Duke's birthday last year?"

He said, "I remember it, and a remarkable performance it was."

"And did you see it in company of Donna Aurelia?"

"I did."

"And did you give yourself the pain to send officers to arrest an actor
called De' Pazzi?"

He was silent. I said then:

"And did you not know that I was that actor? Now, Count Giraldi, since
you cannot deny these facts, I will ask you why you are my enemy? For
you are not a man who acts without reason."

We were upon the river bank a little short of the Rubiconte Bridge. The
water rippled languidly over the muddy reaches, but the rush of the weir
was audible. Not another sound was to be heard, not a soul was in sight.
We three stopped--I was facing the two men, my back to the low river
wall. I heard Giraldi's breath come short and whistling through his fine
nose; I heard Semifonte breathing through his mouth--shorter breaths--he
was panting.

Count Giraldi spoke, using great command of himself, measuring his
words.

"I think I will tell you the facts," he said, "I think that will be
best. You can then judge my actions, and, as a reasonable man, govern