"Ah!" Visconti said. "And what of it now?" he added, looking around again, the old subduing spirit in his glance.
"What of it? It shall still be done, only," Carrara smiled, "there is an unforeseen addition to the bargain. Not only do you need my men, Visconti; I think, as well, you need your liberty."
"And so the price is higher. Is that what you would say? Unloose my arm. It shall not be forgotten in the bribe," he sneered.
Carrara advanced and undid the rope in silence. He knew Visconti was unarmed.
Visconti gasped with relief as the torture was removed.
"And now," he said, taking at once the mastery, "how do matters stand between us? Be wary; be brief."
Rapidly Giacomo told him how, with the desertion, half Mastino's army would be gone; how Padua was to be given into the hands of Visconti's generals, and how Count Conrad played at chess.
Visconti hated the smooth traitor who was waiting to drive a hard bargain with his necessity—and his freed hand went to his doublet: the turquoise gloves had not been lost.
"And now, your terms?" he said.
The Duke of Padua hesitated a moment—even with Visconti in his power he hesitated.