d, the horses relinquished to
the grooms who had hastened forward.

"Upon business that concerns me?" quoth the Duke, intrigued.

"Why, yes," said Galeotto, who stood now face to face with Farnese at
the foot of the steps up which the Duke's attendants were straggling.
"I have been recruiting forces, and since one of these days your
magnificence is to give me occupation, you will see that the matter
concerns you."

Above leaned Cavalcanti, his face grey and haggard, without the heart to
relish the wicked humour of Galeotto that could make jests for his own
entertainment. True there was also Falcone to overhear, appreciate, and
grin under cover of his great brown hand.

"Does this mean that you are come to your senses on the score of a
stipend, Ser Galeotto?" quoth the Duke.

"I am not a trader out of the Giudecca to haggle over my wares," replied
the burly condottiero. "But I nothing doubt that your magnificence and I
will come to an understanding at the last."

"Five thousand ducats yearly is my offer," said Farnese, "provided that
you bring three hundred lances."

"Ah, well!" said Galeotto softly, "you may come to regret one of these
days, highness, that you did not think well to pay me the price I ask."

"Regret?" quoth the Duke, with a frown of displeasure at so much
frankness.

"When you see me engaged in the service of some other," Galeotto
explained. "You need a condottiero, my lord; and you may come to need
one even more than you do now."

"I have the Lord of Mondolfo," said the Duke.

Galeotto stared at him with round eyes. "The Lord of Mondolfo?" quoth
he, intentionally uncomprehending.

"You have not heard? Why, here he stands." And he waved a jewelled hand
towards Cosimo, a handsome figure in green and blue, standing nearest to
Farnese.

Galeotto looked at this Anguissola, and his brow grew very black.

"So," he said slowly, "you are the Lord of Mondolfo, eh? I think you are
very brave."

"I trust my valour will not be lacking when the proof of it is needed,"
answered Cosimo haughtily, feeling the other's unfriendly mood and
responding to it.

"It cannot," said Galeotto, "since you have the courage to assume that
title, for the lordship of Mondolfo is an unlucky one to bear, Ser
Cosimo. Giovanni d'Anguissola was unhappy in all things, and his was
a truly miserable end. His father before him was poisoned by his best
friend, and as for the last who legitimately bore that title--why, none