"There are too many ears in the Palace of Urbino.

Will it please you to walk in the gardens?
I will tell you there." They rose together, so ready was her assent.

They looked at each other for a second.

Then, side by side, they passed down the wide marble steps that led from the terrace to the box-flanked walks of the gardens.

Here, among the lengthening shadows, they paced in silence for a while, what time Gonzaga sought for words in which to propound his plan.