It has been said that it was due to Bianca Buonaventuri’s persuasion that the Grand Duke took no steps to vindicate his sister’s honour or dishonour.  The punishment of assassins mostly leads to further assassinations, and the “La cosa di Francesco” had reason to fear for her own life, seeing that her husband and her two dearest friends in Florence had been done brutally to death.

What became of the child, whose cries the Duke of Bracciano had heard, at Villa Poggio Baroncelli, no one seems to have recorded, nor are there any statements extant as to who his father actually was—­a boy he was anyhow, and, though his name is uncertain, he was spoken of by the Duchess as “il mio becchino,” “my little kid.”

We may father him as we like—­and at least three claimants for that honour are known—­Troilo d’Orsini, the Duke’s cousin and the Duchess’ companion; Lelio Torello, the comely young Calcio player, and the favourite page of the Grand Duke Francesco; and, be it said in terms of doubt and horror, the Grand Duke Cosimo!  If the latter, then this “Tragedy” is the culmination of all the abominable orgies which have blackened the character of the greatest tyrant and monster of his epoch!

Another story affects the career of the Chamberlain Troilo d’Orsini.  He sought sanctuary in France and was befriended by Queen Catherine, to whom his mistress, the unhappy Duchess of Bracciano, had commended “the little kid.”  Whether he accepted the role of father to save the fame of the defunct Grand Duke is not known, but the unfortunate, if guilty, fugitive was stabbed in the streets of Paris by bravoes sent after him in the pay of the Duke of Bracciano.

CHAPTER V

FRANCESCO—­“Il Virtuoso”

BIANCA CAPPELLO—­“La Figlia di Venezia”

PELLEGRINA—­“La Bella Bianchina”

True Lovers—­and False

“We’ll have none of her among our dead!”

These were the brutal words of Cardinal Ferdinando de’ Medici, at the villa of Poggio a Caiano on the morning of 21st October 1587.  They formed the curt reply his Eminence vouchsafed to Bishop Abbioso of Ravenna, “her” confessor.

The bishop, looking to favours from Ferdinando, who succeeded Francesco as third Grand Duke of Tuscany, sent overnight, the following message to his new Sovereign: 

“This moment at 8 p.m.  Her Most Serene Highness the Grand Duchess passed to another life.  The present messenger awaits your Highness’ orders as to the disposal of the body.”

“The body!”

Yes, it was “the body” of as loving a woman as ever lived in Florence.  She had been the most faithful of wives, the most attractive of consorts, and one of the most generous of benefactresses.  It was “the body” of as unselfish a sister-in-law as any man, high or low, ever had, who strove her utmost to propitiate, screen, and honour the self-seeking brother of her husband.  It was “the body” of Bianca Cappello!