"Meanwhile, from whom do I take my orders? Who commands in Milan?"
"I cannot answer you, my lord," said Giannotto. "The Duke left no orders, at least with me."
"The Duke expected not to be gone so long," said Martin della Torre. "And ill it will be for him if he stays too long."
"Meanwhile," cried de Lana again, "to whom are we to look?"
The two pages announced the Lady Valentine.
The men glanced at one another.
"The Lady Valentine," repeated Giannotto to de Lana. "She may tell us what to do."
Not that he did not well know what terms of jeopardy she stood on with the Duke—but it was a shifting of responsibility that he welcomed.
All in the room rose to their feet to greet Valentine.
She was leaning on d'Orleans' arm, Adrian and her women following.