Instigated by inveterate intriguers in his entourage, he quite hypocritically affected to be shocked at his brother’s liaison with Bianca, although he made no demur at his father’s relations with Eleanora degli Albizzi, Cammilla de’ Martelli, and other innamorate.  Giovanna was only too delighted to have the invaluable assistance of the young Cardinal in her campaign against “the hated Venetian.”  At length he took the bold step of expostulating with Francesco upon his intercourse with the captivating rival of Giovanna.  The Prince was furious, and warned his brother never to name the subject again, and on no account to meddle with his private affairs.

Ferdinando replied that he was quite content to abstain at a price.  The truth was, that his lavish extravagance had exhausted his revenue and restricted his powers of borrowing, and he was in lack of funds for the maintenance of his state in Rome.

In a weak moment Francesco gave heed to Ferdinando’s stipulations, and provided him with funds and increased his family allowance.  In gratitude, the Cardinal threw into his brother’s teeth the fact of his position as heir-presumptive, and insisted upon the purchase of a piece of land at the confluence of the Pesa with the Arno.  There he built his Villa Ambrogiana, which became the seat of an anti-Francesco cabal and the headquarters of an elaborate system of paid spies and toadies.

* * * * *

In September 1571, Francesco issued a decree which ennobled the family of Bianca’s husband, and Ser Zenobio, unambitious, pottering notary that he was, and Pietro, and all their male kith and kin, were enrolled “inter nobiles, inter agnationes et familias ceusetas et connumeratus.” Pietro was now a gentleman of Florence, and he at once assumed the airs of such, as he conceived they should be, but his bad manners and his arrogance brought upon him the contempt of the whole Court.

Francesco at first shielded his protege, but his overbearing conduct and his importunities at length alienated his regard, and he made no attempt to conceal his displeasure.  Bianca pleaded with her husband in vain, success had turned his head, and now came “the parting of the ways.”

Pietro had consented that Bianca should be “La cosa di Francesco”; he too would enjoy life, and he sought his compensation in the embraces of the most attractive and most scheming flirt in Florence, Madonna Cassandra, the wealthy widow of Messer Simone de’ Borghiani—­born a Riccio.  Although well over thirty years of age, she was run after by all the young gallants of the Court and city.  Two already had been done to death for love of her—­mere boys—­Pietro del Calca and Giovanni de’ Cavalcanti.

Pietro Buonaventuri vowed he would marry her, but the Ricci would have none of him; and he fell, one summer’s night, under the very windows of his wife’s bedchamber, pierced with twenty-five savage dagger thrusts.  That same night—­it was 27th August 1572—­Madonna Cassandra was stabbed, in her own apartment, also twenty-five times, and two stark, mutilated corpses were mercifully borne away, in the dawn, by the brethren of the Misericordia, and given burial.