ith indignation was the answer he received.

"Why, yes, it is more than enough. To-morrow, then, my comrades and I
march out of Roccaleone. Count upon that."

"But do not accept my word. Wait until the herald comes again. Do
nothing until you have heard the terms he brings."

"Why, no, assuredly not."

"And do not let it transpire among your fellows that it is I who have
suggested this."

"Why no. I'll keep your secret," laughed the bravo offensively,
shouldering his partisan and resuming his sentinel's pacing.

Gonzaga sought his bed. A fierce joy consumed him at having so
consummately planned Valentina's ruin, yet he did not wish to face her
again that night.

But when on the morrow the herald wound his horn again beneath the
castle walls, Gonzaga was prominent in the little group that attended
Monna Valentina. The Count of Aquila was superintending the work to
which he had set a half-score of men. With a great show, and as much
noise as possible--by which Francesco intended that the herald should be
impressed--they were rolling forward four small culverins and some
three cannons of larger calibre, and planting them so that they made a
menacing show in the crenels of the parapet.

Whilst watching and directing the men, he kept his ears open for the
message, and he heard the herald again recite the terms on which the
garrison might surrender, and again the threat to hang every man from
the castle-walls if they compelled him to reduce them by force of arms.
He brought his message to an end by announcing that in his extreme
clemency Gian Maria accorded them another half-hour's grace in which to
resolve themselves upon their course. Should the end of that time
still find them obstinate, the bombardment would commence. Such was the
message that in another of his arrow-borne letters Gonzaga had suggested
Gian Maria should send.

It was Francesco who stepped forward to reply. He had been stooping over
one of the guns, as if to assure himself of the accuracy of its aim, and
as he rose he pronounced himself satisfied in a voice loud enough for
the herald's hearing. Then he advanced to Valentina's side, and whilst
he stood there delivering his answer he never noticed the silent
departure of the men from the wall.

"You will tell his Highness of Babbiano," he replied, "that he reminds
us of the boy in the fable who cried 'Wolf!' too often. Tell him, sir,
that his threats leave this garrison as unmoved as do his promi