ms, and a Sienese by race. This Ser Benedetto had been very many
years at Naples; afterwards he had settled in Rome, where he
transacted business for some Sienese merchants of the Chigi. My
partner had over and over again asked him for some moneys which were
due for certain little rings confided to Ser Benedetto. That very day,
meeting him in the Banchi, he demanded his money rather roughly, as
his wont was. Benedetto was walking with his masters, and they,
annoyed by the interruption, scolded him sharply, saying they would be
served by somebody else, in order not to have to listen to such
barking.

Ser Benedetto did the best he could to excuse himself, swore that he
had paid the goldsmith, and said he had no power to curb the rage of
madmen. The Sienese took his words ill, and dismissed him on the spot.
Leaving them, he ran like an arrow to my shop, probably to take
revenge upon Felice. It chanced that just in the middle of the street
we met. I, who had heard nothing of the matter, greeted him most
kindly, according to my custom, to which courtesy he replied with
insults. Then what the sorcerer had said flashed all at once upon my
mind; and bridling myself as well as I was able, in the way he bade
me, I answered:--

"Good brother Benedetto, don't fly into a rage with me, for I have
done you no harm, nor do I know anything about these affairs of yours.
Please go and finish what you have to do with Felice. He is quite
capable of giving you a proper answer; but inasmuch as I know nothing
about it, you are wrong to abuse me in this way, especially as you are
well aware that I am not the man to put up with insults."

He retorted that I knew everything, and that he was the man to make me
bear a heavier load than that, and that Felice and I were two great
rascals. By this time a crowd had gathered round to hear the quarrel.
Provoked by his ugly words, I stooped and took up a lump of mud--for
it had rained--and hurled it with a quick and unpremeditated movement
at his face. He ducked his head, so that the mud hit him in the middle
of the skull. There was a stone in it with several sharp angles, one
of which striking him, he fell stunned like a dead man; whereupon all
the bystanders, seeing the great quantity of blood, judged that he was
really dead.

While he was still lying on the ground, and people were preparing to
carry him away, Pompeo the jeweler passed by. The Pope had sent for
him to give orders about some jewels.