"Ah, false wife once," I said terribly, "and now false mistress!
Traitress, with this traitor whom I believed my friend----"

Belviso here gave a cry and held up his hand. He was looking, not at me,
but behind me to the slope down which I had come. "Master, beware,
beware," he called out in his ringing young voice. "Palamone is behind
you. Treachery indeed!"

I turned, and saw that he spoke the truth. Fra Palamone, booted and
spurred, with a huge black cloak flagging about him, was close upon me,
walking his horse tenderly down the hill. His face was distorted with a
grin, there was a light, scared look in one of his eyes, whose brow was
lifted more than the other. If ever appearance foretold mischief, that
did his.

He saw that I was armed, no doubt, for he reined up out of shooting
distance, bowed to me, and spoke my name. I asked him what he wanted.

"A little talk, if you please, Don Francis," he said in his blandest
tone, "a little friendly talk."

"You rascal," said I, "a cudgelling was the upshot of your last. Do you
want another? Have you earned it yet?"

"God do so unto me if I meditate any harm to your Excellency," said the
old villain. "Upon Christ's life and death I can do you a service at
last, and so I will. Know first of all that the most charitable deed you
ever did in your life was to break your cane over my wicked body. Yes,
yes, I tell you truly, you saved a soul that day, and I care not who
knows it. Sir, sir!" said he earnestly, "I am here not only to thank you