These, he had good reason to suppose, were ransacked in his absence.

There follows a melancholy tale of treacherous friends, dishonest servants, false keys, forged correspondence, scraps and fragments of imprudent compositions pieced together and brought forth to incriminate him behind his back.

These arts were employed all through the year which followed his return to Ferrara in 1576.

But they reached their climax in the spring of 1577.

He had lost his prestige, and every servant might insult him, and every cur snap at his heels.