Caterina
assured him. "Yet if she hath not said thee nay--what lackest thou of
favor?"

He was suddenly grave. "She will not say me '_yea_,'" he answered her,
"lest the speaking of the word which she foldeth close in her heart
until she giveth her rare self leave to utter it, should make her
somewhat less to her Sovereign Lady--who, she hath most solemnly assured
me--hath need of us both--and _thus_--with no bond between her two loyal
servitors but their loyalty to their Queen."

"Shall mine be less because of their happiness?" Caterina questioned
indignantly. "Nay, but much less--_much_ less, without it!--Where is the
Dama Margherita?"

"Nay, fair Cousin," he protested, "let discretion rule the command, I
beseech you. For she herself is more proud than any Queen and of a
temper to which surrender cometh not easily; and the wooing hath been
long. Yet the truth of her deep eyes betrayeth her,--and so I trust my
happiness in your gracious hands."

But Caterina would not rest until she had found the occasion for speech:
and so soon as she chanced to be alone with Dama Margherita, she
announced, without preamble, that she would presently command a right
royal festival to please the nobles but lately come to court, with
jousts of song and floral games, "and I myself will give the prize, and
thou--Cara Margherita, being my faithful _Dama di Maridaggio_, shall be
the Queen thereof."

But the Margherita drew herself haughtily away from the Queen's
outstretched hand.

"I do not understand," she said, in a tone that was half resentful. "I
am ever at your Majesty's command for loyalty and service: but this
custom displeaseth me--I pray your Majesty, let it be dismissed."

"Nay, Margherita, it is my right;" the Queen persisted. "I would have
thee choose one of three noble knights whom I will present to thee."

"Three!" she echoed with a sensation of relief: then, after all, her
secret had not been guessed: it was truly some freak of the Queen's, and
she turned more willingly to listen.

"The first is of rare nobility, whom I fain would honor in bestowing
upon him the hand of one so dear--because he hath spent himself for me,
and hath held his life little when it might serve me."

Margherita half opened her lips to speak, then closed them resolutely
and held silence--a faint flush growing in her cheek.

"The next is one of a most ancient house, of vast estates, it hath been
told me, which he himself nameth not, save fo