There were two palaces and a vineyard behind the Palatine Hill; but in these days landed property had not much value, and the two palaces and the vineyard remained to the family since they were beneath the rapacity of the pope and his son.

Months and years rolled on.
Alexander VI.

died, poisoned,--you know by what mistake.

Caesar, poisoned at the same time, escaped by shedding his skin like a snake; but the new skin was spotted by the poison till it looked like a tiger's.

Then, compelled to quit Rome, he went and got himself obscurely killed in a night skirmish, scarcely noticed in history.