Neither spoke for some moments, Ligozzi at last incredulously.
"You cannot mean—to accept?" Mastino was silent. "Oh, no," cried Ligozzi, passionately. "You are not yourself. For the love of Heaven let me go and tell them to depart."
And he started forward, but Mastino caught him by the arm.
"Stay, Ligozzi; I command it."
"Then you yourself will tell them? Oh, it is impossible that thou couldst fall!"
"Impossible?" Mastino rose with clenched hands. "I think it is impossible that I could let her die."
Ligozzi looked at his changed face.
"The cities are not yours, my lord; the soldiers are not yours—would you be a traitor, Della Scala?"
Mastino winced.
"I would save my wife," he muttered, his face turned aside.