But Ramiro did not stand his ground.

Fury swelling his veins and crimsoning his huge face, he sprang to the door and bellowed to his guards.

Six men trooped in almost at once, and reinforced by the halberdiers that had been guarding me, they made short work of the resistance of those four officers.

In as little time as it takes me to record it, they were disarmed and ranged against the wall behind those guards and others that had come to their support--to be dealt with by Ramiro after he had dealt with me.
His fear of Cesare's coming was put by for the moment in his fierce lust to be avenged upon me who had betrayed him and the officers who had turned against him.

Madonna sank back once more in her despair.