were supposed to
be unloaded. Picking up one of these, by mere chance, Malatesta aimed it
jokingly at his companions, when to his and their alarm the weapon
exploded, and, sad to behold, poor young Francesco Brivio, a son of
Signore Dionisio Brivio of Milan, a fellow page, fell to the ground
mortally wounded.

Consternation reigned in the palace, the Duke's private physician,
Maestro Andrea Pasquali, was sent for in all haste from Florence, and
everything was done for the unfortunate lad, but, on the fourth day--it
was just before Christmas--the promising young life passed away.

Malatesta, with his heart breaking, was confined in the guard-room, and
there he remained pending the Duke's decision. Every one was grieved
beyond measure at the tragic occurrence, but all took Malatesta's part.
The young Medici were eager and united in their version of the affair,
moreover Donne Maria and Isabella were filled with pity for the unhappy
young prisoner. Indeed, the former regarded him with a sister's love:
she was just ten and the lad thirteen, and she pleaded with the Duchess,
her mother, to have the boy released.

The Duke sent for Signore Tommaso de' Medici, the Chamberlain of the
Court, and gave him instructions to set the boy at liberty, after
administering the useful punishment of twenty strokes with a birch rod,
and giving him a severe reprimand and caution!

Signor Brivio and his wife, of course, were dreadfully cast down by
their sad bereavement, and both wrote piteously to the Duke, and so did
Marchese Leonida de' Malatesti. Cosimo sent very sympathetic letters in
return: that to the Marchese was as follows: "... Consideration has been
given ... it has not been found that there was any malice between the
boys.... Do not trouble yourself any further about the matter, for your
boy remains in our service, in which we hope he will behave as he ought,
and we hold you in the same esteem as we have ever done. May God
preserve you."

Young Malatesta grew to be a fine, high-spirited soldier of the Duke's
bodyguard. Loyal to the core to his master, and ambitious for the honour
of his family, no enterprise was beyond his scope, no obstacle
insurmountable. Intercourse between the princes and princesses and
himself became naturally less familiar, but the affections of early boy
and girlhood are not easily dissipated; and so Malatesta de' Malatesti
and Maria de' Medici found, but, alas, for their woe and not for their
weal!