donna Paola spoke.

"Sir," said she, in faltering accents, "I--I have not the right to ask
you, and I stand already so deeply in your debt. Not a doubt of it, but
it will have inconvenienced you to have journeyed thus far to inform
me of the flight of my grooms. Yet if you could--" She paused, timid of
proceeding, and her glance fell.

The hostess was all ears, struck by the respectful manner in which this
very evidently noble lady addressed a Fool. I opened the door for her.

"You may leave us now," said I. "I will come to you presently."

When she was gone I turned once more to the lady, my course resolved
upon. My hate had conquered my last doubt. What first imported was that
I should get to Pesaro and to Madonna Lucrezia.

"You were about to ask me," said I, "that I should accompany you to
Pesaro."

"I hesitated, sir," she murmured. I bowed respectfully.

"There was not the need, Madonna," I assured her. "I am at your
service."

"But, Messer Boccadoro, I have no claim upon you."

"Surely," said I, "the claim that every distressed lady has upon a man
of heart. Let us say no more. It were best not to delay in setting out,
although I can scarcely think that there is any imminent danger from
Ramiro del' Orca now."

"Who is he?" she inquired.

"I told her, whereupon--"

"Did they come up with you?" she asked. "What passed between you?"

Succinctly I related what had chanced, and how I had sent Ramiro on a
fool's errand, adding the particulars of the flight of her grooms, and
of how I had rid myself of the litter and the second mule. She heard me,
her eyes sparkling, and at times she clapped her hands with a glee that
was almost childish, vowing that this was splendid, that was brave. I
allayed what little fears remained her by pointing out how effectively
we had effaced our tracks, and how vainly now Messer del' Orca might
beat the country in quest of a lady in a litter, escorted by four
grooms.

And now she beset me with fresh thanks and fresh expressions of wonder
at my generous readiness to befriend her--a wonder all devoid of
suspicion touching the single-mindedness of my purpose. But I reminded
her that we had little leisure to stand talking, and left her to make
her preparations for the journey, whilst I went below to see that my
mule and her horse were saddled. I made bold to pay the reckoning, and
when presently she spoke of it, with flaming cheeks, and would have
pledged me a jewel, I bade her