Then the captain re-entered, followed by his two men, and Gian Maria waved a hand towards the prisoner.
"Take him away," he muttered harshly, his face ghastly, and passion shaking him like an aspen.

"Take him away, and await my orders in the ante-chamber." "If it is farewell, Cousin," said Francesco, "may I hope that you will send a priest to me?
I have lived a faithful Christian." Gian Maria returned him no answer, but his baleful eye was upon Martino.
Reading the significance of that glance, the captain touched Francesco lightly on the arm.

A moment the Count stood, looking from the Duke to the soldiers; a second his glance rested on those assembled there; then, with a light raising of his shoulders, he turned on his heel, and with his head high passed out of the ducal chamber.
And silence continued after he was gone until Caterina Colonna broke it with a laugh that grated on Gian Maria's now very tender nerves.
"You promised bravely," she mocked him, "to play the lion.

But so far, we have only heard the braying of an ass.".