"
"Five thousand ducats yearly is my offer," said Farnese, "provided that you
bring three hundred lances."
"Ah, well!" said Galeotto softly, "you may come to regret one of these
days, highness, that you did not think well to pay me the price I ask."
"Regret?" quoth the Duke, with a frown of displeasure at so much frankness.
"When you see me engaged in the service of some other," Galeotto explained.
"You need a condottiero, my lord; and you may come to need one even more
than you do now."
"I have the Lord of Mondolfo," said the Duke.
Galeotto stared at him with round eyes. "The Lord of Mondolfo?" quoth he,
intentionally uncomprehending.
"You have not heard? Why, here he stands." And he waved a jewelled hand
towards Cosimo, a handsome figure in green and blue, standing nearest to
Farnese.
Galeotto looked at this Anguissola, and his brow grew very black.
"So," he said slowly, "you are the Lord of Mondolfo, eh? I think you are
very brave."
"I trust my valour will not be lacking when the proof of it is needed,"
answered Cosimo haughtily, feeling the other's unfriendly mood and
responding to it.
"It cannot," said Galeotto, "since you have the courage to assume that
title, for the lordship of Mondolfo is an unlucky one to bear, Ser Cosimo.
Giovanni d'Anguissola was unhappy in all things, and his was a truly
miserable end.
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