"And hold the Empire in check," said de Lana, with excited eyes. "Ah, my lord, it was almost worth it——"
Visconti turned to him sharply.
"What do you say, de Lana?"
There was a second's pause. This was the first, even vague, reference to what had happened earlier that same night; it seemed weeks since, and yet the sun had not risen on it.
Visconti looked at de Lana and laughed.
"Almost worth it—almost worth what, de Lana?"
The soldier, recovering himself, returned his glance.
"The extinction of four noble families, my lord."
"Did my lord do it?" cried another.
"Did he ask the d'Estes to burn Novara?"