The note of condescension in the Duke of Padua's voice stung Della Scala sharply; it was only with an effort he controlled himself.
"With what will you aid me?" he asked calmly.
Still d'Este hesitated, for his proposal was mean even in his own eyes, but Giacomo answered for him in even tones: "We will aid you with an army of ten thousand men, Lord della Scala, to be recruited from Padua, Mantua, and Ferrara; well armed and——"
But Della Scala had risen.
"Spare thyself a catalogue of their virtue, my lord of Padua," he said. "For I refuse thy offer—one well worthy of a Carrara!"
Giacomo paled with anger; his merchant descent was a sore point, and Mastino's words struck home.
"Refuse!" exclaimed Ippolito. "Ten thousand men!" Della Scala glanced at him with scorn.
"Ten thousand men!" he echoed. "Yes, I refuse ten thousand men. I thought thou once loved me, d'Este, and wert too much of a soldier to dishonor me by such a proposal."
"We can make it more—" began Ippolito.