I supped that evening for a change with the gentlemen of the suite; but St. Armande was not there, and there were a few free remarks made concerning the manner in which he was supposed to have been received at the Vatican by Giulia Orsini, and Lucrezia Borgia. "If it goes on like this," said Le Clerc, "we will have to drag the Tiber for his body, and say masses for his soul, unless he puts the seas between himself and the Borgia." "He never struck me as a man to run after the ladies," I said. "No," replied the abbé, "but it is the other way. You would stand no chance against him, cavalier, for all your long moustache--a thousand thanks," and the genial Le Clerc seized the flagon of Orvieto I passed to him, and filled his goblet. After this the conversation changed, and I shortly retired to my apartments, and dismissing my lackey, sat down to read a book on falconry that the cardinal had lent me. I had not been occupied thus for an hour when the door opened, and Jacopo cautiously peeped in. He withdrew his head on catching my eye, and I heard him shuffling outside. "Come in." "Excellency," and the sound of further shuffling, but no Jacopo. I lost patience at this, and fearing at the same time that there had been trouble, repeated my order to come in sharply. This had the desired effect; but as soon as my henchman appeared in view I made certain there had been a brawl. He was very red in the face, and from under the helmet he wore I could see a white bandage. "What the devil does this mean, Jacopo?" I asked sternly. "I have come to report, excellency." "You hardly appear in a fit state to do so." "Perfectly fit, excellency," and Jacopo drew himself up to attention and saluted. "Is the matter of importance? For if not, you had better come to-morrow." "Yes, your excellency--matter of importance. By your worship's leave, as you are aware, I gave a dinner to-day, and we had----" "Never mind what you had; to the point." "Boiled meat with sause, sausages with garlic, a _risotto alla Milanese_----" "I do not care what you had, go on fool." "I am going on, excellency. Where was I--a _risotto_ did I say? And bread made with yeast. And for drink, signore----" "I doubt not you had store of that, Jacopo." "But a dozen flagons or so of wine, your worship--all rosso." "Jacopo--you will be good enough to retire at once." "I am retiring, excellency; but my report." "Will do for to-morrow." "As your worship desires; but we have burnt the inn." "What!" "The inn, where we rested the day of our arrival in Rome, your worship. What with one thing and another, the landlord footed up his bill to four crowns. And I said to my friends, 'What! Are honest soldiers to pay like this?' Whereat there was trouble, excellency; but we came off best." I rose without a word, and seizing Jacopo by the neck, ejected him from the room, with, I am sorry to say, very considerable violence.