"To-night he will surely lodge you, my lord, in his own palace, or, may be, with my Lord Lorenzo."
"Wherever it may be, I shall sleep soundly," said Antonio.
Now they were come near to the city, and they saw a body of pikemen coming out to meet them, the Lieutenant of the Guard at the head. And when they met, the Lieutenant bowed to Antonio, who greeted him most courteously; and the pikemen spread themselves in front and behind and on both sides of Antonio and Bena, and thus they went on towards the bridge and the city gate. But Bena eyed the pikemen with no love, and moved restlessly in his saddle. "These fellows," said he to Antonio, "hem us in, my lord. Shall I make my horse threaten their toes a little, so that they may give us more room?"
"Let them be," said Antonio. "It is not for long, Bena."
At the entrance of the gate stood Lorenzo, awaiting the Count, and there they dismounted, and Antonio passed through the gate with Lorenzo, Bena being close to him on the other side. And when Bena saw the great force of pikemen, and, behind their ranks, a mighty throng of people, and when he saw the tall gibbet and understood what it was, suddenly his face went red and his hand flew to his sword.
But Antonio caught his arm, saying, "My sword is not drawn, Bena."
"My lord, what does it mean?" cried Bena in a loud voice, so that Lorenzo heard and stayed his steps and looked at Bena. "Does he not know?" he asked of Antonio.
"He does not know yet," said Antonio. And to Bena he said, "I have need of your sword, Bena. Give it me."
"My sword, my lord?"
"Yes, your sword."