He may be right." "Your heart is over-tender," answered Romeo impatiently.

But she had turned from him now, and was begging Francesco to make his meaning clearer.
"Had he raised his hand against you, Madonna, or even against Messer Gonzaga, or had he disobeyed an order given him by either of you, then, and then only, could there be question of insubordination.

But he has done none of these things.

He is guilty of grossly misusing my servant, it is true, but there is no insubordination in that, since he was under no promise of loyalty to Lanciotto." They stared at him as though his words were words of recondite wisdom instead of the simple statement of a plain case.

Gonzaga crestfallen, Fortemani with a light of hope and wonder shining in his eyes, and Madonna with a faint nodding of the head that argued agreement.