surprise, and ever and anon, to Messer Guido's surprise, leading the
conversation craftily to the name of Monna Vittoria, and dwelling
enthusiastically on her manifold charms and graces. I, still by the side
of Dante, trotted on in the most blissful unconsciousness that if things
had gone as they were intended to go, we should all be lying on the
carpet of the wood with our throats cut.

It was only later that I learned, partly from the lady herself that was
the main cause of the change, and partly from Messer Griffo, in a moment
of confidence over a flask of Lacrima Christi, when all those things
that I am speaking of were as ancient as the Tale of Troy. Julius Caesar!
what that morning's business might have been, and was meant to be, by
our friend Simone! It seems that Monna Vittoria, being a woman, and
shrewd, and knowing her Simone pretty well, saw clearer through the
device of the Company of Death when it was first hinted at than any of
the feather-headed enthusiasts who were eager to swell its levy. And
being a watchful woman and a cunning and a clever, she soon found out
that Messer Simone was in treaty with Messer Griffo of the Dragon-flag,
and feeling sure that what she might fail to elicit from Simone she
could get from Messer Griffo, she was at pains to make herself
acquainted with that gallant adventurer, and to show him certain favors
and courtesies which won his English heart. So that in a little while
Madonna Vittoria knew all about Simone's purposes, and very pleasantly
resolved to baffle them.

In her opinion, it was a very important point in her game that Dante
should be alive and well, and the wooer of lady Beatrice. So long as
Dante lived to love and be loved, as she, with her cunning intuition,
guessed him to love and be loved, so long there was little likelihood
that Messer Simone would win the girl's hand and his wager, and leave
her, Vittoria, very patently in the lurch. She reasoned rightly that
such a maid as Beatrice would not yield her love while her lover lived,
and she hoped that Messer Folco, for all he liked to play the Roman
father, was in his heart over fond of his daughter to seek to compel her
to a hateful marriage by force. It was, therefore, of the first
importance to Vittoria to thwart the devices of Simone having for their
object the death of Dante, and, to a woman like Vittoria, it was by no
means of the first difficulty to carry out her purpose.

The winning over of Messer Gr