THE NINTH MAN
courtyard, where the vassals of the rival houses met face to face, there was no smooth talking, and a menacing growl arose from it through the corridors and up the hallways, I had seen the retainers of Malatesta da Mogliano glommering at those of Casamatto, and the men of Cola degli Oddi itch for the throats of those of Da Sala. The halberdiers of Mazzaleone formed an iron bar, behind which the men could only show their teeth at one another. As my lord spoke his dearest enemy, Carlo Graziani passed, and he and my lord saluted each other, Graziani with the gravity of his disgruntlement. In times of peace a month was barren when there were no broken skulls given and taken between our house and that of Graziani, nor had these men met in many years, save when the common cause of San Moglio called them together. I could see a flame of interest in my lord's face, for it seemed to pique his bold humor.
Then all at once his face darkened, and my gaze followed his and fell on my lady talking with Mazzaleone. They conversed together as old friends. At this sight the heads of the company bent toward them like
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