.

THE FOOL'S INQUISITIVENESS.
In the morning Francesco set out once more, accompanied by his servants, Fanfulla, and the fool.

The latter was now so far restored as to be able to sit a mule, but lest the riding should over-tire him they proceeded at little more than an ambling pace along the lovely valleys of the Metauro.

Thus it befell that when night descended it found them still journeying, and some two leagues distant from Urbino.

Another league they travelled in the moonlight, and the fool was beguiling the time for them with a droll story culled from the bright pages of Messer Boccaccio, when of a sudden his sharp ears caught a sound that struck him dumb in the middle of a sentence.
"Are you faint ?" asked Francesco, turning quickly towards him, and mindful of the fellow's sore condition.
"No, no," answered the fool, with a readiness that dispelled the Count's alarm on that score.