He seized me now by the collar and dragged me rudely to my feet.
"Take this knave and lock him in his chamber," he bade a couple of his bravi.

"I may have need of him ere he dies." "Messer Ramiro," came the interceding voice of Madonna Paola, "what he did, he did for me.

You will not let him die for it ?" There was a pause during which he looked at her, whilst the men were roughly dragging me across the hall.
"Who knows, Madonna ?" he said, with a bow and an infernal smile.

"If you were to beg his life, it might even come to pass that I might spare it." He did not wait for her answer, but stepping after me he called to the men that led me.

In obedience they halted, and he came forward.