"But this I know--that if you intend us treachery you shall have my knife in your gullet for your pains." "Fool!" I scorned him, "since when has it been worth the while of any man to betray such creatures as are you?
Plague me no more! Be moving, else I leave you to your coward's fate." It was the tone best understood by hinds of their lily-livered quality.
It quelled their faint spark of mutiny, and a moment later one of those knaves had caught the bridle of the leading mule and the litter moved forward, whilst Giacopo and the others came on behind at as brisk a pace as their weary horses would yield.

In this guise we took the road south, in the direction opposite to that travelled by the lady.

As we rode, I summoned Giacopo to my side.
"Take your daggers," I bade him, "and rip me that blazon from your coats.

See that you leave no sign about you to proclaim you of the House of Santafior, or all is lost.

It is a precaution you would have taken earlier if God had given you the wit of a grasshopper." He nodded that he understood my order, and scowled his disapproval of my comment on his wit.