"There is a library being brought in below," said the secretary.
"Because we spared the church of Santa Claire, who must have been the patron saint of poets—eh, de Lana?"
"Messer Francesco Petrarca found her so," said a noble laughing. "A lucky day for him when he stepped inside the church of Santa Claire!"
"He had cause to thank her, doubtless——"
"If Messer Hugues had not," smiled Visconti.
"I know not, my lord; for a dull boor like that, he gathered some fame, else never his."
"And the poet turned it to good account," said Visconti. "Methinks he used his love for money-making; he coined the Lady Laure into good gold pieces!"
"Now, my lord, is not that spite because Messer Petrarca left his library to Venice?"
Visconti laughed.
"Let him leave his library where he pleased, he was a fine man of business, say I."