re rode into the courtyard of his castle of Pesazo a
tall and lean young man on a tall and lean old horse. He was garbed and
harnessed after a fashion that proclaimed him half-knight, half-peasant,
and caused the castle lacqueys to eye him with amusement and greet him
with derision. Lacqueys are great arbiters of fashion.

"In a loud, imperious voice this cockerel called for Giovanni, Lord
of Pesaro, whereupon, resenting the insolence of his manner, the
men-at-arms would have driven him out without more ado. But it chanced
that from one of the windows of his stronghold the tyrant espied his
odd visitor. He was in a mood that craved amusement, and marvelling what
madman might be this, he made his way below and bade them stand back and
let me speak--for I, Madonna, was that lean young man.

"'Are you,' quoth I, 'the Lord of Pesaro?'

"He answered me courteously that he was, whereupon I did my errand to
him. I flung my gauntlet of buffalo-hide at his feet in gage of battle.

"'Your father,' said I, 'Costanzo of Pesaro, was a foul brigand, who
robbed my father of his castle and lands of Biancomonte, leaving him
to a needy and poverty-stricken old age. I am here to avenge upon your
father's son my father's wrongs; I am here to redeem my castle and
my lands. If so be that you are a true knight, you will take up the
challenge that I fling you, and you will do battle with me, on horse or
foot, and with whatsoever arms you shall decree, God defending him that
has justice on his side.'

"Knowing the world as I know it now, Madonna," I interpolated, "I
realise the folly of that act of mine. But in those days my views
belonged to a long departed age of chivalry, of which I had learnt from
such books as came my way at Biancomonte, and which I believed was the
life of to-day in the world of men. It was a thing which some tyrants
would have had me broken on the wheel. But Giovanni Sforza never so much
as manifested anger. There was a complacent smile on his white face and
his fingers toyed carelessly with his beard.

"I waited patiently, very haughty of mien and very fierce at heart, and
when the amusement began to fade from his eyes, I begged that he would
deliver me his answer.

"'My answer,' quoth he, 'is that you get you back to the place from
whence you came, and render thanks to God on your knees every morning of
the life I am sparing you that Giovanni Sforza is more entertained than
affronted by your frenzy.'

"At his