Valentine smiled.
"Still, I need not ask you to believe me on that only—lest any should be doubtful, I have proofs."
"Methinks they are needed before we take the law from thee, lady," said Martin della Torre, roughly.
Valentine looked at him. "What is this, Lord della Torre?" she replied.
And she laid Visconti's signet ring and seal upon the table.
Giannotto choked his wonder back.
"Does the Duke give these to any save those he trusts—and these?" She showed the keys lying on her open hand: the key of the armory, the treasury, the prisons: the master-keys of the whole palace.
"He gave them to me—when, Adrian?"
"Yesterday morning, lady."