"You are mine now, betide what may.
Not Gian Maria nor all the dukes in Christendom shall take you from me." She set her hand upon his lips to silence him, and he kissed the palm, so that laughing she drew back again.

And now from laughter she passed to a great solemnity, and with arm outstretched towards the ducal camp: "Win me a way through those lines," said she, "and bear me away from Urbino--far away where Guidobaldo's power and the vengeance of Gian Maria may not follow us--and you shall have won me for your own.

But until then, let there be a truce to--to this, between us.

Here is a man's work to be done, and if I am weak as to-night, I may weaken you, and then we should both be undone.

It is upon your strength I count, Franceschino mio, my true knight." He would have answered her.