"You will be marvelling, sirs, and you, my lady mother, upon what grounds I have had this traitor seized.

You shall learn.

On the night of the Tuesday before Easter seven traitors met at Sant' Angelo to plot my overthrow.

Of those, the heads of four may be seen on the walls of Babbiano now; the other three made off, but there stands one of them--the one that was to have occupied this throne after they had unseated me." The eyes of all were now upon the young Count, whilst his own glance strayed to the face of Lodi, on which there was written a consternation so great that it must have betrayed him had the Duke but chanced to look his way.

A pause ensued which none present dared to break.