ished.

The tapers had burnt themselves into low shapeless masses, and holes in
the shutters were just marked by a sombre outward light, when Spini, who
had started from his seat and walked up and down with an angry flush on
his face at some talk that had been going forward with those two
unmilitary companions, burst out--

"The devil spit him! he shall pay for it, though. Ha, ha! the claws
shall be down on him when he little thinks of them. So _he_ was to be
the great man after all! He's been pretending to chuck everything
towards my cap, as if I were a blind beggarman, and all the while he's
been winking and filling his own scarsella. I should like to hang skins
about him and set my hounds on him! And he's got that fine ruby of
mine, I was fool enough to give him yesterday. Malediction! And he was
laughing at me in his sleeve two years ago, and spoiling the best plan
that ever was laid. I was a fool for trusting myself with a rascal who
had long-twisted contrivances that nobody could see to the end of but
himself."

"A Greek, too, who dropped into Florence with gems packed about him,"
said Francesco Cei, who had a slight smile of amusement on his face at
Spini's fuming. "You did _not_ choose your confidant very wisely, my
Dolfo."

"He's a cursed deal cleverer than you, Francesco, and handsomer too,"
said Spini, turning on his associate with a general desire to worry
anything that presented itself.

"I humbly conceive," said Ser Ceccone, "that Messer Francesco's poetic
genius will outweigh--"

"Yes, yes, rub your hands! I hate that notary's trick of yours,"
interrupted Spini, whose patronage consisted largely in this sort of
frankness. "But there comes Taddeo, or somebody: now's the time! What
news, eh?" he went on, as two Compagnacci entered with heated looks.

"Bad!" said one. "The people have made up their minds they were going
to have the sacking of Soderini's house, and now they have been balked
we shall have them turning on us, if we don't take care. I suspect
there are some Mediceans buzzing about among them, and we may see them
attacking your palace over the bridge before long, unless we can find a
bait for them another way."

"I have it!" said Spini, and seizing Taddeo by the belt he drew him
aside to give him directions, while the other went on telling Cei how
the Signoria had interfered about Soderini's house.

"Ecco!" exclaimed Spini, presently, giving Taddeo a slight push towards