“Is the Frate gone beyond the gates?”
“No,” said Tito, feeling completely helpless before this woman, and needing all the self-command he possessed to preserve a countenance in which there should seem to be nothing stronger than surprise.
“And you are certain that he is not going?” she insisted.
“I am certain that he is not going.”
“That is enough,” said Romola, and she turned up the steps, to take refuge in the Duomo, till she could recover from her agitation.
Tito never had a feeling so near hatred as that with which his eyes followed Romola retreating up the steps.
There were present not only genuine followers of the Frate, but Ser Ceccone, the notary, who at that time, like Tito himself, was secretly an agent of the Mediceans.
Ser Francesco di Ser Barone, more briefly known to infamy as Ser Ceccone, was not learned, not handsome, not successful, and the reverse of generous. He was a traitor without charm. It followed that he was not fond of Tito Melema.