"May I not know," she asked at parting, "the name of him that has so
generously befriended me?"

I hesitated a second. Then--"They call me Boccadoro," answered I.

"If your mouth be as truly golden as your heart, then are you well-named,"
said she. Then, gathering her mantle about her, and waving me farewell,
she rode off without so much as a glance at the cowardly hinds who had
failed her in the hour of her need.

A moment I stood watching her as she cantered away in the sunshine; then
stepping to the litter, I vaulted in.

"Now, rogues," said I to the escort, "strike me that road to Fabriano."

"I know you not, sir," protested Giacopo. "But this I know--that if you
intend us treachery you shall have my knife in your gullet for your
pains."

"Fool!" I scorned him, "since when has it been worth the while of any man
to betray such creatures as are you? Plague me no more! Be moving, else
I leave you to your coward's fate."

It was the tone best understood by hinds of their lily-livered quality.
It quelled their faint spark of mutiny, and a moment later one of those
knaves had caught the bridle of the leading mule and the litter moved
forward, whilst Giacopo and the others came on behind at as brisk a pace
as their weary horses would yield. In this guise we took the road south,
in the direction opposite to that travelled by the lady. As we rode, I