ct her, her sprightliness, to
love her. She was pleasing to Heaven, whither she had gone sinless to
reinforce the angelic choir, and to wear the most fragrant coronal of
roses among the companies of holy virgins."

As for the unfortunate young Malatesta, he pined in his dungeon within
the keep of San Giovanni for a while, but "hope springeth ever in
youthful hearts," and his one and consuming thought was of escape. His
conduct seems to have been exemplary, and he gained the sympathy and
friendship of his gaolers. At length he ventured to unbosom himself to a
worthy sergeant of the guard, and this man assisted him, knowing well
what great risk they both incurred.

One evening Malatesta unseen, save by his friend, scaled the prison
wall, and made good his escape from Florence and Tuscany. He did not
venture to seek sanctuary within his father's castle, but, flying to the
coast, boarded a vessel bound for Candia, a fief of Venice, and outside
Duke Cosimo's jurisdiction. Various tales are told of his future
career--some affirm that assassins, in the pay of Duke Cosimo, tracked
him to his doom, and others, that he fell, fighting against the Turks at
Famagusta. Anyhow, the kindly sergeant was put to death by order of the
Duke!

* * * * *

Cosimo de' Medici was not the sort of man to brood very long over
troubles, however prostrating and desperate. He was essentially a man of
action, prompt, eager and able: probably no one ever had a more thorough
confidence in his own ability. There were several questions of supreme
importance, both public and private, which claimed his attention.

The everlasting disagreement between the aristocracy and the democracy
was only partially healed by the alliance of the two against an
autocracy. Cosimo was bent upon being absolute ruler of Tuscany, and
the development of his will raised against him and his Government
constant opposition. He meant to keep his hand tight hold of the bridle
of his charger "Tyranny," and to spur him on where he willed.

The Mediceo-Este dispute still called for firmness and determination.
Tuscany and Florence had certainly a better case than the Romagna and
Ferrara, but intrigue and bribes could achieve what the sword and pen
could not. Cosimo meant to keep on his steel gauntlets, although he
covered them with the fragrant silk gloves of plausibility. With this
idea ever present, he was bent upon retaining the advantage he had
ga