‘Let us remember,’ the professor urged, ‘that in Florence you have a law of appeal. It states that any citizen condemned to death for political reasons should have the right to appeal to the Great Council. This law was originally proposed and pushed through by Friar Girolamo Savonarola himself.’

Indeed, thought Vincenzio, how can they refuse an appeal according to their friar’s own law? He stamped his foot in approval but stopped at the sight of Tommaso Palagio moving through the crowd towards the speaker’s podium. Vincenzio raised his hand; surely Tommaso would defend the father of his son’s future wife?

‘So,’ began Tommaso, ‘now friends of the traitor invoke the same law of appeal they called outrageous when we proposed it, saying it was madness to submit matters of treason to an assembly of ignorant donkeys! Go back to Bologna, professor, and teach on a subject you understand.’ He bowed in acknowledgement of the cheers his words elicited as he stepped down.

Vincenzio followed Tommaso’s progress from the room with eyes that would cut his perfidious tongue from his mouth.

It seemed he was not alone in judging the proceedings poor; Bernardo moved the debate to the Signoria. Vincenzio viewed this as a good sign; finally he would be amongst his peers. Tommaso appeared beside him as they walked to the main hall of the Signoria. Vincenzio gave him no courtesy but the degenerate ass spoke regardless.

‘Look where we are come, my friend.’ Tommaso’s voice was giddy with power. ‘And how our association ends. I hardly knew how close my good name was to ruin. No son of mine will marry a Fusili. If I can rid this earth of all your imperfect offspring, I will, and may the Lord have mercy on your soul.’ He walked away.

Vincenzio did not react, even though his throat burned with insults ready to shout. He walked on to the final forum of his trial. So Maria would not marry Guido Palagio; ill health to them. He would build his name again. He cast his eyes about the room at all the good and noble gentlemen of Florence who sat in judgement on him. Unlike these patricians, he knew how to rise from insignificance; he’d done it before. There was real value in loyalty, hard as it was to find, and he’d proved his fealty to the Medici family. They’d not abandon him.

The discussion in the assembly degenerated into a brawl. Vincenzio rallied at the sight of fists thrown in his name. Tommaso stood between two snarling men and held out his arms as though he could control their anger. ‘Either the convicted man dies, or I do!’ he shouted but no one took any notice. Vincenzio saw another Savonarola supporter shove Professor di Novara towards a window and come close to hurling him out but the professor was taller and stronger and pushed his assailant to the ground. It seemed all men were fighters when it came to it. This is where we fail, Vincenzio thought in a moment of clarity as the hall descended into tavern brawling. We are all inclined to behave badly, to take more than our fair share of power or wealth, to profit from other people’s weaknesses, to cheat, to betray promises.