summoned Giacopo to my side.

"Take your daggers," I bade him, "and rip me that blazon from your coats.
See that you leave no sign about you to proclaim you of the House of
Santafior, or all is lost. It is a precaution you would have taken
earlier if God had given you the wit of a grasshopper."

He nodded that he understood my order, and scowled his disapproval of my
comment on his wit. For the rest, they did my bidding there and then.

Having satisfied myself that no betraying sign remained about them, I drew
the curtains of my litter, and reclining there I gave myself up to
pondering the manner in which I should greet the Borgia sbirri when they
overtook me. From that I passed on to the contemplation of the position
in which I found myself, and the thing that I had done. And the
proportions of the jest that I was perpetrating afforded me no little
amusement. It was a burla not unworthy the peerless gifts of Boccadoro,
and a fitting one on which to close his wild career of folly. For had I
not vowed that Boccadoro I would be no more once the errand on which I
travelled was accomplished? By Cesare Borgia's grace I looked to--

A sudden jolt brought me back to the immediate present, and the
realisation that in the last few moments we had increased our pace.
I put out my head.

"Giacopo!" I shouted. He was at my side in an instant. "Why are we
galloping?"

"They are behind," he answered, and fear was again overspreading his fat
face. "We caught a glimpse of them as we mounted the last hill."