I
may endanger my neck to serve you, to bring you hither to a place of
safety from Gian Maria's persecution, and be cast aside for one who, it
happens, has a little more knowledge of this coarse trade of arms. Cast
me aside if you will," he pursued, with increasing bitterness, "but
having done so, do not ask me to serve you again. Let Messer Francesco
fight it out----"
"Hush, Gonzaga!" she interrupted. "Let me hear what he is saying."
And her tone told the courtier that his words had been lost upon the
morning air. Engrossed in the scene below she had not so much as
listened to his bitter tirade. For now Francesco was behaving oddly.
The fool was returned from the errand on which he had been despatched,
and Francesco called him to his side. Lowering his sword he received a
paper from Peppe's hand.
Burning with indignation at having gone unheeded, Gonzaga stood gnawing
his lip, whilst Valentina craned forward to catch Francesco's words.
"I have here a proof," he cried, "of what I tell you; proof of how little
Gian Maria is prepared to carry out his threats of cannon. It is that
fellow Cappoccio has seduced you with his talk. And you, like the sheep
you are, let yourselves be driven by his foul tongue. Now listen to the
bribe that Gian Maria offers to one within these walls if he can contrive
a means to deliver Roccaleone into his hands." And to Gonzaga's
paralysing consternation, he heard Francesco read the letter with which
Gian Maria had answered his proposed betrayal of the fortress.
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