"An odd sort of bower to place one's lady-love in," I said, half aloud, to myself; but then Baglioni's wooing was a rough one. There was obviously nothing to be got by staring at the front of the house, and I turned to my left, pausing between two dead walls, until I obtained a view of the tower behind. The windows of the topmost room were all closed and strongly barred, and it seemed deserted. I glanced lower down, and to my joy saw that the room below was evidently occupied, and once I caught a glimpse of a figure moving within. It was a brief glimpse; but the eyes of love are sharp, and I knew it was Angiola. I made up my mind at once, and stepping back quickly to the front of the house, hammered loudly at the door with the knocker. After a moment's silence, I heard the firm tread of a soldier. A small barrier was let down, a bearded face looked up, and a rough voice asked-- "Who knocks?" "Diavolo!" I exclaimed. "You are polite. Is the Cavaliere Paolo within?" "He is not," replied the man shortly. "Expected soon?" "Cannot say." "If you do not answer more civilly it will be bad for you. Tell him when he comes that the Cavaliere di Savelli"--I gave my proper name--"has arrived from Rome on an urgent affair, and will call on him to-morrow; forget, and it will be the worse for you." The man seemed a little surprised, and altered his tone at once. "I will give your message, signore." "Beware how you fail--harkee--is there a road to the Via Appia behind this house?" "Yes, signore, straight on, after taking the passage." I did not even thank him, but turned on my heel, and walked off whistling a catch. I went down the passage between the two walls, and after some considerable stumblings up and down the vile roads, reached the Via Appia and turned southwards to my hostel. I had formed the somewhat daring plan of trying to force the house in broad daylight, choosing my time an hour or so after dinner, and if done boldly this would probably be successful, as my own force was nearly equal to that of the garrison including Pluto. As I was approaching the Rubicon, I heard a voice at my side. "A copper, signore--a brown paul." "Gian." "Excellency." "Drop the beggar, and attend--can you ride?" "Yes, excellency." "Very well!" I said no more and went on in silence, but a little distance from the hostel I bade Gian stop, and entering the yard, sought out Jacopo. "Has the landlord any horses for sale?" "Two, your excellency." "Good ones?" "Fairly so, excellency--about twenty crowns a piece with saddle included." "Then buy one--and here--a few steps to the right of the entrance you will find a cripple, he is one of my men, do not speak, but attend--go out quietly--get him decently clothed, and bring him back here, the horse will be for him. You can get clothes to fit him anywhere, for the shops do not shut until late; get him a sword too, there are some good and cheap weapons in Perugia." "It shall be done, excellency."