In any case, however, it would not have gone _very_ hard with any of them.

Probably exile would have been the worst fate meted out to them.

It is true that exile from Tuscany just then would have been attended by a similar difficulty to that which caused the old Scotch lady, when urged to run during an earthquake, to reply, "Ay! but whar wull I run to ?" I do not think there was any bitter, or much even unkind, feeling on the part of the citizens towards the sovereign against whom they rebelled.

If any fact or circumstance could be found which was calculated to hold him up to ridicule, it was eagerly laid hold of, but there was no fiercer feeling.
A report was spread during the days that immediately followed the Duke's departure that orders had been given to the officers in the upper fortress to turn their cannon on the city at the first sign of rising.

Such reports were very acceptable to those who for political purposes would fain have seen somewhat of stronger feeling against the Duke.