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THE BORGIAS. 201

Manenti and the French ambassador returned to
Venice, and related what the Due de Valentinois said
to them, what steps they took, and how their investiga-
tions led to no result. No one had the least doubt that
Csesar was the culprit, but no one could prove that he
was. And so the serene republic, which could not afford
to fall out with the pope, having a war with the Turks on
its hands, forbade Caracciolo to take any measures to
avenge himself, and the excitement over the abduction
gradually died away until at last it ceased to be spoken
of. Meanwhile the relaxations of the winter did not di-
vert Csesar from his designs upon Faenza. As soon as
the returning spring permitted him to take the field, he
marched against the town once more, camped in front of
the castle, and having made a new breach, ordered a
general assault, leading the way himself as before. But,
notwithstanding his individual gallantry, well seconded
as it was by his men, the assault was repulsed by Astor,
who, at the head of his men, stood his ground at the
breach, while the women hurled down stones and tree-
trunks upon the besiegers from the top of the ramparts.
After an hour's hand to hand struggle Csesar was com-
pelled to retire, leaving two thousand men in the
trenches, among them Valentino Farnese, one of his
bravest officers.
