"To the Palace," he commanded, and as his men surrounded Francesco's
party, "Come, sir," he said to the Count. "You must go with us, and tell
your story to the Duke."
"There is no need for all this force," answered Francesco coldly. "In
any case, I could not pass through Urbino without seeing Duke Guidobaldo.
I am the Count of Aquila."
At once the captain's bearing grew respectful. He made his apologies for
the violent measures of his zeal, and bade his men fall behind. Ordering
them to follow him, he mounted a horse that was brought him, and rode
briskly through the borgo at the Count's side. And as he rode he told
them what the jester's quick intuition had already whispered to him. The
lady Valentina was fled from Urbino in the night, and in her company were
gone three of her ladies, and--it was also supposed, since they had
disappeared--Fra Domenico and Romeo Gonzaga.
Aghast at what he heard, Francesco pressed his informer for more news;
but there was little more that the captain could tell him, beyond the
fact that it was believed she had been driven to it to escape her
impending marriage with the Duke of Babbiano. Guidobaldo was distraught
at what had happened, and anxious to bring the lady back before news of
her behaviour should reach the ears of Gian Maria. It was, therefore, a
matter of no little satisfaction to the captain that the task should be
his to bear Guidobaldo this news of her whereabouts which from Francesco
and the jester he had derived.
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