Yet his voice was well restrained as he made answer: "Madonna, this knave was insolent." "An insolence that you no doubt provoked," put in Gonzaga, a dimple showing on his woman's cheek.

But the sterner rebuke fell from the lips of Valentina.
"Knave ?" she questioned, with flushed countenance.

"If you would not have me regret your admittance, Messer Francesco, I pray you curb your words.

Here are no knaves.

That, sir, is the captain of my soldiers." Francesco bowed submissively, as patient under her reproof as he had been hasty under Fortemani's.
"It was on the matter of this captaincy that we fell to words," he answered, with more humility.