And presently Gian Maria rose with the announcement that he had far to journey on the morrow, and so, with his host's good leave, would be abed.
Valdicampo, himself, then played the part of chamberlain, and taking up one of the large candle branches, he lighted the Duke to his apartments.
He would have carried his good offices, and his candles, as far as Gian Maria's very bed-chamber, but that in the ante-room his Highness, as politely as might be, bade him set down the lights and leave him.
The Duke remained standing for a moment, deliberating whether to afford knowledge to Alvari and Santi--who had followed him and stood awaiting his commands--of what he was about to do.

In the end he decided that he would act alone and upon his sole discretion.

So he dismissed them.
When they had gone and he was quite alone, he clapped his hands together, and in answer to that summons the door of his bedroom opened, revealing Martin Armstadt on the threshold.
"He is there ?" inquired the Duke.
"Awaiting your Highness," answered the Swiss, and he held the door for Gian Maria to enter.
The bedchamber apportioned the Duke in the Palazzo Valdicampo was a noble and lofty room, in the midst of which loomed the great carved bed of honour, with its upright pillars and funereal canopy.
On the overmantel stood two five-armed sconces with lighted tapers.

Yet Gian Maria did not seem to deem that there was light enough for such purpose as he entertained, for he bade Martin fetch him the candelabra that had been left behind.

Then he turned his attention to the group standing by the window, where the light from the overmantel fell full upon it.
This consisted of three men, two being mercenaries of Armstadt's guard, in corselet and morion, and the third, who stood captive between, the unfortunate Ser Peppe.