a worthy soul, or else I do not know one, and she will befriend you
readily. But see to it that you tell her nothing of your affairs."

"And then?" she inquired eagerly.

"Then, wait you there until to-night, or even until to-morrow morning, for
these knaves to rejoin you to the end that you may resume your journey."

"But we--" began Giacopo. Scenting his protest, I cut him short.

"You four," said I, "shall escort me--for I shall replace Madonna in the
litter--you shall escort me towards Fabriano. Thus shall we draw the
pursuit upon ourselves, and assure your lady a clear road of escape."

They swore most roundly and with great circumstance of oaths that they
would lend themselves to no such madness, and it took me some moments to
persuade them that I was possessed of a talisman that should keep us all
from harm.

"Were it otherwise, dolts, do you think I should be eager to go with you?
Would any chance wayfarer so wantonly imperil his neck for the sake of a
lady with whom he can scarce be called acquainted?"

It was an argument that had weight with them, as indeed, it must have had
with the dullest. I flashed my ring before their eyes.

"This escutcheon," said I, "is the shield that shall stand between us and
danger from any of the house that bears these arms."

Thus I convinced and wrought upon them until they were ready to obey me--