"You come from Rome?"
"From the Farnese Palace, your majesty."
"And what brings you here?"
"The wish to offer your majesty my services in the great struggle now before Austria."
"My sister-in-law of Naples commends you to me as a man worthy of my fullest confidence."
"I believe I have deserved her confidence, and I hope to earn that of your majesty," returned the count, bowing quietly, and speaking without any presumption.
"And how do you think you can be of use to me?" asked the emperor.
The count returned his scrutinizing gaze openly and proudly, saying:
"I offer your majesty the support of a great and invisible power, the Holy League of Right and of Religion!"
"Explain to me what this League is, and what it can do."