is perhaps not so easy to hide this Portuguese," I replied with
emphasis to the Friar, "from the eyes of Master Michael Angelo; he will
know me better hidden than your reverence does here where I am, even if
you put on spectacles; and you will see that, being here, he will see me
very plainly if he comes."

Then the Marchioness and Lactancio laughed, but not I nor yet the Friar,
who however heard the Marchioness say that he would find me to be
something more than a painter.

After remaining but a short time silent, we heard a knocking at the door,
and all began to fear that Michael would not come, as the messenger had
returned so quickly. But Michael, who resides at the foot of Monte
Cavallo, happened by good luck to be walking towards St. Silvester, on his
way to the Thermae by the Esquiline road with his Orbino, philosophising
by the way; being informed of the message, he could not run away from us,
nor did he fail to be the person knocking at the door. The Marchioness
rose to receive him, and remained standing awhile before causing him to
take a seat between her and M. Lactancio. I sat a little way off, but the
Marchioness, remaining awhile without speaking, not wishing to delay her
practice of honouring those who conversed with her, and the place where
she was, commenced, with an art that I could not describe, to say many
things very well expressed, and with thoughts most graciously stated,
without ever touching on painting, in order to ensure the great painter to
us; and I saw her as one wishing to reduce a well armed city by discretion
and guile; and we saw the painter, too, standing watchful and vigilant, as
if he were besieged, placing sentries in one place and ordering bridges to
be raised in another, making mines and defending all the walls and towers;
but finally the Marchioness had to conquer, nor do I know who could defend
himself against her.

She said: "It is known that whoever comes into conflict with M. Angelo in
his own speciality, which is discretion, cannot but be vanquished. It is
necessary, M. Lactancio, that we should talk with him about actions or
briefs or painting to put him to silence and to obtain any advantage over
him."

"Nay," I then said, "I know of no better way of wearying M. Angelo than by
informing him that I am here, as he has not seen me hitherto. But I
already know that the way not to see a person is to have him before one's
eyes."

You should then have seen Michael turn hims