At length she turned her head to regard me in the light of the now declining moon.
"Messer Biancomonte," said she, and the sound of the old name, falling from her lips, thrilled me with a joy unspeakable, and seemed already to reinvest me in my old estate, "Messer Biancomonte, you have done me in these four-and-twenty hours such service as never did knight of old for any lady--and you did it, too, out of the most disinterested and noble of motives, proving thereby how truly knightly is that heart of yours, which, for my sake, has all but beat its last to-night.

You must journey on to Pesaro with me despite this banishment of which you have told me.
I will be surety that no harm shall come to you.

I could not do less, and I shall hope to do far more.

Such influence as I may prove to have with my cousin of Pesaro shall be exerted all on your behalf, my friend; and if in the nature of Giovanni Sforza there be a tithe of the gratitude with which you have inspired me, you shall, at least, have justice, and Biancomonte shall be yours again." I was silent for a spell, so touched was I by the kindness she manifested me--so touched, indeed, and so unused to it that I forgot how amply I had earned it, and how rudely she had used me ere that was done.
"Alas!" I sighed.

"God knows I am no longer fit to sit in the house of the Biancomonte.