, lifting the hand
of the dead girl: 'Some one is near us! Who is it' 'The king,' she
answered. I at once showed myself and rapped on the window. Ruggiero
opened it, and I sprang into that hellish kitchen, followed by Tavannes.
'Yes, the king,' I said to the two Florentines, who seemed terrified.
'In spite of your furnaces and your books, your sciences and your
sorceries, you did not foresee my visit. I am very glad to meet the
famous Lorenzo Ruggiero, of whom my mother speaks mysteriously,' I said,
addressing the old man, who rose and bowed. 'You are in this kingdom
without my consent, my good man. For whom are you working here, you
whose ancestors from father to son have been devoted in heart to the
house of Medici? Listen to me! You dive into so many purses that by
this time, if you are grasping men, you have piled up gold. You are
too shrewd and cautious to cast yourselves imprudently into criminal
actions; but, nevertheless, you are not here in this kitchen without a
purpose. Yes, you have some secret scheme, you who are satisfied neither
by gold nor power. Whom do you serve,--God or the devil? What are you
concocting here? I choose to know the whole truth; I am a man who can
hear it and keep silence about your enterprise, however blamable it
maybe. Therefore you will tell me all, without reserve. If you deceive
me you will be treated severely. Pagans or Christians, Calvinists or
Mohammedans, you have my royal word that you shall leave the kingdom in
safety if you have any misdemeanors to relate. I shall leave you for
the rest of the night and the forenoon of to-morrow to examine your
thoughts; for you are now my prisoners, and you will at once follow me
to a place where you will be guarded carefully.' Before obeying me
the two Italians consulted each other by a subtle glance; then Lorenzo
Ruggiero said I might be assured that no torture could wring their
secrets from them; that in spite of their apparent feebleness neither
pain nor human feelings had any power of them; confidence alone could
make their mouth say what their mind contained. I must not, he said, be
surprised if they treated as equals with a king who recognized God only
as above him, for their thoughts came from God alone. They therefore
claimed from me as much confidence and trust as they should give to me.
But before engaging themselves to answer me without reserve they must
request me to put my left hand into that of the young girl lying there,
and