An usher raised the curtain for us at a sign from the
page, who, opening, announced us to the personage within.
We stood in a small closet, whose tall, slender windows overlooked the
courtyard, and from the table, on which there was a wealth of parchments,
rose a very courtly gentleman to receive us out of a gilded chair, the arms
of which were curiously carved into the shape of serpents' heads.
He was a well-nourished, florid man of middle height, with a resolute
mouth, high cheek-bones, and crafty, prominent eyes that reminded me
vaguely of the eyes of the taverner of Pojetta. He was splendidly dressed
in a long gown of crimson damask edged with lynx fur, and the fingers of
his fat hands and one of his thumbs were burdened with jewels.
This was Ferrante Gonzaga, Prince of Molfetta, Duke of Ariano, the
Emperor's Lieutenant and Governor of the State of Milan.
The smile with which he had been ready to greet Galeotto froze slightly at
sight of me. But before he could voice the question obviously in his mind
my companion had presented me.
"Here, my lord, is one upon whom I trust that we may count when the time
comes. This is Agostino d'Anguissola, of Mondolfo and Carmina."
Surprise overspread Gonzaga's face. He seemed about to speak, and checked,
and his eyes were very searchingly bent upon Galeotto's face, which
remained inscrutable as stone.
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