Ferrara?" he went on to shout, appealing to gods and men, "the
gayest court in all Italy--the cleanest air, the most laughing women,
the--pest! It is a place of holy days and feasts--all music, loving, and
delight! But you will see, my dear; I will see that you see." Olimpia
must know more exactly than this, and so she told the Mosca. He could
deny her nothing; so as they rode between the grey swamps of the lagoon,
he poured out his understanding in his own fashion. His oaths made her
gasp, but the facts atoned for that. By the bones of God, but he served
a great lord of that city--Guarino Guarini by name, whose blade was the
longest, the oftenest out, and the cleanest cutter, as himself was the
lightest heart, and most trenchant carver of men in Borso's fief. The
good captain carried his loyalty to the edge of his simplicity, and left
it there for Olimpia to handle. "By the cheeks of the Virgin, my dear, I
know what I know. My young master has an eye which, whether it say
'Come' or 'Go,' needs not say it twice. He is as fine and limber as a
leopard on the King of England's shield, of a nature so frank and loving
that I suppose there is hardly a lady in Ferrara could not testify to
it--unless she were bound to the service of his Magnificence the Duke.
Why! Yourself might make a shift to be my little friend, and never
repent it, mind you--no, no, I may be battered, my dear, but I am
seasoned; I have great experience: you would not repent, and shall not,
by the Face on the Handkerchief! But happen you see my master, happen he
wear his brocade of white and gold--it is all peacocks' eyes, my
seraphic heart, in gold and blue upon snowy white--happen again he look,
'Come' at you--why, off you trot as a hound to the platter, and I speed
you thither with open heart. Thus walks his world, Guarino Guarini, my
noble master."

Olimpia had a colour, and flew it now most becomingly in her cheeks. It
was a wholesome, healthy, happy colour, born of her growing excitement;
the Captain highly approved of it. She thus earned more information.
Guarino Guarini, it appeared, though not of the reigning family, was
very near the throne. He had married one of the d'Este ladies, Madama
Lionella, legitimised daughter of Duke Borso, and was now ignoring the
fact to his own and her entire satisfaction. Upon the Countess's score,
Captain Mosca had not very much to say. "A great-hearted lady, amorous,
generous, a great lover," he allowed; "a pretty ta