"
Gian Maria took a turn in the apartment, a frown wrinkling his brow, and
his lips pressed tight. Guidobaldo's proud words by no means convinced
him. But the one preponderating desire in his heart just then was to
humble the girl who had dared to flout him, to make her bend her stubborn
neck. At last:
"I may indeed become the laughing-stock of Italy," he muttered, in a
concentrated voice, "but I shall carry my resolve through, and my first
act upon entering Roccaleone will be to hang this knave Gonzaga from its
highest turret."
That very day Gian Maria began his preparations for the expedition
against Roccaleone, and word of it was carried by Fanfulla to Francesco--
for the latter had left his quarters at the palace upon hearing of Gian
Maria's coming, and was now lodging at the sign of the "Sun."
Upon hearing the news he swore a mighty oath in which he consigned his
cousin to the devil, by whom, in that moment, he pronounced him begotten.
"Do you think," he asked, when he was calmer, "that this man Gonzaga is
her lover?"
"It is more than I can say," answered Fanfulla. "There is the fact that
she fled with him. Though when I questioned Peppe on this same subject
he first laughed the notion to scorn, and then grew grave. 'She loves
him not, the popinjay,' he said; 'but he loves her, or I am blind else,
and he's a villain, I know.'"
Francesco stood up, his face mighty serious, and his dark eyes full of
uneasy thought.
"By the Host! It is a shameful thing," he cried out at last.
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