'Who are you?' he asked. 'You are no muleteer.'
'Your lordship is perspicacious. After Lorenzaccio was taken, no muleteer could have been found to run the gauntlet. I am a captain of fortune. Beppo Farfalla, to serve your lordship. I lead a company of three hundred lances, now at my Lord Cardinal's orders at Cantalupo. At my Lord Cardinal's invitation I undertook this adventure, in the hope that it may lead to employment.'
'By God, if I am to be starved I am likely to offer you employment.'
'If your lordship waits to be starved. That was not my Lord Cardinal's view of what should happen.'
'He'll teach me my trade, will he, my priestly brother?'
Messer Beppo shrugged. 'As to that, he has some shrewd notions.'
'Notions! My Lord Cardinal?' Vignate was very savage in his chagrin. 'What are these notions?'
'One of them is that this pouring of provisions into Alessandria was as futile as the torment of the Danaides.'
'Danaides? Who are they?'
'I hoped your lordship would know. I don't. I quote my Lord Cardinal's words; no more.'