Briefly I gave her the news of
what had befallen in Piacenza.
When I had done, she sighed and looked at me.
"It brings us no nearer to each other," she said.
"Nay, now--this much nearer, at least, that the Imperial decree will return
me the lordships of Mondolfo and Carmina, dispossessing the usurper. Thus
I shall have something to offer you, my Bianca."
She smiled at me very sadly, almost reproachfully.
"Foolish," said she. "What matter the possessions that it may be yours to
cast into my lap? Is that what we wait for, Agostino? Is there not
Pagliano for you? Would not that, at need, be lordship enough?"
"The meanest cottage of the countryside were lordship enough so that you
shared it," I answered passionately, as many in like case have answered
before and since.
"You see, then, that you are wrong to attach importance to so slight a
thing as this Imperial decree where you and I are concerned. Can an
Imperial decree annul my marriage?"
"For that a papal bull would be necessary."
"And how is a papal bull to be obtained?"
"It is not for us," I admitted miserably.
"I have been wicked," she said, her eyes upon the ground, a faint colour
stirring in her cheeks. "I have prayed that the usurper might be
dispossessed of his rights in me. I have prayed that when the attack was
made and revolt was carried into the Citadel of Piacenza, Cosimo
d'Anguissola might stand at his usual post beside the Duke and might fall
with him.
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