Then the Governor looked at me, and from me
back again at Galeotto. At last he smiled, whilst I bowed before him, but
very vaguely conscious of what might impend.
"The time," he said, "seems to be none too distant. The Duke of Castro--
this Pier Luigi Farnese--is so confident of ultimate success that already
he has taken up his residence in Piacenza, and already, I am informed, is
being spoken of as Duke of Parma and Piacenza."
"He has cause," said Galeotto. "Who is to withstand his election since the
Emperor, like Pilate, has washed his hands of the affair?"
A smile overspread Gonzaga's crafty face. "Do not assume too much
concerning the Emperor's wishes in the matter. His answer to the Pope was
that if Parma and Piacenza are Imperial fiefs--integral parts of the State
of Milan--it would ill become the Emperor to alienate them from an empire
which he holds merely in trust; whereas if they can be shown rightly to
belong to the Holy See, why then the matter concerns him not, and the Holy
See may settle it."
Galeotto shrugged and his face grew dark. "It amounts to an assent," he
said.
"Not so," purred Gonzaga, seating himself once more. "It amounts to
nothing. It is a Sibylline answer which nowise prejudices what he may do
in future. We still hope," he added, "that the Sacred College may refuse
the investiture.
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