D'Este! D'Este was not the man to place his daughter before his states—Mastino knew it; Visconti knew it.
"No! no!" he cried, with sudden vehemence, "I will."
He put his hand to his forehead with a dazed expression and whispered something to himself.
Ligozzi, standing erect behind his chair, touched him gently on the shoulder.
"Send them away, my lord," he whispered. "Let them not remain here—send them away."
"With a refusal?"
Della Scala lifted his white face. "With a refusal?" he muttered stupidly.
"With what else?" said Giorgio firmly. "With what else?"
Giannotto moved a little nearer and spoke with a sickly smile.
"Our answer may wait. The Duke of Milan gives a day in which my Lord of Verona may decide upon his answer."