"Bestir that knavish garrison of yours, and bid the lazy dogs let down the bridge.

I have news for Monna Valentina." "At once, Excellency," the fool replied, and would have gone upon the instant but that Francesco recalled him.
"Say, Peppe, a knight--the knight she met at Acquasparta, if you will.
But leave my name unspoken." With the assurance that he would obey his wishes Peppe went his errand.
A slight delay ensued, and then upon the battlements appeared Gonzaga, sleepy and contentious, attended by a couple of Fortemani's knaves, who came to ask the nature of Francesco's business.
"It is with Monna Valentina," answered him Francesco, raising head and voice, so that Gonzaga recognised him for the wounded knight of Acquasparta, remembered and scowled.
"I am Monna Valentina's captain here," he announced, with arrogance.
"And you may deliver to me such messages as you bear." There followed a contention, conducted ill-humouredly on the part of Gonzaga and scarcely less so on the Count's, Francesco stoutly refusing to communicate his business to any but Valentina, and Gonzaga as stoutly refusing to disturb the lady at that hour, or to lower the bridge.

Words flew between them across the waters of the moat, and grew hotter at each fresh exchange, till in the end they were abruptly terminated by the appearance of Valentina herself, attended by Peppino.
"What is this, Gonzaga ?" she inquired, her manner excited, for the fool had told her that it was the knight Francesco who sought admittance, and at the very mention of the name she had flushed, then paled, then started for the ramparts.

"Why is this knight denied admittance since he bears a message for me ?" And from where she stood she sought with admiring eyes the graceful shape of the Count of Aquila--the knight-errant of her dreams.

Francesco bared his head, and bent to the withers of his horse in courteous greeting.