ca Buonaventuri, and resenting his constant interference
in his private affairs no less than in his public duties, was only too
ready to give ear to any scandal which he might turn to good account. At
first he kept his own counsel, but one day, being unusually exasperated
with words of reproach uttered by his father, Francesco proclaimed his
displeasure at, and opposition to, the views of the Duke with respect to
Eleanora degli Albizzi.

Cosimo knew at once how his secret had been exposed, and by whom. He
managed to control his passion, but indignantly retorted that there was
a son's duty to a father which should have taught Francesco to
disbelieve unfavourable rumours. He returned at once to Castello.

Sforza Almeni, of course, entirely ignorant that Prince Francesco had
unwittingly betrayed him, presented himself as usual before the Duke to
learn his pleasure. Cosimo addressed him sternly: "Almeni, you have
betrayed my confidence. You, who of all men I trusted implicitly! Go,
get out of my sight. Go at once anywhere you will--only go--never let me
see your face again!"

Almeni, dumfounded, set off at once for Florence. He knew too well
Cosimo's temper to bandy words, and sought interviews with Prince
Francesco and the Duchess Isabella. With their knowledge he remained in
the city, perhaps faintly hoping the Duke might relent and send for him
back. A few days later Cosimo went into Florence, and passing through an
ante-chamber at the Pitti Palace, he was astounded to see Almeni calmly
standing in the recess of a window.

No one else was in the room, and, as Almeni saluted his master and
proceeded to make an appeal for mercy, Cosimo became infuriated at his
disobedience and impertinence, and, reaching up to a hunting-trophy on
the wall, he seized a stout boar-spear, and cried out in a loud
voice--"Traitor, base traitor, thou art not fit to live, thou hast
slandered thy master and fouled thy nest! Die!"

With a sudden thrust he struck the affrighted Almeni to the heart. It
was a fatal wound, for, with a shriek of agony, the unhappy man fell at
his master's feet, the shaft of the weapon still fast in his wound. The
day was Wednesday, 22nd May 1566, the Eve of the Annunciation. The
corpse lay there for several hours, and no questions were asked as to
how and by whom Almeni had been done to death. At nightfall the
_Misericordia_ brethren wound him to his burial in the secret vaults of
the dismantled church of San Piero