“Only what Bissy has told me, Madonna.”
“And what does Bissy know?”
“Ask him. He has all the wisdom of an owl. You did not come here unattended?”
“Madame de Gonzalès drove with me. She is sleeping in the carriage.”
“I warrant it, the old sluggard. If they shot women, she would be riddled like a pepper-box for a false sentry.”
“You must not speak so of my gouvernante.”
“Well, I will not. If it comes to that, I could forgive all Spaniards for your sake.”
Isabella turned, her slim tallish young figure suddenly erect.
“I will go and look for Bissy,” she said stiffly.
“You will find him in the orange-grove,” called Aquaviva, and returned, grinning, to his work.