But when he was half-way there he met Piero on the road returning home to Florence; Cardiere stopped him and told him all he had seen and heard.

Piero only laughed at him, and made even his grooms jeer at him.

The Chancellor, who was afterwards the Cardinal Bibbiena, said to him: "_You must be mad! Do you think Lorenzo would rather appear to you or to his own son?
Would he not rather appear to him than to any one else ?_" They ridiculed him and let him go.

He went home and bemoaned himself to Michael Angelo, and he spoke so effectually of the vision, holding that the thing was true, that two days afterwards with two companions they left Florence together for Bologna, and from there went to Venice, fearful lest that which Cardiere prophesied should come to pass, and Florence not be safe for them! XV.

In a few days lack of funds (his companions having spent all his money) made Michael Angelo think of returning to Florence; but coming to Bologna a curious chance hindered them.