"Let me down, and you shall have his name, Lord Duke." "Pronounce it first, or the manner of your descent shall be as the others." Peppe passed his tongue over his bleeding lips, hung still and spoke.
"It was your cousin," he panted, "Francesco del Falco, Count of Aquila." The Duke stared at him a moment, with startled countenance and mouth agape.
"You are telling me the truth, animal ?" he demanded, in a quivering voice.

"It was the Count of Aquila who was wounded and whom Monna Valentina tended ?" "I swear it," answered the fool.

"Now, in the name of God and His blessed saints, let me down." For a moment yet he was held there, awaiting Gian Maria's signal.

The Duke continued to eye him with that same astonished look, what time he turned over in his mind the news he had gathered.

Then conviction of the truth sank into his mind.