She then seated herself; Gerard and her maids remained standing.
“What is your name, good youth?”
“Gerard, signora.”
“Gerard? body of Bacchus! is that the name of a human creature?”
“It is a Dutch name, signora. I was born at Tergou, in Holland.”
“A harsh name, girls, for so well-favoured a youth; what say you?”
The maids assented warmly.
“What did I send for him for?” inquired the lady, with lofty languor. “Ah, I remember. Be seated, Ser Gerardo, and write me a letter to Ercole Orsini, my lover; at least he says so.”
Gerard seated himself, took out paper and ink, and looked up to the princess for instructions.
She, seated on a much higher chair, almost a throne, looked down at him with eyes equally inquiring.