than has sufficient knowledge reached you
yet--in your incomparable innocence--to distinguish between rogues and
honest men. Beltrame, do my bidding."

Valentina's foot tapped the ground impatiently, and into her eyes there
came a look of anger that heightened her likeness to her martial uncle.
But Peppe it was who spoke.

"For all that there seem to be fools enough, already, meddling in this
business," he said, in tones of mock lament, "permit that I join their
number, Ser Romeo, and listen to my counsel."

"Out, fool," cried Gonzaga, cutting at him with his riding-switch, "we
need not your capers."

"No, but you need my wisdom," retorted Ser Peppe, as he leapt beyond
Gonzaga's reach. "Hear me, Beltrame! For all that we do not doubt Messer
Gonzaga's keen discrimination in judging 'twixt a rogue and an honest
man, I do promise you, as surely as though I were Fate herself, that if
you obey him now and tie up that gentleman, you will yourself be tied up
for it, later on, in a yet uglier fashion."

Beltrame looked alarmed, Gonzaga incredulous. Valentina thanked Peppe
with her eyes, thinking that he had but hit upon a subterfuge to serve
her wishes, whilst Francesco, who had now risen to his feet, looked
on with an amused smile as though the matter concerned him nowise
personally. And then, in the very crux of the situation, Fanfulla and
Fra Domenico appeared upon the scene.

"You are, well-returned, Fanfulla!" the Count called to him, "This
pretty gentleman would have had me bound."

"Have you bound?" echoed Fanfulla, in angry horror. "Upon what grounds,
pray?" he demanded, turning fiercely upon Gonzaga.

Impressed by Fanfulla's lordly air, Romeo Gonzaga grew amazingly humble
for one that but a moment back had been so overbearing.

"It would seem, sir, that my judgment was at fault in esteeming his
condition," he excused himself.

"Your judgment?" returned the hot Fanfulla. "And who bade you judge? Go
cut your milk-teeth, boy, and meddle not with men if you would live to
be a man yourself some day."

Valentina smiled, Peppe laughed outright, whilst even Beltrame and his
followers grinned, all of which added not a little to Gonzaga's choler.
But scant though his wisdom might be, it was yet enough to dictate
prudence.

"The presence of Madonna here restrains me," he answered, with elaborate
dignity. "But should we meet again, I shall make bold to show you what
manhood means."

"Perhaps--if by then you shall