"Hear me, Beltrame! For all that we do not doubt Messer Gonzaga's keen discrimination in judging 'twixt a rogue and an honest man, I do promise you, as surely as though I were Fate herself, that if you obey him now and tie up that gentleman, you will yourself be tied up for it, later on, in a yet uglier fashion." Beltrame looked alarmed, Gonzaga incredulous.

Valentina thanked Peppe with her eyes, thinking that he had but hit upon a subterfuge to serve her wishes, whilst Francesco, who had now risen to his feet, looked on with an amused smile as though the matter concerned him nowise personally.

And then, in the very crux of the situation, Fanfulla and Fra Domenico appeared upon the scene.
"You are, well-returned, Fanfulla!" the Count called to him, "This pretty gentleman would have had me bound." "Have you bound ?" echoed Fanfulla, in angry horror.

"Upon what grounds, pray ?" he demanded, turning fiercely upon Gonzaga.
Impressed by Fanfulla's lordly air, Romeo Gonzaga grew amazingly humble for one that but a moment back had been so overbearing.
"It would seem, sir, that my judgment was at fault in esteeming his condition," he excused himself.
"Your judgment ?" returned the hot Fanfulla.

"And who bade you judge?
Go cut your milk-teeth, boy, and meddle not with men if you would live to be a man yourself some day." Valentina smiled, Peppe laughed outright, whilst even Beltrame and his followers grinned, all of which added not a little to Gonzaga's choler.
But scant though his wisdom might be, it was yet enough to dictate prudence.
"The presence of Madonna here restrains me," he answered, with elaborate dignity.