But so far,
we have only heard the braying of an ass."
CHAPTER XI
WANDERING KNIGHTS
That taunt of his mother's stirred Gian Maria. He rose from his ducal
chair and descended from the dais on which it stood, possessed by a
tempestuous mood that would not brook him to sit still.
"The braying of an ass?" he muttered, facing Caterina. Then he laughed
unpleasantly. "The jaw-bone of an ass did sore execution on one
occasion, Madonna, and it may again. A little patience, and you shall
see." Next, and with a brisker air, he addressed the four silent
courtiers, "You heard him, sirs," he exclaimed, "How do you say that I
shall deal with such a traitor?" He waited some seconds for an answer,
and it seemed to anger him that none came. "Have you, then, no counsel
for me?" he demanded harshly.
"I had not thought," said Lodi hardily, "that this was a case in which
your Highness needed counsel. You were drawn to conclude that the Lord
of Aquila was a traitor, but from what we have all heard, your Highness
should now see that he is not."
"Should I so?" the Duke returned, standing still and fixing upon Fabrizio
an eye that was dull as a snake's. "Messer da Lodi, your loyalty is a
thing that has given signs of wavering of late. Now, if by the grace of
God and His blessed saints I have ruled as a merciful prince who errs too
much upon the side of clemency, I would enjoin you not to try that
clemency too far. I am but a man, after all.
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