oyed for any other purpose save the
cruel task of soliciting the dishonour of his own kin, and declaring
that the rendering of such a service was contrary alike to his
inclinations and his honour.

Inflamed with excessive wrath, the Duke raised his hand to his mouth and
bit his nails.

"Well," said he in a fury, "since I find that you have no friendship for
me, I know what I have to do."

The gentleman, who was acquainted with his master's cruelty, felt
afraid, and answered--

"My lord, since such is your pleasure, I will speak to her, and tell you
her reply."

"If you show concern for my life, I shall show it for yours," replied
the Duke, and thereupon he went away.

The gentleman well understood the meaning of these words, and spent a
day or two without seeing the Duke, considering what he should do. On
the one hand he was confronted by the duty he owed his master, and the
wealth and honours he had received from him; on the other by the honour
of his house, and the fair fame and chastity of his sister. He well
knew that she would never submit to such infamy unless through his own
treachery she were overcome by violence, so unnatural a deed that if it
were committed he and his kindred would be disgraced for ever. In this
dilemma he decided that he would sooner die than so ill use his sister,
who was one of the noblest women in all Italy, and ought rather to
deliver his country of this tyrant who, abusing his power, sought to
cast such a slur upon his family; for he felt sure that if the Duke
were suffered to live, neither his own life nor the lives of his kindred
would be safe. So without speaking of the matter to his sister or to any
living creature, he determined to save his life and vindicate his honour
at one and the same time. Accordingly, when a couple of days had gone
by, he went to the Duke and told him that with infinite difficulty he
had so wrought upon his sister that she had at last consented to do his
will, provided that the matter were kept secret, and none but he, her
brother, knew of it.

The Duke, who was longing for these tidings, readily believed them, and
embracing the ambassador, promised him anything that he might ask. He
begged him to put his scheme quickly into execution, and they agreed
together upon the time when this should be done. The Duke was in great
joy, as may well be imagined; and on the arrival of that wished-for
night when he hoped to vanquish her whom he had deemed invincib