"And a wearisome poet," said de Lana.
"O Fiametta!" said Visconti laughing. "Joanna! Naples and the blue sea! These are thy patron saints, de Lana?"
"Nay, I like not that book of feeble love-making any better," replied de Lana; "a Florentine dallying!"
"I doubt me if thou hast ever read it," said the Duke gayly.
"Alighieri is more to de Lana's mind," remarked da Ribera, pouring wine, "and the fair daughter of old Folco. I myself used to sing Alighieri's verses till I tired."
"Yourself or your audience, my friend?"
But Visconti looked at the speaker, frowning.
"You have mentioned Alighieri, forgetting who was his patron," whispered della Torre.
"The court of Verona and Can' Gran' della Scala——"