That they would torture him was now inevitable.

His chance of answering freely was gone.

Even if he returned meek replies to Don Miguel's questions, that gentleman would, no doubt, still submit him to the cord by way of assuring himself that such replies were true ones.
Gladly, then, did I turn to follow the Duke and Madonna Paola into the adjoining chamber to which Cesare led the way, even as Don Miguel's voice was raised to command his men to clear the hall, to the end that he might conduct his examination in private.
The three of us stood in the anteroom.

A servant had lighted the tapers and closed the doors, and the Duke turned to me.
"First, Messer Biancomonte, to discharge my debt.

You are, if I am not misinformed, the lord by right of birth of certain lands that bear your name, which suffered sequestration during the reign of the late Costanzo, Tyrant of Pesaro, whose son Giovanni upheld that confiscation.
Am I right ?" "Your Excellency is very well informed.