Part 61 (1/2)
I looked at my cousin. ”In that case,” said I, ”I will not name them.”
Falcone, however, was minded to name himself, for with a grunt he made suddenly to rise. But Galeotto stretched an arm across Bianca, and forced the equerry back into his seat.
Cosimo saw and smiled. He was very sure of himself by now.
”The only witness whose word would carry weight would be the late Lord of Pagliano,” he said. ”And the prisoner is more crafty than honest in naming one who is dead. Your excellency will know the precise importance to attach to that.”
Again his excellency nodded. Could it indeed be that I was enmeshed? My calm deserted me.
”Will Messer Cosimo tell your excellency under what circ.u.mstances the Lord of Pagliano died?” I cried.
”It is yourself should be better able to inform the Court of that,”
answered Cosimo quickly, ”since he died at Pagliano after you had borne his daughter thither, as we have proof.”
Gonzaga looked at him sharply. ”Are you implying, sir, that there is a further crime for which Messer Agostino d'Anguissola should be indicted?” he inquired.
Cosimo shrugged and pursed his lips. ”I will not go so far, since the matter of Ettore Cavalcanti's death does not immediately concern me.
Besides, there is enough contained in the indictment as it stands.”
The imputation was none the less terrible, and could not fail of an effect upon the minds of the Ten. I was in despair, for at every question it seemed that the tide of destruction rose higher about me. I deemed myself irrevocably lost. The witnesses I might have called were as good as gagged.
Yet there was one last question in my quiver--a question which I thought must crumple up his confidence.
”Can you tell his excellency where you were upon your marriage night?” I cried hoa.r.s.ely, my temples throbbing.
Superbly Cosimo looked round at the Court; he shrugged, and shook his head as if in utter pity.
”I leave it to your excellency to say where a man should be upon his marriage night,” he said, with an astounding impudence, and there were some who t.i.ttered in the crowd behind me. ”Let me again beg your excellency and your worthinesses to pa.s.s to judgment, and so conclude this foolish comedy.”
Gonzaga nodded gravely, as if entirely approving, whilst with a fat jewelled hand he stroked his ample chin.
”I, too, think that it is time,” he said, whereupon Cosimo, with a sigh of relief, would have resumed his seat but that I stayed him with the last thing I had to say.
”My lord,” I cried, appealing to Gonzaga, ”the true events of that night are set forth in a memorial of which two copies were drawn up, one for the Pope and the other for your excellency, as the Emperor's vicegerent.
Shall I recite its contents--that Messer Cosimo may be examined upon them.
”It is not necessary,” came Gonzaga's icy voice. ”The memorial is here before me.” And he tapped a doc.u.ment upon the table. Then he fixed his prominent eyes upon Cosimo. ”You are aware of its contents?” he asked.
Cosimo bowed, and Galeotto moved at last, for the first time since the trial's inception.
Until now he had sat like a carved image, save when he had thrust out a hand to restrain Falcone, and his att.i.tude had filled me with an unspeakable dread. But at this moment he leaned forward turning an ear towards Cosimo, as if anxious not to miss a single word that the man might utter. And Cosimo, intent as he was, did not observe the movement.
”I saw its fellow at the Vatican,” said my cousin, ”and since the Pope in his wisdom and goodness judged worthless the witnesses whose signatures it bears, his holiness thought well to issue the brief upon which your excellency has acted in summoning Agostino d'Anguissola before you here.
”Thus is that memorial disposed of as a false and lying doc.u.ment.”
”And yet,” said Gonzaga thoughtfully, his heavy lip between thumb and forefinger, ”it bears, amongst others, the signature of the Lord of Pagliano's confessor.”
”Without violation of the seal of the confessional, it is impossible for that friar to testify,” was the answer. ”And the Holy Father cannot grant him dispensation for so much. His signature, therefore, stands for nothing.”