Let Gian Maria come, and he will find Valentina della Rovere none so easy to reduce.

To you, sir," she continued, with more calm, "to you on whom I have no claim, I am more than grateful for your chivalrous act in riding here to warn me." Francesco sighed; a look of regret crossed his face.
"Alas!" he said.

"When I rode hither, Madonna, I had hoped to serve you to a better purpose.

I had advice to offer and assistance if you should need it; but the sight of those men-at-arms of yours makes me fear that it is not advice upon which it would be wise to act.

For the plan I had in mind, it would be of the first importance that your soldiers should be trustworthy, and this, I fear me, they are not." "Nevertheless," put in Gonzaga feverishly, clinging to a slender hope, "let us hear it." "I beg that you will," said Valentina.
Thus enjoined, Francesco pondered a moment.
"Are you acquainted with the politics of Babbiano ?" he inquired.
"I know something of them." "I will make the position quite clear to you, Madonna," he rejoined.