And with that he told her of the threatened descent of Caesar Borgia upon Gian Maria's duchy, and hence, of the little time at her suitor's disposal; so that if he could but be held in check before the walls of Roccaleone for a little while, all might be well.

"But seeing in what haste he is," he ended, "his methods are likely to be rough and desperate, and I had thought that meanwhile you need not remain here, Madonna." "Not remain ?" she cried, scorn of the notion in her voice.

"Not remain ?" quoth Gonzaga timorously, hope sounding in his.
"Precisely, Madonna.

I would have proposed that you leave Gian Maria an empty nest, so that even if the castle should fall into his hands he would gain nothing." "You would advise me to fly ?" she demanded.
"I came prepared to do so, but the sight of your men restrains me.

They are not trustworthy, and to save their dirty skins they might throw Roccaleone open to the besiegers, and thus your flight would be discovered, while yet there might be time to render it futile." Before she could frame an answer there was Gonzaga feverishly urging her to act upon so wise and timely a suggestion, and seek safety in flight from a place that Gian Maria would tear stone from stone.