I shall sleep tranquil of nights beside my beauteous bride, secure in the protection her uncle's armies will afford me, and never needing so much as my valiant cousin's aid as my gonfalonier." The Count of Aquila changed colour despite himself, and the Duke's suspicious eyes were as quick to observe it as was his mind to misinterpret its meaning.

He registered a vow to set a watch on this solicitous cousin who offered so readily to bear his gonfalon.
"I felicitate you, at least," said Francesco gravely, "upon the wisdom of that step.

Had I known of it I had not troubled you with other proposals for the safety of your State.

But, may I ask you, Gian Maria, what influences led you to a course which, hitherto, you have so obstinately refused to follow ?" The Duke shrugged his shoulders.
"They plagued me so," he lamented, with a grimace, "that in the end I consented.

I could withstand Lodi and the others, but when my mother joined them with her prayers--I should say, her commands--and pointed out again my peril to me, I gave way.