I am here to avenge upon your father's son my father's wrongs; I am here to redeem my castle and my lands.

If so be that you are a true knight, you will take up the challenge that I fling you, and you will do battle with me, on horse or foot, and with whatsoever arms you shall decree, God defending him that has justice on his side.' "Knowing the world as I know it now, Madonna," I interpolated, "I realise the folly of that act of mine.

But in those days my views belonged to a long departed age of chivalry, of which I had learnt from such books as came my way at Biancomonte, and which I believed was the life of to-day in the world of men.

It was a thing which some tyrants would have had me broken on the wheel.

But Giovanni Sforza never so much as manifested anger.