"Fear not, my Lord Cardinal," said his groom; and he threw himself into the saddle. The Florentines also mounted their horses. At this moment, Piero Strozzi stepped forward, saying, "This, from my father," with a meaning smile; and gave him a billet. This Piero was son of Felippo, and had something of the same cold, sly look. The billet only contained these words: "All goes well." The Cardinal read it with a gay smile, and tossed it back to Strozzi. "Good news to start with," said he to his companions, as they rode out of the yard. "The sun can scarce be hotter in Africa than it is here to-day, I think," said Donati, one of the _fuorusciti_. "Not a whit too hot for me; I enjoy it," said the Cardinal. "And the road is in our favour, for it is all down-hill." "_Facile descensus_," said Capponi. "What a vibrating haze!" "We shall enjoy the shade and the coolness at Fondi," said Ippolito. "You know I have undertaken to show you the fairest lady in Italy." "And I maintain, beforehand, that she cannot be so fair as the Marchesana del Vasto," said Donati. "Allowing for difference of years, you mean," said Capponi. "The Duchess is a little past her prime." "No such thing," said Ippolito quickly; and he used the spur, though there was no need. The mare sprang forward; the others were obliged to quicken their pace, and they had ridden a mile or two before another word was spoken. Then the Cardinal slackened his speed, and began to talk of matters quite different; of the brilliant African campaign; of the likelihood of Muley Hassan holding his own, now he was reinstated; of the probable movements of Barbarossa; of the glut of Moorish slaves in the market, and so forth. Arrived at Fondi, the Cardinal was preparing to alight, when the Duchess's grey-haired seneschal came forward and announced the mortifying intelligence that his lady was from home. It may be matter of surprise that the Cardinal should not have been apprised of her absence at Itri; but, in fact, he had learnt from what he had considered good authority, that she was to return to Fondi a little before this time, so that he had made sure of finding her at her castle. His chagrin was extreme; not only because he had counted much on this visit, and had now no hope of seeing her before he sailed, but because he had given out to his companions that he possessed such perfect knowledge of her movements and such security of a cordial reception, that he was now open to their raillery, whether or no they spared it. The seneschal, who knew him well, respectfully besought him to partake of such poor refreshment as the castle afforded; but the Cardinal was vexed, and rode off again, without compassion for man or beast.