NOW Lucretia had a bastard brother, to whom she had often entrusted her letters for Euryalus; for she had told him of their love. So it was arranged with him that he should bring Euryalus secretly to his home, as he lived with his step-mother, Lucretia’s mother, and Lucretia went often to see her, and oftener received her visits, and they lived quite near each other.

This was their plan: Euryalus was to be locked up in one of the rooms, and Lucretia, as soon as her mother had gone to church, would arrive, as though to pay her a visit, and, not finding her at home, would await her return. But during that time she would really be with Euryalus. The meeting was fixed for two days later, and these days seemed to the lovers as long as years. For time, that flies for the fearful, crawls for those that are full of hope.

But fortune did not favour their desires. Her mother guessed that some plot was brewing and, when the day came, left the house, but locked her stepson out, who quickly brought the sad news to Euryalus. Lucretia was no less grieved than he, but realising that their trick had been discovered, she said, ‘We have failed this way, but we’ll find another. It is not my mother can stand between me and my pleasures.’

Lucretia’s husband had a cousin, Pandalus, to whom Lucretia had already confided her secret; for her burning heart could not keep quiet. So she sent word to Euryalus to talk with this man, saying he was loyal, and could find a way to bring them together. But Euryalus did not dare trust one whom he saw always with Menelaus, and feared some trickery. And while they were hesitating thus, Euryalus was ordered to Rome, to arrange with the Pope about the coronation. This was a great blow to him and to his mistress, but he had to obey the Emperor. So this journey delayed them for two months. And all that time, Lucretia stayed at home, with her windows shut, wearing sad clothes, and would never go out. Everyone began to wonder, none could guess the reason. Siena herself seemed widowed, and, as though the sun had failed, all felt they were walking in darkness. Her servants, seeing her lie on her bed and never smile, thought she was ill, and made enquiries what remedy they should use. But she would never laugh or leave her room, till she heard that Euryalus was on his way back, and that the Emperor had gone to meet him. Then, as though waking from a deep sleep, she took off her mourning, put on the ornaments she had worn before, opened the windows, and joyfully awaited him. And when the Emperor saw her, he said:

‘Deny it no longer, Euryalus, all is clear. For no one, all the time you were away, could see Lucretia; but now, because you are back again, we perceive the dawn. What limits are there to love? Love can be concealed as little as a cough can be disguised.’

‘You are laughing at me, Caesar, as usual, and making fun of me,’ Euryalus replied. ‘I do not know what all this means. Perhaps the neighing of the horses woke her, or the uproar of your long train of attendants.’

And, saying this, he glanced up furtively at Lucretia, and looked her full in the eyes. And that was their first consolation after his return.