" And with a shrug
Fanfulla turned to give his attention to the Count, whom Fra Domenico was
already tending.
Valentina, to relieve the awkwardness of the moment, proposed to Gonzaga
that he should get his escort to horse, and have her litter in readiness,
so that they might resume their journey as soon as Fra Domenico should
have concluded his ministrations.
Gonzaga bowed, and with a vicious glance at the strangers and an angry
"Follow me!" to Beltrame and the others, he departed with the men-at-arms
at his heels.
Valentina remained with Fanfulla and Peppe, whilst Fra Domenico dressed
Francesco's wound, and, presently, when the task was accomplished, they
departed, leaving Fanfulla amid the Count alone. But ere she went she
listened to Francesco's thanks, and suffered him to touch her ivory
fingers with his lips.
There was much he might have said but that the presence of the other
three restrained him. Yet some little of that much she may have seen
reflected in his eyes, for all that day she rode pensive, a fond, wistful
smile at the corners of her lips. And although to Gonzaga she manifested
no resentment, yet did she twit him touching that mistake of his. Sore
in his dignity, he liked her playful mockery little yet he liked the
words in which she framed it less.
"How came you into so grievous an error, Ser Romeo?" she asked him, more
than once. "How could you deem him a rogue--he with so noble a mien and
so beautiful a countenance?" And without heeding the sullenness of his
answers, she would lapse with a sigh once more into reflection--a thing
that galled Gonzaga more, perhaps, than did her gibes.
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