There was a complacent smile on his white face and his fingers toyed carelessly with his beard.
"I waited patiently, very haughty of mien and very fierce at heart, and when the amusement began to fade from his eyes, I begged that he would deliver me his answer.
"'My answer,' quoth he, 'is that you get you back to the place from whence you came, and render thanks to God on your knees every morning of the life I am sparing you that Giovanni Sforza is more entertained than affronted by your frenzy.' "At his words I went crimson from chin to brow.
"'Do you disdain me ?' I questioned, choking with rage.

He turned, with a shrug and a laugh, and bade one of his men to give this cavalier his glove, and conduct him from the castle.

Several that had stood at hand made shift to obey him, whereat I fell into such a blind, unreasoning fury that incontinently I drew my sword, and laid about me.

They were many, I was but one; and they were not long in overpowering me and dragging me from my horse.
"They bound me fast, and Giovanni bade them let me have a priest, then get me hanged without delay.

Had he done that, the world being as it is, perhaps none could blame him.