.

THE KNELL OF THE TYRANTS.
In the hour of his need Lodovico Sforza found himself without friends or credit, and he had to pay the price of the sly, faithless egotistical policy he had so long pursued with profit.
His far-reaching schemes were flung into confusion because a French king had knocked his brow against a door, and had been succeeded by one who conceived that he had a legal right to the throne of Milan, and the intent and might to enforce it, be the right legal or not.

It was in vain now that Lodovico turned to the powers of Italy for assistance, in vain that his cunning set fresh intrigues afoot.

His neighbours had found him out long since; he had played fast and loose with them too often, and there was none would trust him now.
Thus he found himself isolated, and in no case to withstand the French avalanche which rolled down upon his duchy.

The fall of Milan was a matter of days; of resistance there was practically none.