As it is----" he paused, his laughter ceased, and his dark eyes took the captain's measure in a curious way.

"Best leave her uncensured, Ser Capitano.

She is of the house of Rovere, and closely allied to that of Montefeltro." The officer felt the rebuke, and silence reigned between them after that.
It was whilst Francesco, Fanfulla and Peppe waited in the ante-chamber for admittance to the Duke that the jester vented some of the bitterness he felt at their babbling.

The splendid room was thronged with a courtly crowd.

There were magnificent nobles and envoys, dark ecclesiastics and purple prelates, captains in steel and court officers in silk and velvet.