On the following morning when the Montevarchi porter opened the
gates his eyes were rejoiced by some most extraordinary specimens
of calligraphy executed upon the dark stones with red paint of a
glaringly vivid hue. The letters A. G. were drawn at least four
feet high in the centre, and were repeated in every size at
irregular intervals for some distance above, below, and on each
side. The words "Domenica," Sunday, and "Messa," mass, were
scrawled everywhere in capitals, in roundhand, large and small.
Then to give the whole the air of having been designed by a
street-boy, there were other words, such as "Viva Pio IX.," "Viva
il Papa Re," and across these, in a different manner, and in green
paint, "Viva Garibaldi," "Morte a Antonelli," and similar
revolutionary sentiments. The whole, however, was so disposed that
Gouache's initials and the two important words stood out in bold
relief from the rest, and could not fail to attract the eye.
Of the many people who came and went that day through the great
gate of the Palazzo Montevarchi two only attached any importance
to the glaring scrawls on the opposite wall. One of these was
Faustina herself, who saw and understood. The other was San
Giacinto, who stared at the letters for several seconds, and then
smiled faintly as he entered the palace.
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