"Some have gone already," said Giacomo. "These wait for me and you, Visconti: come," and stepping past him he led the way.
There was no one to observe them save Giacomo's men, that he had been careful to station there; but when they had gained the bottom, and Carrara would have passed on, Visconti caught at his sleeve and drew him behind a clump of elder.
"The German!" he whispered, and they waited, breathless.
A soft voice was gayly singing, and the words of the song came clearly through the night.
"Heinrich was my bosom friend,
White feather and purple cloak:
Now that folly's at an end,
His the flame and mine the smoke!"
"He comes this way," said Carrara. "If he takes to questioning where I am——"
"If he takes to coming nearer," smiled Visconti, "I shall be obliged to—kill him."