Fence with Ramiro, temporise if you can till then, and all will be well with you." "I will do what I can," I answered him.

"But if he slays me in the meantime, at least I shall have the satisfaction of knowing that he will not be long in following me." "May God shield you," he said fervently.
"May God speed you," I answered him, with a still greater fervour.
That night, as you may well conceive, I slept but little, and that little ill.

The morning, instead of relieving the fears that in the darkness had been with me, seemed to increase them.

For now was the time for Mariani to act, and I was fearful as to how he might succeed.

I was full of doubts lest some obstacle should have arisen to prevent his departure from Cesena, and I spent my morning in wearisome speculation.
I took an almost childish satisfaction in the thought that since, being a prisoner, I could no longer count myself the Fool of the Court of Cesena, I was free to strip the motley and assume the more sober garments in which I had been taken, and which--as you may recall--had been placed in my chamber on the previous evening.