"These men of mine will prove their mettle when it comes to blows.

They are dogs perhaps--but mastiffs every one of them, and would lose a hundred lives in your service if they had them." "Aye, if they had them," put in Gonzaga sourly; "but having no more than one apiece, they'll not care to spare it." "Nay, there you wrong them," cried Fortemani, with heat.

"Give them a leader strong enough to hold them, to encourage and subject them, and they will go anywhere at his bidding." "And there," put in Gonzaga quickly, "you bring us back to the main issue.

Such a leader you have shown us that you are not.

You have done worse.