Whilst watching and directing the men, he kept his ears open for the
message, and he heard the herald again recite the terms on which the
garrison might surrender, and again the threat to hang every man from the
castle-walls if they compelled him to reduce them by force of arms. He
brought his message to an end by announcing that in his extreme clemency
Gian Maria accorded them another half-hour's grace in which to resolve
themselves upon their course. Should the end of that time still find
them obstinate, the bombardment would commence. Such was the message
that in another of his arrow-borne letters Gonzaga had suggested Gian
Maria should send.
It was Francesco who stepped forward to reply. He had been stooping over
one of the guns, as if to assure himself of the accuracy of its aim, and
as he rose he pronounced himself satisfied in a voice loud enough for the
herald's hearing. Then he advanced to Valentina's side, and whilst he
stood there delivering his answer he never noticed the silent departure
of the men from the wall.
"You will tell his Highness of Babbiano," he replied, "that he reminds us
of the boy in the fable who cried 'Wolf!' too often. Tell him, sir, that
his threats leave this garrison as unmoved as do his promises. If so be
that he intends in truth to bombard us, let him begin forthwith. We are
ready for him, as you perceive. Maybe he did not suppose us equipped
with cannon; but there they stand. Those guns are trained upon his camp,
and the first shot he fires upon us shall be a signal for such a reply as
he little dreams of.
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