On another morning, when Michelangelo was in the courtyard of the palace, Cardiere came with terror and pain written on his countenance.

Last night Lorenzo had again appeared to him in the same garb of woe; and while he was awake and gazing with his eyes, the spectre dealt him a blow on the cheek, to punish him for omitting to report his vision to Piero.

Michelangelo immediately gave him such a thorough scolding that Cardiere plucked up courage, and set forth on foot for Careggi, a Medicean villa some three miles distant from the city.

He had traveled about halfway, when he met Piero, who was riding home; so he stopped the cavalcade, and related all that he had seen and heard.

Piero laughed him to scorn, and, beckoning the running footmen, bade them mock the poor fellow.