Chapter 26 Summary

The twenty-sixth chapter finds Cosimo passionately supporting the cause of justice and fairness, this time in regards to the tithes the nobles collect from the townspeople whenever they harvest grapes. He spreads word walking along the vines from vintner to vintner that this is the year the nobles will collect nothing from them, and instructs them how to ensure this. When the day comes and the bailiff asks for the tithe everyone knows he is there to collect but no one offers up, the sound of conch shells being blown arises from every direction with the chanting "Ca ira!" When he threatens violence against whoever sings, guns sound, shooting into the air from the surrounding hilltops and the bailiffs retreat without having collected a thing. The nobles lock themselves in their houses until the sweetness of victory against them has gone out of...