The Shame of Motley by Rafael Sabatini (top romance novels TXT) 📕

omentary return to the Fool'sestate from which I thought myself on the point of being for ever freed.

"I shall use the interview to induce his Excellency to submit a tenthbeatitude to the approval of our Holy Father: Blessed are the bearers ofgood tidings. Come on, Messer the seneschal."

I led the way, in my impatience forgetful of his great paunch and littlelegs, so that he was sorely tried to keep pace with me. Yet who wouldnot have been in haste, urged by such a spur as had I? Here, then, wasthe end of my shameful travesty. To-morrow a soldier's harness shouldreplace the motley of a jester; the name by which I should be known againto men would be that of Lazzaro Biancomonte, and no longer Boccadoro--theFool of the golden mouth.

Thus much had Madonna Lucrezia's promises led me to expect, and it waswith a soul full of joyous expectation that I entered the great man'scloset.

He received me in a manner calculated to set me at my ease, and yet therewas about him a something that overa