him to the Stinche? If there is any danger in him, as I think there is, he will be safe there; and we can inquire about him tomorrow.”
Pitti assented, and the order was given.
“He is certainly an ill-looking fellow,” said Tornabuoni. “And you say he has attempted your life already, Melema?”
And the talk turned on the various forms of madness, and the fierceness of the southern blood. If the seeds of conjecture unfavourable to Tito had been planted in the mind of anyone present, they were hardly strong enough to grow without the aid of much daylight and ill-will. The common-looking, wild-eyed old man, clad in serge, might have won belief without very strong evidence, if he had accused a man who was envied and disliked. As it was, the only congruous and probable view of the case seemed to be the one that sent the unpleasant accuser safely out of sight, and left the pleasant serviceable Tito just where he was before.