It is so, is it not ?" Gian Maria nodded.
"You have put it very clearly," he sneered.

"If you can make out your innocence as clearly, I shall be satisfied that I have wronged you." "That this conspiracy took place we will accept as proven, although to the people of Babbiano the proof may have seemed scant.

A man, since dead, had told your Highness that such a plot was being hatched.

Hardly, perhaps, in itself, evidence enough to warrant setting the heads of four very valiant gentlemen on spears, but no doubt your Highness had other proofs to which the rest of us had no access." Gian Maria shivered at the words.

He recalled what Francesco had said on the occasion of their last talk upon this very subject; he remembered the manner of his own reception that day in Babbiano.
"We must be content that it is so," calmly pursued Francesco.