taken possession of a valuable alum-pit belonging to his family. The
latter was _Vicario_ of Monte Murlo, an upstart Papal précis-writer,
whose family was plebeian and employed upon Pazzi property in that
locality; he was "a man steeped in crime and a creature of Cavaliere
Giacopo de' Pazzi."

So many having been admitted into the secret of the conspiracy, it
became a matter of urgent importance that no delay should arise in the
fulfilment of the design; the fear of espionage and leakage was ever
present to the minds of the leaders. But what to do, and where, and how,
baffled all their ingenuity. At last a lead came, quite unexpectedly
from Sixtus himself.

At Pisa was a youth, studying law and philosophy--Raffaelle Sansoni--the
son of Count Girolamo's only sister, just sixteen years of age, and
"very tender in the heart of the Pope." Early in 1478 Sixtus had
preconised him Cardinal of San Giorgio, and added the honour of Legate
for Archbishop Salviati's induction to that See--the richest, by the
way, in all Italy.

The boy Cardinal, in April, was directed, by Sixtus, to make a progress
to Imola on a visit to his uncle and aunt, and to take Florence on his
way, for the purpose of paying his respects to Lorenzo. There was, of
course, much more in this apparently innocent proceeding than appeared
at first view. Francesco de' Pazzi at once obtained Cavaliere Giacopo's
permission to offer the hospitality of his villa to his youthful
eminence and his suite.

Montesicco was ordered to furnish an escort of cavalry in the name of
the Pope--"men who were perfectly trustworthy and prepared to carry out