But his means were running low, and it behoved him to turn his attention to such quarters as might yield him profit.

Being poor-spirited, and--since his tastes had not inclined that way--untrained in arms, it would have been futile for him to have sought the career common to adventurers of his age.

Yet an adventurer at heart he was, and since the fields of Mars were little suited to his nature, he had long pondered upon the possibilities afforded him by the lists of Cupid.

Guidobaldo--purely out of consideration for Monna Elizabetta--had shown him a high degree of favour, and upon this he had been vain enough to found great hopes--for Guidobaldo had two nieces.
High had these hopes run when he was chosen to escort the lovely Valentina della Rovere from the Convent of Santa Sofia to her uncle's court.

But of late they had withered, since he had learnt what were her uncle's plans for this lady's future.