At the licentious court of the Medici she lived with unpardonable freedom.

Troilo Orsini was himself assassinated in Paris by Bracciano's orders a few years afterwards.] But how should the unfortunate Francesco be entrapped?
They caught him in a snare of peculiar atrocity, by working on the kindly feelings which his love for Vittoria had caused him to extend to all the Accoramboni.
Marcello, the outlaw, was her favorite brother, and Marcello at that time lay in hiding, under the suspicion of more than ordinary crime, beyond the walls of Rome.

Late in the evening of April 18, while the Peretti family were retiring to bed, a messenger from Marcello arrived, entreating Francesco to repair at once to Monte Cavallo.

Marcello had affairs of the utmost importance to communicate, and begged his brother-in-law not to fail him at a grievous pinch.

The letter containing this request was borne by one Dominico d'Aquaviva, _alias_ Il Mancino, a confederate of Vittoria's waiting-maid.