"How camest thou by this?" he yelled. "How came this bracelet in the Visconti palace? Answer me!"
Tisio whimpered, but had no reply, till, with a shout, Visconti flung him from him with such force that, save for Valentine, he would have fallen; then he turned upon the page who knelt by, trembling.
"Answer me!" he cried furiously. "Answer! Where got the fool this?" He held the bracelet out. And the sight of those torn ruffles around his long white hands made the boy's hair rise.
"Indeed, my lord," he gasped, "a girl, whom my Lord Tisio—met by the western gate——"
"Gave it him!" shrieked Visconti. "Ah, the three of thee shall pay dearly for this hour's trifling with me!"
"My lord took it," cried the page, half-wild with terror. "He took it, my lord; she wept to give it."
"She wept to give it," said Visconti slowly.
There was a pause. When he spoke again, his tone was calmer.
"Then he shall be slain for taking it," he said, flashing a look on Tisio, who, huddled in the chair, moaned with distress as he leaned against his sister.
"Shame! Calm thyself!" cried Valentine. "What has Tisio done? is this the first ornament he has liked and taken? Have they not orders to let him have his pleasure?"