"What, do the Bolognese trouble me?" he said fiercely.
"They only follow the example of the Pavians, my lord," returned the secretary smoothly. "They would have thy mediation between the rival factions in their state."
"My mediation! Pavia asked it, as thou say'st, and so did Bergamo; yet do the twain who then appealed to me reign in either city now? The Bolognese are foolish," said Visconti.
Giannotto shrugged his shoulders. "That need not trouble thee, my lord. Bologna is a wealthy town. Thy lordship will think of it?"
The secretary's eyes were on the ground. Gian Galeazzo slipped his bracelet into his doublet and rose.
"Aye, I will think of it," he said, "but for the moment there are more precious things to do even than using the Bolognese against themselves."
Giannotto waited. The Duke paced to and fro a moment, then broke into the subject next his heart.
"Thinkest thou Della Scala will outwit me?" he said eagerly. "Thinkest thou that if he do reach Ferrara he will rouse the Estes to action?"
"He had two good hours' start," returned Giannotto, "and the road to Ferrara offers many chances."
"And those men—who let them escape them? Do they still live?"