"Do you hear me?
Stay!" "Others will hear you if you commit this folly," I called back to him.
"Get you to cover." And so I left him.
Below, in the courtyard, my coming was hailed by a great, enthusiastic clamour.

They had all but abandoned hope of seeing the Lord Giovanni, so long had he been about his arming.

As they brought forward my charger, I sought with my eyes Madonna Paola.

I beheld her by her brother--who, it seemed, was not going with us--in the front rank of the spectators.
Her cheeks were tinged with a slight flush of excitement, and her eyes glowed at the brave sight of armed men.
I mounted, and as I rode past her to take my place at the head of that company, I lowered my mace and bowed.

She detained me a moment, setting her hand upon the glossy neck of my black charger.
"My Lord," she said, in a low voice, intended for my ear alone, "this is a brave and gallant thing you do, and however slight may be your hope of prevailing, yet your honour will be safe-guarded by this act, and men will remember you with respect should it come to pass that a usurper shall possess anon your throne.