Cecilia laid her rosy fingers on his lips with sympathetic reproach. Then she asked curiously:—
'And this other paper, what is it?'
At this his face cleared, and the old, gay, somewhat cunning smile appeared on his lips.
He read the second document aloud, also a deed of gift, with recital of the lands, woods, hamlets, hunting rights, and other advantages which he, Ludovico, Duke of Milan, was conferring on Madonna Lucrezia Crivelli and his natural son Giampaolo. With the rest was included the villa of Cusnago, Beatrice's favourite country house, renowned for its fisheries.
The last words of the document Ludovico read in trembling tones:—
'In the wondrous and rare bonds of great love, this lady has showed unto us entire devotion and displayed such loftiness of sentiment that often in our intercourse with her we have experienced an entrancing and exceptional delight, added to great lightening of our cares.'
Cecilia clapped her hands and fell on her friend's neck, her eyes wet with maternal tenderness.
'Did I not tell you, my sweet sister, that he had a heart of gold? Now my little grandson, Giampaolo, has the richest inheritance in Milan.'
'What date have we?' asked Il Moro.
''Tis the 28th of December,' replied Cecilia.