to intimacy and companionship with the children of the Duke, he
had noted the graceful development of the bright young girl's physical
and mental charms; and he had given evidence of his interest in her by
many pleasant courtesies, both to herself and to her parents.

Messer Luigi soon observed the partiality of his Sovereign for his
fascinating young daughter, and being a man anxious, after the manner of
a true Florentine, even in those degenerate days, to better himself and
his family, he saw that something more than mere romance could be made
out of the situation. The commercial assets of his daughter's person
loomed large in his estimation, for if the Duke took a serious fancy to
Eleanora, it was conceivable that she might one day become his consort!

When the girl told her father of the Duke's kindness to her, and of his
embraces and tender words, he counselled her not to repel her admirer,
for what he meant was all for her good and for the distinction of her
family. The _liaison_ went on unrebuked, encouraged by Cosimo's promises
and Luigi's hopes. Nannina's tears of apprehension were brushed aside by
Eleanora's kisses.

Very tactfully Messer Luigi let the Duke know that his attentions were
acceptable, and that he and his good wife were vastly honoured by his
condescension to their daughter. In view of favours to come, he plainly
intimated that Eleanora was quite at his disposal, or, as he put it,
quite courtier-like, _di fare il piacere di Cosimo_!

The Duke needed no encouragement as the universal lover and ravisher of
the most comely maidens in Florence. He was only too pleased to carry
off this charming young _druda_ to his villa at Castello, and Eleanora
was nothing loth to go--the prospect of a throne has always been an
irresistible attraction to women in all ages!

Cosimo's sons were well aware, as indeed, was the whole Court and the
city too, of their father's love affairs. The Duke and the Prince-Regent
Francesco were mutually suspicious, and fawning, faithless courtiers
fanned the flame of jealousy and mistrust between them. The father threw
Bianca Cappello into his son's face, and he, in exchange, flung back
Eleanora degli Albizzi! At length, Cosimo desisted from the acrimonious
warfare, content to let things be as they might be at the Pitti Palace
and Pratolino, whilst he was left in seclusion with his _innamorata_ at
Castello. Cardinal Ferdinando, a boy of fifteen, lived in Rome, and
Don Piero, on