at I might
yet do, if she lacked the grace to treat me with gratitude for the sake
of that which I had done already.

"Madonna," said I. "It were wiser to choose the by-road and forego the
escort, since we have dispensed with it so far. There are many reasons
why a lady should not seek to enter Fano at this hour of night."

"I know of none," she interrupted me.

"That may well be. Nevertheless they exist."

"This night-riding in so lonely a fashion is little to my taste," she
told me sullenly. "I am for Fano."

She had the mercy to spare me the actual words, yet her tone told me as
plainly as if she had uttered them that I could go with her or not, as
I should choose. In silence, very sore at heart, I turned my mule's head
once more towards the lights of the town.

"Since you are resolved, so be it," was all my answer; and we proceeded.

No word did we exchange until we had entered the main street, when she
curtly asked me which was the best inn.

"'The Golden Fish,'" said I, as curtly, and to "The Golden Fish" we
went.

Arrived there, Madonna Paola took affairs into her own hands. She
dismounted, leaving the reins with a groom, and entering the common-room
she proclaimed her needs to those that occupied it by loudly calling
upon the landlord to find her an escort of three or four knaves to
accompany her at once to Pesaro, where they should be well rewarded by
the Lord Giovanni, her cousin.

I had followed her in, and I ground my teeth at such an egregious piece
of folly. Her hood was thrown back, displaying the lenza of fine linen
on her sable hair, and over this a net of purest gold all set with
jewels. Her camorra, too, was open, and in her girdle there were gems
for all to see. There were but a half-dozen men in the room. Two of
these had a venerable air--they may have been traders journeying to
Milan--whilst a third, who sat apart, was a slender, effeminate-looking
youth. The remaining three were fellows of rough aspect, and when one of
them--a black-browed ruffian--raised his eyes and fastened them upon the
riches that Madonna Paola with such indifference displayed, I knew what
was to follow.

He rose upon the instant, and stepping forward, he made her a low bow.

"Illustrious lady," said he, "if these two friends of mine and I find
favour with you, here is an escort ready found. We are stout fellows,
and very faithful."

Faithful to their cut-throat trade, I made no doubt he meant.

His fellows