At sight of her he recoiled a pace, deeming, no doubt, that it was an apparition stood before him.

Then he looked again, and being a man whose mind was above puerile superstitions, he assured himself that by what miracle the thing was wrought, the figure before him was the living body of Madonna Paola Sforza di Santafior.

He swept the velvet cap with its jewelled plume from off his auburn locks, and bowed low before her.
"In God's name, Madonna, how are you come to life again, and how do I find you here of all places ?" She made no ado about enlightening him.
"That villain," said she, and her finger pointed straight and firmly at Ramiro, "put a sleeping-potion in my wine on the last night he dined with us at Pesaro, and when all thought me dead he came to the Church of San Domenico with his men to carry off my sleeping body.

He would have succeeded in his fell design but that Lazzaro Biancomonte there, whom you have stayed him in the act of torturing to death, was beforehand and saved me from his clutches for a time.

This morning at Cattolica his searching sbirri discovered me and brought me hither, where I have been for the past three hours, and where, but for your Excellency's timely arrival, I shudder to think of the indignities I might have suffered." "I thank you, Madonna, for this clear succinctness," answered Cesare coldly, as was his habit.