This was sound sense, and Facino admitted it emphatically.
'Shall I go by way of Montferrat and negotiate the alliance for you with Messer Theodore?'
'You'll leave me in your debt if you succeed.'
'That is what Theodore will say when I propose it to him.'
'You're sanguine.'
'I'm certain. So certain that I'll impose a condition. Messer Theodore shall send the Marquis Gian Giacomo to you to be your esquire. You'll need an esquire in my place.'
'And what the devil am I to do with Gian Giacomo?'
'Make a man of him, and hold him as a guarantee. Theodore grows old and accidents often happen on a campaign. If he should die before it's convenient, you'll have the sovereign of Montferrat beside you to continue the alliance.'
'By God! You look ahead!'
'In the hope of seeing something some day. I've said that the Regent Theodore has his ambitions. Ambitious men are reluctant to relinquish power, and in a year's time the Marquis Gian Giacomo will be of age to succeed. Have a care of him when he's with you.'