But see to it that you tell her nothing of your affairs." "And then ?" she inquired eagerly.
"Then, wait you there until to-night, or even until to-morrow morning, for these knaves to rejoin you to the end that you may resume your journey." "But we--" began Giacopo.

Scenting his protest, I cut him short.
"You four," said I, "shall escort me--for I shall replace Madonna in the litter--you shall escort me towards Fabriano.

Thus shall we draw the pursuit upon ourselves, and assure your lady a clear road of escape." They swore most roundly and with great circumstance of oaths that they would lend themselves to no such madness, and it took me some moments to persuade them that I was possessed of a talisman that should keep us all from harm.
"Were it otherwise, dolts, do you think I should be eager to go with you?
Would any chance wayfarer so wantonly imperil his neck for the sake of a lady with whom he can scarce be called acquainted ?" It was an argument that had weight with them, as indeed, it must have had with the dullest.

I flashed my ring before their eyes.
"This escutcheon," said I, "is the shield that shall stand between us and danger from any of the house that bears these arms." Thus I convinced and wrought upon them until they were ready to obey me--the more ready since any alternative was really to be preferred to their present situation.

In danger they already stood from those that followed as they well knew; and now it seemed to them that by obeying one who was armed with such credentials, it might be theirs to escape that danger.