I thanked God in that hour for two things: that my sight was keen, and that Vitellozzo Vitelli wrote a large, bold hand.
Scarcely breathing, and distracted the while by the mad racing of my pulses, I read; and this, as nearly as I can remember, is what the letter contained: "ILLUSTRIOUS RAMIRO--Your answer to my last letter reached me safely, and it rejoiced me to learn that you had found a man for our undertaking.

See that you have him in readiness, for the hour of action is at hand.

Cesare goes south on the second or third day of the New Year, and he has announced to me his intention of passing through Cesena on his way, there to investigate certain charges of maladministration which have been preferred against you.

These concern, in particular, certain misappropriation of grain and stores, and an excessive severity of rule, of which complaints have reached him.

From this you will gather that out of a spirit of self-defence, if not to earn the reward which we have bound ourselves to pay you, it is expedient that you should not fail us.