He rose, leaning heavily upon the table.
"What does this mean?" he demanded in a quavering voice, and his face had
turned grey with apprehension.
"It means," Galeotto answered him, firmly and coldly, "that your rule in
Piacenza is at an end, that the Pontifical sway is broken in these States,
and that beyond the Po Ferrante Gonzaga waits with an army to take
possession here in the Emperor's name. Finally, my Lord Duke, it means
that the Devil's patience is to be rewarded, and that he is at last to have
you who have so faithfully served him upon earth."
Farnese made a gurgling sound and put a jewelled hand to his throat as if
he choked. He was all in green velvet, and every button of his doublet was
a brilliant of price; and that gay raiment by its incongruity seemed to
heighten the tragedy of the moment.
Of his gentlemen the doctor sat frozen with terror in his high-backed seat,
clutching the arms of it so that his knuckles showed white as marble. In
like case were the two attendant servants, who hung motionless by the
buffet. But Sforza-Fogliani, a man of some spirit for all his effeminate
appearance, leapt to his feet and set a hand to his weapons.
Instantly Confalonieri's sword flashed from its sheath. He had passed his
dagger into his left hand.
Pages:
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460