Body of God! it is his trade to lead such
swine. He is one of themselves. But for the rest, what has such a man
as this to lose by his share in your rebellion, compared with such a loss
as mine must be?"
"Why, if things go ill, I take it he may lose his life," she answered, in
a low voice. "Can you lose more?"
He made a gesture of impatience.
"If things go ill--yes. It may cost him dearly. But if they go well,
and this siege is raised, he has nothing more to fear. Mine is a parlous
case. However ends this siege, for me there will be no escape from the
vengeance of Gian Maria and Guidobaldo. They know my share in it. They
know that your action was helped by me, and that without me you could
never have equipped yourself for such resistance. Whatever may betide
you and this Ser Franceseo, for me there will be no escape."
She drew a deep breath, then set him the obvious question:
"Did you not consider it--did you not weigh these chances--before you
embarked upon this business, before you, yourself, urged me to this
step?"
"Aye, did I," he answered sullenly.
"Then, why these complaints now?"
He was singularly, madly frank with her in his reply. He told her that
he had done it because he loved her, because she had given him signs that
his love was not in vain.
"I gave you signs?" she interrupted him. "Mother in Heaven! Recite
these signs that I may know them."
"Were you not ever kind to me?" he demanded. "Did you not ever manifest
a liking for my company? Were you not ever pleased that I should sing to
you the songs that in your honour I had made? Was it not to me you
turned in the hour of your need?"
"See now how poor a thing you are, Gonzaga?" she answered witheringly.
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