For one moment Giannotto thrilled with terror, but a covert glance at the Duke's face reassured him.
"I have this to give you, my lord," he began at once. "It was left in the Lady Isotta's prison."
Visconti took the parchment.
"By whom left there?" he asked.
"I know not, my lord," said Giannotto. "Luisa brought it, but dared not leave her post."
His own narrow escape of a moment since had tied up Giannotto's tongue.
"It will not be hard to discover," said Visconti. "Some one who did not bribe Luisa high enough."
"Mastino della Scala lives," he read again. He handed the parchment back to the secretary.
"Let the Lady Isotta have it," he said. "It may keep her alive. It looks to me that she may die, Giannotto, of the bad air and the confinement," and he smiled. "I would certainly not have her death. Give her the parchment." And he handed the parchment back, dismissing Giannotto with the gesture.