number of cardinals and their suites, went to Civita Castellana and Nepi to inspect the changes which had been made in the stronghold of the latter place, and the fortress which was being constructed in the former town by Antonio di Sangallo. During their absence Lucretia had been left as regent in the Vatican, according to Burchard, just as she had been on a former occasion, with authority to open letters and transact ecclesiastical business. The escort which was expected to come to conduct Lucretia to Ferrara was delayed several times, and they were still looking for it at the end of October; finally Ercole announced that, owing to the inclemency of the season, he had decided to postpone the matter; the true reason, however, was the fact that the Emperor Maximilian had given him to understand that the alliance with the Borgia to which he had committed himself was highly displeasing to himself.