"And I'll wager you he fails." But Valentina disdained the offer whose rashness was more than proven when, at the end of some ten minutes, Francesco re-entered, as imperturbable as when he went.
"They are quiet now, Madonna," he announced.
She looked at him questioningly.

"How did you accomplish it ?" she inquired.
"I had a little difficulty," he said, "yet not over-much." His eye roved to Gonzaga, and he smiled.

"Messer Gonzaga is too gentle with them.

Too true a courtier to avail himself of the brutality that is necessary when we deal with brutes.

You should not disdain to use your hands upon them," he admonished the fop in all seriousness, and without a trace of irony.