"When I accepted service under you, I was given to understand that I was entering a business that should entail little risk to my skin.

I was told that probably there would be no fighting, and that if there were, it would be no more than a brush with the Duke's men.

So, too, did you assure my comrades." "Did you indeed ?" quoth Valentina, intervening, and addressing herself to Fortemani, to whom Cappoccio's words had been directed.
"I did, Madonna," answered Ercole.

"But I had Messer Gonzaga's word for it." "Did you," she continued, turning to Gonzaga, "permit their engagement on that understanding ?" "On some such understanding, yes, Madonna," he was forced to confess.
She looked at him a moment in amazement.

Then: "Msser Gonzaga," she said at length, "I think that I begin to know you." But Cappoccio, who was nowise interested in the extent of Valentina's knowledge of the man, broke in impetuously: "Now we have heard what has passed between this new Provost here and his Highness of Babbiano.