Do you think me sad, cast down, at the prospect of this banishment?
Why, boy, the blood runs swifter through my veins since I heard the sentence.

It frees me from Babbiano in an hour when perhaps my duty--the reciprocation of the people's love--might otherwise have held me here, and it gives me liberty to go forth, my good Fanfulla, in quest of such adventure as I choose to follow." He threw out his arms, and displayed his splendid teeth in a hearty laugh.
Fanfulla eyed him, infected by the boisterous gladness of his mood.
"Why, true indeed, my lord," he acknowledged, "you are too fine a bird to sing in a cage.

But to go knight-erranting----" He paused, and spread his hands in protest.

"There are no longer dragons holding princesses captive." "Alas no.

But the Venetians are on the eve of war, and they will find work for these hands of mine.