The Shame of Motley: being the memoir of certain transactions in the life of Lazzaro Biancomonte, of Biancomonte, sometime fool of the court of Pesaro by Rafael Sabatini
page 35 of 290 (12%)
page 35 of 290 (12%)
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the tracks we were leaving in the snow.
She turned from him, and addressed herself to the other three. "You will stand by me, my friends," she cried. "Giacopo, here, is a coward; but you are better men." They stirred, and one of them was momentarily moved into a faint semblance of valour. "We will go with you, Madonna," he exclaimed. "Let Giacopo remain behind, if so he will." But Giacopo was a very ill-conditioned rogue; neither true himself, nor tolerant, it seemed, of truth in others. "You will be hanged for your pains when you are caught!" he exclaimed, "as caught you will be, and within the hour. If you would save your necks, stay here and make surrender." His speech was not without effect upon them, beholding which, Madonna leapt from the litter, the better to confront them. The corners of her sensitive little mouth were quivering now with the emotion that possessed her, and on her eyes there was a film of tears. "You cowards!" she blazed at them, "you hinds, that lack the spirit even to run! Were I asking you to stand and fight in defence of me, you could not show yourselves more palsied. I was a fool," she sobbed, stamping her foot so that the snow squelched under it. "I was a fool to entrust myself to you." "Madonna," answered one of them, "if flight could still avail us, you |
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