And so she consented, whereat again he bowed, this time in gratitude.

And then a sudden thought occurred to her, and with it came dismay.
"But for all this, Gonzaga--for the men and the victualling--money will be needed." "If you will let my friendship be proven also in that----" he began.
But she interrupted him, struck suddenly with a solution to the riddle.
"No, no!" she exclaimed.

His face fell a little.

He had hoped to place her in his debt in every possible way, yet here was one in which she raised a barrier.

Upon her head she wore a fret of gold, so richly laced with pearls as to be worth a prince's ransom.